Taking Steps Back to Move Forward: Exploring Career Shifts with Clayton Quamme
Wed Jul 09 2025
I'm thrilled to welcome Clayton Quamme to today's episode of Military to Financial Planner! Clayton shares his fascinating career journey, starting with an unexpected gift—a personal finance book from his mom—back when he was 16. It sparked his lifelong passion for personal finance and wealth-building.
From his time in Army ROTC to an influential moment in college that solidified his career path, Clayton recounts how these early experiences shaped his focus on becoming a Certified Financial Planner™. Clayton's story is all about intentional career pivots—often stepping backward financially to move forward strategically, gaining essential skills and expertise along the way.
Throughout our conversation, Clayton provides incredible transparency. He details salary expectations at different stages of his career, from his initial struggles transitioning from active duty, taking a significant pay cut, balancing numbers as the family's primary income-earner, to becoming a partner at a successful RIA managing over $300 million. Come prepared to hear about the practical realities of financial planning careers, salary expectations, and what transitioning service members can anticipate as they navigate this exciting yet challenging profession.
If you're coming out of a military background and wondering how to break into financial planning, Clayton shares helpful resources, thoughtful insights, and actionable advice born from personal experience. Clayton’s journey illustrates that sometimes progress isn't linear, but every step backward can position you for greater growth and success ahead.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/claytonquamme/
The Automatic Millionaire by David Bach https://davidbach.com/books/the-automatic-millionaire/
The Millionaire Next Door https://www.themillionairenextdoor.com/
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I'm thrilled to welcome Clayton Quamme to today's episode of Military to Financial Planner! Clayton shares his fascinating career journey, starting with an unexpected gift—a personal finance book from his mom—back when he was 16. It sparked his lifelong passion for personal finance and wealth-building. From his time in Army ROTC to an influential moment in college that solidified his career path, Clayton recounts how these early experiences shaped his focus on becoming a Certified Financial Planner™. Clayton's story is all about intentional career pivots—often stepping backward financially to move forward strategically, gaining essential skills and expertise along the way. Throughout our conversation, Clayton provides incredible transparency. He details salary expectations at different stages of his career, from his initial struggles transitioning from active duty, taking a significant pay cut, balancing numbers as the family's primary income-earner, to becoming a partner at a successful RIA managing over $300 million. Come prepared to hear about the practical realities of financial planning careers, salary expectations, and what transitioning service members can anticipate as they navigate this exciting yet challenging profession. If you're coming out of a military background and wondering how to break into financial planning, Clayton shares helpful resources, thoughtful insights, and actionable advice born from personal experience. Clayton’s journey illustrates that sometimes progress isn't linear, but every step backward can position you for greater growth and success ahead. https://www.linkedin.com/in/claytonquamme/ The Automatic Millionaire by David Bach https://davidbach.com/books/the-automatic-millionaire/ The Millionaire Next Door https://www.themillionairenextdoor.com/