Planning for Success, Not Just Survival — with Amy Irvine

What happens when fear becomes a signal to pay attention to, rather than a stop sign?

In this episode, Tara sits down with Amy Irvine to talk about the courage it takes to build a financial planning practice that truly fits your life. Amy shares how loss became a wake-up call, why she walked away from a traditional AUM model, and what she learned when she realized she had planned for failure—but not for success. It’s a thoughtful, honest conversation about values, mentorship, and trusting your own voice as you design what comes next.

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In this episode of Her Life, Her Practice, Her Way, I sit down with Amy Irvine, founder of Rooted Planning Group, for a deeply human conversation about courage, intention, and what it really means to build a practice that fits your life.

Amy’s story isn’t one of chasing growth for growth’s sake. It’s a story shaped by loss, reflection, and a quiet but persistent inner voice asking, Is this the life I want to be living? After the sudden loss of her uncle, Amy found herself questioning not just how she worked—but why she worked the way she did. That moment became a catalyst for change.

She shares what it was like to leave a traditional AUM-based firm, launch a values-driven planning practice before “remote work” was normalized, and build a flat-fee model that prioritizes people over portfolios. Along the way, Amy speaks candidly about fear, self-doubt, and the realization that she had planned carefully to avoid failure—but not fully for success.

What stands out most is Amy’s humanity: her commitment to mentorship, her generosity with other advisors, and her willingness to talk openly about the emotional complexity of leadership and succession. Now, as she thoughtfully transitions her firm to the next generation, Amy is once again modeling what it looks like to trust, let go, and lead with integrity.

This episode is a reminder that you don’t have to follow someone else’s blueprint. You can build a practice rooted in your values, your voice, and the life you actually want to live.

Episode Highlights

• How personal loss became the wake-up call that changed everything
• Why Amy chose a flat-fee, planning-first model over traditional AUM
• The fear she didn’t talk about—and what finally pushed her forward
• “I planned for failure, not success”—and what she learned from it
• Building a practice before remote work was the norm
• Mentorship as both a gift received and a responsibility carried forward
• Navigating succession, identity, pride, and grief—at the same time