It’s not about what you gain, it’s about what you give.

One of my core guiding principles is impact: having a positive impact on everyone with whom I come into contact. Whether in my personal or professional life, impact is what drives me. There is a famous quote: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

Ever since I was a little girl, I was determined to be successful. At the age of 12, I started delivering newspapers and I have not stopped working since. By 30, I was teaching financial advisors about products that would grow and protect their clients wealth, but my real passion was helping them better communicate with women. The industry encourages technical jargon, complicated concepts and solely emphasizes performance. But for women, there was so much more. I realized that to have the larger positive impact I wanted to have, I needed to become a financial advisor and change the experience for women.

As a woman and industry leader, I have a passion for addressing the three main gender gaps that affect women in this country: the gender advice gap; the gender investing gap; and the financial security gender gap.

Let’s break these down. The gender advice gap refers to the number of practicing investment advisors in Canada – only 15%-20% of which are women. Having worked with advisors across North America throughout my career, I know firsthand that gender does not define an advisor’s capability. But when asked in a recent survey , 87% of women looking for an advisor said they can’t find one that they connect with. By helping to attract more women to pursue careers in wealth management, I believe we can better reflect the communities we serve.

Next is the gender investing gap. Put simply, women do not invest to the same extent that men do. As a result, when retirement rolls around, women typically end up with two-thirds as much money in their portfolios as men do. That leads to the financial security gender gap: in retirement, women are 80% more likely to live in poverty. These gaps have obviously negative repercussions for women, but they also have significant consequences for our society as a whole. In leading by example, I set out on a mission to:

change the relationship between – and perception of –
women and the financial services industry.

To support this work, I am an innovator. I harness data analytics, design thinking and virtual reality to try to better understand how we attract, retain and develop women investment advisors in an effort to help close the gender advice gap. I am a mentor to young women who are interested in learning more about a career in wealth management. I am a speaker and educator for women and girls on how to take control of their financial future and better understand the fundamentals of investing. Most importantly, I am a guide. I work closely with my clients and their families to ensure the women in their life are well taken care of, and the next generation of young women are prepared to manage wealth for generations. In addition to my work in the industry, I proudly support the following organizations with a shared mission of providing women and girls with access to capital, financial education, community and support. With this dedication and commitment to change, I hope to create a positive and lasting impact and leave a legacy.

 

What do you want your legacy to be?

 

 

SheEO is a global initiative designed to radically transform the way we finance, support, and celebrate female entrepreneurs who are creating new mindsets, new models and new solutions that are benefiting humanity. https://sheeo.world/

FuturFund is  the largest student-run non-profit organization in the financial literacy space, aimed at empowering female students with the financial knowledge they need as they enter a world of financial decisions. https://www.futurfund.org/

 

The new look of legacy: Infusing social purpose with family values

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