Invest In Women

This episode explores the challenges women face managing finances and being heard within their families. Blending compelling data with real-life stories, Ryan Viktorin, CFP guides the conversation to highlight how patterns emerge and why recognizing them is the first step toward meaningful change.

About Our Guest:

Ryan is a Vice President, Financial Consultant and CFP® at Fidelity Investments in the

Framingham, MA Investor Center. She has been an advisor for 18 years and joined Fidelity

in 2013. She and her team work with high-net-worth individuals and families in the areas of

retirement planning, legacy planning, tax minimization, investment strategy and overall

financial planning.

One of her strengths is taking complex financial concepts and communicating them in a

way that is easy to understand for her clients. This is why she is a recurring panelist for

Fidelity’s Women Talk Money program and is a regular spokesperson for Fidelity in her area

of expertise. She is passionate about helping clients understand their financial picture so

that they can securely and efficiently reach their goals.

Outside of work, Ryan and her husband are busy keeping up with their twin boys

About Our Host:

Melissa Carter trains entrepreneurs, business owners, corporate execs, and home-based professionals to reach their fullest potential. Melissa has appeared on radio, television, podcasts, and in print throughout the nation, and has served as a speaker for many corporate and charitable events to discuss the benefits of using media as part of their business strategy.

As a member of morning radio shows for nearly 20 years, Melissa could be heard on 99X, Q100, and B98.5 in Atlanta. She also served as a Co-Host on Westwood One’s “Radio with a Twist." For these media efforts, Melissa was awarded the Atlanta Dream/SunTrust Inspiring Woman Award, the HRC Community Leadership Award, and the CHRIS Kids Kyle Anderson Service to Youth Award.

Alexandra Roca understands the financial planning needs unique to women and has seen how addressing them can accelerate individual success in the financial industry. As the host of Fidelity's program Women Talk Money, Alexandra emphasizes that it’s never too late to get started.

About Our Guest:

Alexandra (Alex) Roca is the dynamic host and spokesperson for Women Talk Money, where she brings financial education to life for Fidelity clients. With a talent for transforming complex retirement and investment topics into engaging, actionable insights, Alex empowers individuals to take charge of their financial futures.

In addition to her hosting role, Alex leads Fidelity’s Live Channel team within the Lifetime Engagement organization, where she manages a group of business analysts focused on identifying and resolving operational frictions. Her work helps streamline live experiences for both clients and associates, driving smoother engagement across business units.

She is a registered representative, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, and

holds a Florida insurance license. As a bilingual presenter fluent in English and Spanish, Alex

is passionate about making financial planning relatable and inclusive for diverse audiences.

Outside of her professional role, Alex enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking,

traveling, reading, and attending concerts.

About Our Host:

Melissa Carter trains entrepreneurs, business owners, corporate execs, and home-based professionals to reach their fullest potential. Melissa has appeared on radio, television, podcasts, and in print throughout the nation, and has served as a speaker for many corporate and charitable events to discuss the benefits of using media as part of their business strategy.

As a member of morning radio shows for nearly 20 years, Melissa could be heard on 99X, Q100, and B98.5 in Atlanta. She also served as a Co-Host on Westwood One’s “Radio with a Twist." For these media efforts, Melissa was awarded the Atlanta Dream/SunTrust Inspiring Woman Award, the HRC Community Leadership Award, and the CHRIS Kids Kyle Anderson Service to Youth Award.

Tina Powell, Chief of Community at Intention.ly, is a recent cancer survivor. The experience transformed her perspective on life. Listen as Tina addresses the transformative power that financial independence has on women who take charge of their financial life, now and in retirement.

Patricia Lizarraga understands the importance of investing in women and wants to make it easier for others to do so. With the WCEO ETF, Patricia aims to get advisors and investors on board the train of more women in leadership positions, and more women CEOs.

Patricia Discusses:

• Investing And Working With Companies With Women CEOs

• The Ongoing Wealth Transfer To Women Financial Advisors

• How Men And Women CEOs Differ In Hiring And Promotions For Leadership

Emma Rodriguez-Ayala wanted to be an attorney from a young age. It’s no surprise then that she leads Ariel Investments as its General Counsel. In this episode, Emma discusses working in the financial services industry, as well as diversity and inclusion, how philanthropy fits into the big picture, and how she got to be where she is today.

Emma Discusses:

• DEI Initiatives and Financial Literacy

• Working in Financial Services as an Attorney

• How having diverse vendors can strengthen your client relationships

Often times women are left out of the financial conversation, whether it be education about finances from a young age, or the management of finances in later life. Bridget Costello is hoping to change that, and works with women to teach and empower them to take control of their financial life. From writing their first check to managing stock portfolios, women can learn to do it all and take an active role in their financial affairs.

Dr. Emily Koochel is an experienced financial professional, academic, and researcher. She currently serves as a leader for eMoney Advisor’s Financial Education and Wellness initiatives in her role as the Senior Financial Planning Education Consultant.

As a successful woman, Robyn Crane understands the ins and outs of the pressure women face while wanting to exact change in the world. From generational pressures and anxiety to how society views you, there can be many things that women need to set aside in order to be successful, make money, and live fulfilling lives.

Philanthropy can mean many things to different people. In this episode of the Invest In Women Podcast, Gillian Howell of Foundation Source discusses philanthropy, motivations, and how Foundation Source can help high-net-worth clients create their own philanthropic endeavors. In particular, she breaks down what drives women to give, and the ways that can sometimes differ from their male counterparts. She also notes that for advisors who want to offer a holistic approach to wealth management for women clients, philanthropy is an essential part of the conversation.

Gillian discusses:

• Philanthropic motivations in women versus men

•- How to talk to your female clients about philanthropy

• How philanthropy can pass on values to the next generation

Career paths can often be complex, winding roads with spontaneous decisions leading us into the uncertain future. For Heather Fortner, the decision to become a Chief Compliance Officer has brought her a successful, yet unique path to the top of the corporate ladder.

In this episode, Heather Fortner discusses her rise through the ranks of SignatureFD, and how she uses her background and her journey from the bottom to provide a special perspective on risk management, client relationships, and how that allows her to connect various dots across the organization.

Heather discusses:

• Her decision to take on the Chief Compliance Officer role

• Problem-solving to create solutions rather than just saying “No”

• Integrating compliance into the foundation of a company’s operations

• Aligning job roles with your personality traits and preferences