WomenShare

Welcome to WomenShare: A Celebration of Women in Financial Services. Sound different? Since launching, we have been the marketing guide for women in financial services. This is the first episode with our updated mission.

On today’s episode, Joanna Ehresman and Leah Alter are reflecting on the journey we’ve taken with this podcast, from starting as a marketing guide to becoming a vibrant community celebrating the voices and impacts of women in financial services. We’re sharing how we came to the decision to shift our focus, what will and will not be changing as we move forward, and what we’re looking forward to in coming episodes.

While this show, and the personal connection between the hosts, was initially grounded in marketing, our community's feedback has led us to embrace a more holistic celebration of women’s achievements across the financial sector. We underscore the importance of community, especially through mentoring and sponsorship. 

WomenShare is more than just a platform; it’s a community fostering real connections and support among women. Looking ahead, we’re excited to bring even more diverse voices to the platform, including industry leaders and innovators who share our commitment to empowering women in financial services.

Key Takeaways:

 1. Evolution of WomenShare's Focus: Joanna and Leah discuss the transformation of the podcast from a marketing guide for women in financial services to a broader celebration of women in the industry. This shift reflects our responsiveness to audience feedback and a desire to embrace more inclusive and diverse conversations about women's roles and achievements in financial services.

2. Engagement and Community Building: We are excited about the growth of our community, both in terms of the listener base and the interactions on platforms like LinkedIn. We emphasize the significance of building a community where women can connect, share experiences, and support each other, hence fostering a space of openness and safety.

3. Importance of Authenticity in Branding: Through our discussions and guest insights, Joanna and Leah highlight how important it is for financial advisors and businesses to maintain an authentic brand that truly reflects their values and origins. This authenticity attracts clients and builds trust, which is crucial for growth and retention in the financial services industry.

4. Role of Male Allies: We are reaffirming our commitment to inclusivity by recognizing the vital role that male allies play in the advancement of women in the financial industry. This episode discusses how support from men in the industry is crucial for creating a more balanced and equitable environment.

5. Future Guests and Exciting Topics: Looking forward, we are thrilled about the upcoming episodes featuring influential figures in the financial sector. Our future conversations on various topics will further inspire and empower women in the industry, and hopefully enhance the impact that we can have on our community.

We’re also excited to be announcing our new partnership as we welcome Axtella as the presenting sponsor of WomenShare! Axtella is dedicated to helping financial professionals take their practices to new heights.

If you’re ready for a firm that goes the extra mile for its advisors, visit go.axtella.com/womenshare.

“It's such a gratifying thing to get to be able to know so many different families and to be part of their success stories is just wonderful. We just need more people to understand what a great industry it is.”

Welcome to WomenShare: a marketing guide for women in financial services.Today’s guest was recently named one of the top women wealth advisors by Forbes. Debra Brennan Tagg, CFP® is President of BFS Advisory Group and the creator of the DBT360 Financial Plan, a proprietary program that helps her clients use their money to have the life they want by prioritizing their goals, leveraging their resources, and addressing their risks, all through a framework of their personal values. 

With a $30 trillion wealth transfer from men to women expected to take place by 2030, Debra is sharing her insights on the false narratives that have been fed to women and how the financial services industry will need to evolve over the next six years. 

We’re also discussing the significant underrepresentation of women in wealth management and the pivotal roles of mentorship, education, and sponsorship in bridging the gender gap.

As we advocate for more inclusive spaces and celebrate the strides made towards female empowerment in the industry, let's keep the conversation going. Because when women thrive, industries revolutionize. 

Key takeaways: 

1. Impending Wealth Transfer: By 2030, women are expected to control approximately $30 trillion in financial assets, marking a significant shift in wealth dynamics. This presents both challenges and opportunities within the wealth management industry to cater to and empower this fast-growing demographic.
2. Gender Gap in Financial Advisory Roles: Despite the potential, only 20-25% of financial advisors are women. This episode highlights the critical need for the industry to evolve and embrace more inclusive recruitment and retention strategies to balance gender representation in financial services.
3. Strategic Inclusion Efforts: Debra Brennan Tagg discusses actionable strategies for attracting women to the wealth management profession. These include enhancing industry appeal through targeted educational initiatives and simplifying the entry points for both potential advisors and clients.
4. The Importance of Mentorship and Sponsorship: The discussion underscores the pivotal role of mentorship and sponsorship in advancing women's careers in wealth management. Effective allyship, particularly from male colleagues, is crucial in fostering an environment that supports career advancement for women.
5. Communicative Clarity and Client Confidence: Ensuring that financial advice is understandable and accessible is paramount. The industry must focus on clear communication to help clients, particularly women, feel confident about their financial decisions and the management of their wealth.

“Empathy can be a skillset, too. Learning how to just be able to sit with somebody, learning how to ask, what do you need right now? Do you need me to fix it? Do you need advice? Do you need me to just listen?"

Welcome to WomenShare: a marketing guide for women in financial services. On today’s episode, Joanna Ehresman and Leah Alter are joined by executive and well-being coach, Holly O’Hanlon to get to the heart of financial services (literally).

Holly helps business leaders thrive by focusing on self awareness, well-being, and emotional literacy. In our conversation, we explore the intricate layers of emotional intelligence, breaking down concepts like empathy and vulnerability, and how these can be channeled in the workplace to foster deep connections and enhance well-being. Holly will guide us through understanding the spectrum of emotions beyond the basic "mad, glad, sad," and why naming and feeling these emotions is critical for high EQ.

Holly will share her insights on how to transform a client’s journey from transactional to relational dynamics, discussing how financial advisors and leaders can anchor themselves as the support clients and team members need during life's pivotal moments.

Key Takeaways:

1. Emotional intelligence isn't just buzzworthy – it's the foundation for deeper connections. Honing our capacity to feel beyond 'mad, glad, sad' is crucial. Let's learn the full spectrum of emotions for richer interactions.

2. Empathy is a superpower in leadership. To truly lead, we must be willing to sit with others in their emotions without judgment or an agenda to fix. It’s not about solutions; it’s about presence.

3. Vulnerability is about risk, exposure, and stepping into uncertainty. In finances or leadership, it breeds trust and authenticity. Dare to ask the deeper questions. It's transformational.

4. Stories we tell ourselves can shape our reactions. Understanding our emotions keeps us from reactive states and allows for meaningful conversations. Pause and reflect before you project.

5. Best career advice: Remember the kaleidoscope. Like its endless patterns, every challenge has multiple perspectives. Open up to different angles and you'll find innovative solutions every time

“I believe in advocating using grassroots efforts, authentic engagement, and unyielding commitment, and those being the true catalysts for effecting lasting change. Those are essential in passing a bright shining torch to the next generation.”

Welcome to WomenShare: a marketing guide for women in financial services. On today’s episode, Joanna Ehresman and Leah Alter are joined by Maria Bethel, the senior vice president of marketing and communications at Axtella.

Maria and her team are championing diversity and inclusion in the financial services industry, especially when it comes to the representation of younger advisors. She is joining us today to discuss the importance of advocating for lasting change through grassroot efforts, authentic engagement, and unyielding commitment. 

The next generation of advisors is filled with untapped potential and Maria is sharing her strategy to discover it, incorporating storytelling, social media, and thought leadership to inspire and engage young professionals. 

Key takeaways:

1. The importance of grassroots efforts and authentic engagement in marketing, and unyielding commitment as true catalysts for effecting lasting change.

2. The significance of redefining the purpose and mission in the financial services industry to inspire the next generation of financial professionals and investors.

3. The need to address the limited public awareness and understanding of the independent broker-dealer and the transformative influence that financial professionals have in helping individuals realize their dreams and aspirations.

4. The necessity to meet the next generation where they are by utilizing social media platforms and visual content to effectively communicate and engage with them.

5. The career advice to speak up, always be respectful, and courageously share your voice, while balancing wisdom with intuition.

"It started as an initiative just within the firm to do things better, to create well, to invite women to a table and to make that table a comfortable, safe space to come and talk and be a part of."

Welcome to WomenShare: a marketing guide for women in financial services. On today’s episode, Joanna Ehresman and Leah Alter are joined by Karen Reifel, CFP®, a senior wealth advisor at Beacon Pointe Advisors.

Beacon Point is the largest female-led RIA firm in the country with women making up over 60% of their corporate team and features the Women’s Advisory Institute, a branch of the firm committed to serving women.

Karen joins us to share the ways that she and her team are tailoring services to address women's unique financial concerns and creating meaningful content and engaging events that marry finance with social experiences.

Karen opens up about the emotional intelligence she brings to her client relationships and the double-edged sword of nurturing that characteristic. Our conversation touches on the timely shifts in societal norms towards empathy in wealth management, the pressures women face juggling multiple roles, and the vitality of asking for help.

Key takeaways:

1. Tailored Financial Guidance for Women: Karen Reifel shares insights into the development of financial content and events designed specifically for women's financial needs, focusing on the significant question of their financial security. This addresses the unique challenges and concerns that women face in financial matters.

2. Importance of Representation and EQ: The feedback from female clients has led to a more diverse representation in the company’s materials and events. Additionally, Karen discusses the pivotal role of emotional intelligence in her work, including both its value and the challenge of managing it, and the societal trend towards empathy in wealth management.

3. Challenges and Support for Women: Leah highlights the pressure on women to juggle multiple roles and the importance of recognizing their limits and seeking assistance. This acknowledges the often-overlooked need for support systems in the professional and personal lives of women.

4. The Value of Continuous Learning in Leadership: Karen places a strong emphasis on the role of curiosity and ongoing education in career advancement, and the normalization of admitting when one does not have all the answers, especially in mentorship roles. This promotes a culture of growth and humility in professional settings.

5. Beacon Point Advisors' Growth and Culture: Karen Reifel details her role at Beacon Point Advisors and the firm's focus on hiring for culture fit, with over 60% of its leadership being women. She underscores how female leadership has become a competitive advantage, attracting similar talent and contributing to the firm's growth strategy, which includes client retention, organic growth, and a strong corporate marketing team.

"International Women's Day is about the recognition of the contributions of women in the everyday and the extraordinary." 

Welcome to WomenShare: a marketing guide for women in financial services. On today’s episode, Joanna Ehresman and Leah Alter are celebrating International Women’s Day, a day of recognition for the impact that women have on societies all over the world. 

The theme of this year’s event is #InspireInclusion, so we’re diving into the different ways that organizations can take action to encourage diversity and advancement for women in the financial services industry.

Part of the mission of WomenShare is to further our commitment to inclusivity, so we also discussed the importance of amplifying the stories of women from diverse backgrounds and experiences. We recognize the need to bring more voices to our show and are dedicated to incorporating diverse perspectives from women of color and different backgrounds in our upcoming episodes. We invite you to hold us accountable and join us in this mission.

In the spirit of inclusivity, we highlighted some fantastic resources and upcoming events in the wealth management and financial services space, including conferences and initiatives focused on empowering and supporting women in the industry. To keep the momentum going, we encourage you to participate in International Women's Day by accessing the resources available on the official International Women's Day website, joining relevant industry events, and taking steps to mentor or sponsor women in your organization.

We'd love to hear from you about any organizations, events, or initiatives that are making a positive impact on women in the financial services industry. Join the conversation on our social media channels and share your suggestions with us.

Key Takeaways:

1. International Women's Day (IWD) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. It's also a call to action for accelerating women's equality. IWD is observed on March 8th every year and has been celebrated for well over a century.

2. The theme of IWD in 2024 is "inspire inclusion," aiming to catalyze people to act in big or small ways to be more inclusive. This can further women's economic empowerment and support women and girls into leadership, decision-making, business, and STEM.

3. There are various ways to inspire inclusion in 2024, such as using the resources provided by the International Women's Day website, mentoring or sponsoring women in the industry, and being proactive about seeking diverse perspectives and representation.

4. The financial services industry is making strides to create inclusive spaces and conferences for women, such as the FA Women's Conference, Carson Group's Excel Represent Conference, Forbes' SHOOK Top Women Advisor Summit, and the Kayo conference series.

5. The hosts of the WomenShare podcast are committed to advancing all women and aim to broaden their representation by inviting guests with diverse perspectives, particularly women of color, on future episodes. They also encouraged the audience to share any organizations contributing to the advancement of women that they think should be highlighted on the show.

Resources Mentioned: 

1. International Women's Day Website: www.internationalwomensday.com
2. Financial Advisor Magazine's Invest in Women Conference: https://faconferences.com/iiw24/
3. Carson Group's Excell Represent Conference- https://www.excellrepresent.com/
4. Forbes' SHOOK Top Women Advisor Summit: https://www.shookresearch.com/2024-forbes-shook-top-women-advisor-summit.php
5. Kayo Conference Series: https://kayoconferenceseries.com
6. The CFP Board Diversity and Inclusion Initiative: https://www.cfp.net/initiatives/diversity-and-inclusion
7. The American College for Financial Services Center for Women in Financial Services: https://www.theamericancollege.edu/centers-of-excellence/center-for-women-in-financial-services

“When I would meet with my clients, I would go to their office. And in one department, I had so many of those professionals as clients, somebody nicknamed me the money lady.”

Welcome to WomenShare: a marketing guide for women in financial services. On today’s episode, Joanna Ehresman and Leah Alter are joined by Lisa Brown, CFP®, CIMA®, MBA, an author, speaker, advisor, and strategic leader within the financial space. 

Lisa built a successful practice by focusing on a unique niche—executives within a Fortune 100 company—and is here to share her journey and the strategies that helped her along the way. In our conversation, we discuss how she leveraged thought leadership, authored books, and positioned herself as an industry expert to grow her career. 

Lisa also shares her perspective on helping women clients and peers in the financial services industry. Throughout the episode, Lisa provides actionable advice and insights that will resonate with women striving for success in the financial services world. 

Key takeaways:

1. Building a Niche: Lisa shared her experiences working with corporate executives and emphasized the value of understanding her clients' needs and personalities. She also discussed how she grew her practice within a large corporation and the pivotal moments that contributed to her success.

2. Thought Leadership Strategy: As an author, speaker, and spokesperson, Lisa shares how she started putting her work out there in various mediums, the impact it had on her business and personal brand, and the lessons she learned from these experiences.

3. Support and Insights for Women in Finance: Lisa reflected on the shortage of women in the finance industry and shared her wisdom on navigating the field as a woman. She also discussed the inspiration behind her books aimed at providing financial advice to women at different stages of life and her upcoming book project focused on mentoring young to mid-career women.

“When my batteries are depleted, I'm not showing up as the best mom. I'm not showing up as the best partner. I'm not showing up as the best financial advisor or leader.”

Welcome to WomenShare: a marketing guide for women in financial services. On today’s episode, Joanna Ehresman and Leah Alter are joined by Anne McCabe, the CEO of Curo Private Wealth, to hear her perspective on finding new clients, conquering self-doubt, and prioritizing self-care as a woman in finance. 

Anne founded her company in 2014, using more than a decade of experience and an insatiable thirst for knowledge to create a firm that empowers women and prioritizes authentic relationships. 

In this episode, Anne shares the secrets to her success, including the unique way she uses a CRM system to surprise her clients with personal gifts and learning to embrace the feminine traits that she brings to the table (rather than learning how to golf).

What may have had the biggest impact on her is her commitment to her own wellness–both mental and physical. Through weekly reflection and planning sessions, a minimum of three workouts each week, and daily breaks for mindfulness, she is able to show up better as an advisor, mother, and leader. 

Key takeaways:

1. Actively Seeking Clients: Anne highlighted the importance of actively seeking clients in the financial services industry to gain intellectual capital and succeed.

2. Overcoming Impostor Syndrome: Embracing risk and putting oneself out there despite uncertainties can help combat impostor syndrome and lead to growth.

3. Embracing Authenticity: We discussed the power of authentic approaches in client acquisition, emphasizing the value of offering 15-minute conversations and personalized gifts to show gratitude for referrals.

Welcome to WomenShare: a marketing guide for women in financial services. On today’s episode, Joanna Ehresman and Leah Alter are zooming out to look at the big picture of the state of women in the wealth management industry. 

To help us, we’re joined by the head of the Next Gen program at Carson Group, Julie Ragatz. Julie and her team at the Carson Group conducted a study that was published as the 2023 State of Women in Wealth Management Report to uncover insights that hinder women who have chosen to enter the industry and identify better ways to empower and elevate them. 

Our discussion focuses on the findings of the study, including the challenges and opportunities for women in the financial industry and the issues of mentorship, sponsorship, and forced entrepreneurship. Julie shares insights from her experiences and the research study, addressing the need for advocacy, support, and equal opportunities. Or conversation also highlights the complexities of gender norms, the impact of conditioning on professional lives, and the importance of evolving masculinity. 

As women who have experienced what it’s like to work in this industry, our goal for this conversation is to do our part and identify how we can take action individually and within the WomenShare community to help improve the current state of the industry. 

Key takeaways:

1. The importance of advocacy and sponsorship for women in the financial industry: Julie shares insights into the challenges faced by women and the need for effective mentorship and sponsorship to advance in the industry.

2. The concept of forced entrepreneurship: The episode discusses the idea that some women feel compelled to start their own businesses to create a more positive and client-focused work environment, shedding light on the struggles and barriers women face in the financial services industry.

3. The difference between mentorship and sponsorship: We discuss the distinctions between mentorship, which involves guidance and skill development, and sponsorship, which entails advocating for material opportunities within an organization—especially important for women in wealth management.

4. Gender norms and societal conditioning: Our conversation explores the impact of gender norms on professional lives and the need for exposure to varied empathic and assertive individuals, addressing the conditioning and expectations placed on women in the industry.

5. Carson Group's commitment to progress and transparency: Carson Group's initiative to conduct a study on the state of women in wealth management reflects a commitment to transparency, collaboration, and bravery in addressing industry challenges, with the aim of advancing and inviting others into the conversation.

You can download the full report on the Carson Group website here: https://resources.carsongroup.com/women-in-wealth-report-2023

This episode was sponsored by the 994 Group. 

“When one of us succeeds, we all succeed.”

Welcome to WomenShare: A Marketing Guide for Women in Financial Services. In this episode of the podcast, we’re kicking off the new year by looking back at some of the lessons and marketing best practices we've learned in 2023 and how they can be applied to all our businesses in 2024.   

Looking back at the guests we’ve had on the podcast this year, the lessons they shared that stand out the most center around authenticity and brand clarity. We also spend time talking about AI, which is impacting the industry as a whole but also ourselves as solopreneurs. 

We share some personal stories, like Leah’s experience with imposter syndrome and entrepreneurship and Joanna’s challenges in being vulnerable and growing as a thought leader. 

This episode is filled with insights we’ve learned over the past 6 months and our goals for 2024, so we hope you listen and share with us the goals you have set for yourself and your business. 

Key takeaways

1. Embracing Intuition: Leah’s move back to her hometown and following her intuitive messaging, despite uncertainty about the future, is truly inspiring. Trusting our instincts can lead to unexpected growth and opportunities.
2. Community Over Competition: We're committed to empowering the collective in the financial services industry. Our goal for 2024 is to feature women in diverse roles and share their career stories.
3. The Power of Shared Goals: Setting and sharing goals increases commitment. We want you to share tips and insights from WomenShare that you plan to apply in your career this year!