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Financial Advising Careers for Women |
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Written by Valarie Beadle
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Financial Advising Careers Offer Women Flexibility, Fulfillment and Opportunity
(ARA) – When you think of women in the workplace, some typical career areas come to mind – health care, education and information technology. Missing from that list is a career many women haven’t considered but one that is well-suited to them: financial advising.
Financial advising offers women a flexible schedule, excellent income potential and the personal fulfillment of helping others. And demand for financial advisers is growing. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the overall employment of personal financial advisers is expected to increase “faster than average” for all occupations through 2014.
Within an already growing field, women are finding more opportunities than ever. Consider the statistics: 83 percent of household spending is controlled by women. Women are expected to control $1 trillion by 2010 and constitute two-thirds of all wealthy Americans by 2019.
As a growing number of women influence financial decisions, they often look to other women for financial advice.
“We have found that successful women like to work with other successful women,” says Jackie Hintz, director of career entry for Minneapolis-based Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.
Unfortunately, females are currently underrepresented in the financial advising field. Women make up only 20 percent of the financial advisers in the United States. Many financial services organizations realize the gender mix of their financial advisers is not reflective of the market in general and are actively recruiting more women.
Women who enter the career are finding financial advising to be a good fit. Many appreciate the freedom and flexible schedule -- especially working moms. “I’ve been able to keep my career moving ahead without sacrificing my children in order to do that,” says Sherith Squires, a senior financial consultant with Thrivent Financial in Camarillo, Calif.
The income potential, often commission-based, is also attractive. In financial advising, the “glass ceiling” that exists for women in other careers is nonexistent. “There are no limits on women’s ability to succeed,” Hintz says.
Most importantly, the career is personally fulfilling. “Financial advisers make a difference in people’s lives,” Hintz says. “They help clients protect their families and achieve their financial goals.”
Today’s female financial advisers range from recent college graduates to women who entered the industry after spending 20, 30 or even 40 years doing something else. Women from all walks of life, such as sales associates, teachers and lawyers have started new careers as financial advisers.
What makes a good financial adviser? Someone who is a good listener, a good relationship builder and wants to see clients achieve their goals. Financial product knowledge isn’t a prerequisite; it’s covered extensively in new-hire training.
To learn more about a financial advising career, visit the U.S. Department of Labor Web site at www.bls.gov. For opportunities at Thrivent Financial, visit thrivent.com/careers.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
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