News

Unprecedented Collaboration Launched to Take on the Underrepresentation of Women in Financial Advice

Posted on October 20, 2022

Women make up more than half of the U.S. population, but only 20% of financial advisors. The underrepresentation of women in wealth management has plagued the industry for decades, and while there’s been a lot of talk, little has changed.

That’s why four industry leaders Carson Group, Fidelity Institutional, Financial Independence Group and Mariner Wealth Advisors are joining forces to host a first-of-its-kind industry event, Excell REPRESENT to address the issues most critical to women in wealth management and problem solve to make industry worthy of the women it’s attracting.

“We felt it was important to send a message together that underrepresentation is bigger than just one company, it’s something that all of us need to solve together,” says Teri Shepherd, president of Carson Group. “We’re happy to work with competitors and different advice channels to move the needle on representation and create something that’s 100% about the betterment of the industry and the advancement of women.”

The inaugural event will take place November 9-10, 2022, at the Grand Hyatt in Nashville, Tenn., and will feature a mix of main-stage speakers including 4-time Olympian, Lauryn Williams, CFP® and Molly Fletcher who spent nearly two decades as one of the world’s only female sports agent, as well as breakout sessions on subjects like leadership, innovation, financial planning, practice management, and creating meaningful client connections.

“As a firm where 47% of our associates are female, we recognize it’s more critical than ever for women investors to be able to work with a female wealth advisor if that is their choice,” said Marty Bicknell, president and CEO of Mariner Wealth Advisors. “There are many trends in the industry to support this, including a recent study that found 94% of women believe they’ll be solely responsible for their finances at some point in their lives. These are among the many reasons why we are pleased to be a sponsor of this inaugural conference specifically designed for women in the industry.”

The event will bring together a problem-solving community committed to tackling the barriers women face when joining and staying in the financial planning profession, recruiting more women into the profession, and helping firms grow more forward-thinking, inclusive cultures.

“Women are prioritizing what’s important to them: finances, career and overall well-being,” Trevor Norton, senior vice president, head of multi-family office and strategic accounts at Fidelity Institutional. “This event reinforces Fidelity’s ongoing commitment to building a stronger, more inclusive community that provides the tools and resources advisors need to achieve their long-term career goals.”

“Represent will be the most exciting and impactful gathering of women financial professionals the nation has ever witnessed. The ideas, collaboration, and experience will showcase the outstanding caliber of women in finance today, and set precedent for generations to come,” adds Nicholas Ross, chief distribution officer, Financial Independence Group.

A limited number of seats are available for this year’s inaugural event. To register for the event or to view the full agenda visit, https://www.carsongroup-events.com/event/7c4d2947-4761-443e-9806-4b44507520c8/summary.