“Just get yourself out there and win the relationship by being yourself and sincere,” she said. “We have succeeded by working tirelessly for the clients we care about, and in turn, they send us great family and friends as referrals. We can never be all things to all prospective clients, nor do we want to be —so remember that your time is incredibly valuable and spend it with the quality people you can best serve.”
Gustafson said that the wealth management business is a great fit for female advisors because it provides them with a flexible schedule, allowing them to balance family and career.
“Having raised two kids while building my business, I came to appreciate the opportunity to control my calendar and schedule without having to ask for permission,” she said.
Gustafson said that when her client is a couple, she emphasizes equal participation in the financial planning process. To that end, she and her team created “The Arizona Women’s Symposium” to reach out to spouses and partners seeking a financial education in a comfortable, non-threatening environment.
Now that she and her team are partnered with Ameriprise, Gustafson said her short-term goal is to seamlessly transition from UBS to Ameriprise, while her long-term goal is to work with Ameriprise in managing the proprietary Tobacco-Free Portfolio for the American Heart Association’s Donor Advised Fund (DAF).
“Ameriprise recognizes the power of the donor advised fund platform and what this strategy can bring to clients who make charitable giving a priority,” she said in the email. “We also look forward to working with Ameriprise’s amazing client event team to host “The Arizona Women’s Symposium” twice per year to meet demand. Our clients are requesting to bring their daughters and granddaughters to this event, which we are thrilled to hear!”
Founded in 1894, Ameriprise Financial Inc., is a diversified financial services company and bank holding company incorporated in Delaware and headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn.