3. Demonstrating a work-life balance
Women have a lot to offer the financial planning industry. They tend to be more communicative, empathetic and in tune with the concerns of female investors, but the industry also has a lot to offer women pursuing careers as financial advisors.
Financial planning is an extremely flexible and rewarding career. Women mentors can help their mentees see how being an advisor allows them to invest in people’s lives in ways that few other professions do while providing the flexibility that few other careers can. Mentors offer a vital model of work-life-balance that demonstrates how women can flourish in their careers without sacrificing the needs of their families.
4. Defying stereotypes
Women do not need to act like men to be financial advisors. They just need to demolish the stereotype that only middle-aged men can be financial advisors. Mentoring does that. Successful female mentors show that women are impacting the industry with uniquely feminine insights and making important contributions of their own.
So, when a young woman finds herself facing a panel of middle-aged men in an interview, she’s not intimated by antiquated attitudes but empowered by confidence in what she as a woman has to offer.
5. Exposing young women to the financial planning industry
Mentoring isn’t academic, but it works well in academic settings because it exposes young women to opportunities in the financial planning field while they’re still in college. By hosting seminars on what’s on the horizon for female advisors, mentors can attract and nurture talented future female advisors. Those with senior positions in financial planning can also be instrumental in creating mentorship programs that allow able female students to interact and develop relationships with seasoned female advisors.
Mentoring allows female advisors to increase awareness about financial planning while addressing common misconceptions and developing communities that strengthen the industry.
6. Inspiring confidence