12 Sep Kayla’s Path to Financial Planning
From PK to CFP®
Kayla is a 25-year-old “preacher’s kid” who holds undergraduate and master’s degrees from Louisiana State University. She joined SPC Financial, Inc. in 2016, rising from junior client service associate to financial planning associate. In 2019, Kayla earned her CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional certification.
A Day in the Life
As a finance major in college, Kayla had no idea what a financial planner was – or what they did. After learning more about the field, she was “all in,” eventually getting her Series 7 and Series 66 licenses, and most recently, her CFP® designation.
“As a client service associate, my role is a first line of defense…any questions [clients] have: they want to take out money, they have a question about their account, they don’t understand what’s on their statement, usually comes through me first.”
Women Helping Women
The percentage of women working as financial advisors has been stubbornly stuck at 16% for years. But Kayla personifies the next generation of professionals who are on the leading edge of change.
“When you mention finance, it’s a male-dominated industry, but there are successful women in this business. They appear hard to seek out until you actually get in and you’re like, ‘Oh, I can connect with you’ and you realize how many women really want to help you and pay it forward and just bring you along with them.”
Closed Mouths Don't Get Fed
With more women than ever exploring financial planning careers, Kayla says it’s important for younger advisors like herself to seek the wisdom of seasoned pros. You don’t have to be a “PK” like Kayla to realize there’s a lot of truth in the phrase “Ask, and you shall receive.”
“Recently, I was speaking with one of my mentors and just asking her, ‘Okay well how do I express what I want to do?’ And she simply said, ‘Closed mouths don’t get fed. If there’s something you want to do, ask. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want.’”
Learn more about how you can help the WLA attract more women into the field of financial advising by clicking here.
