Q & A: FINANCIAL PLANNING INSTITUTE
Women have made progress across financial services, but where do the most significant barriers to advancement remain? I believe that many of the remaining barriers exist in our own mindsets.
Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to work with many men who supported and believed in me. Had I waited for someone else’ s permission, or stood back because I was a woman, I would not be where I am today.
The profession has evolved significantly over the past 50 years. We therefore have a responsibility to keep our education, professional, and competency standards relevant to society and an ever-changing world.
We are also passionate about consumer financial education. Through Global Money Week, World Financial Planning Day, FPIMyMoney123, and partnerships with other organisations, we help improve financial education and encourage consumers to seek professional advice.
My advice to women is simple: stand strong, stand out, and do not stand back because you are female. Being a woman has taught me resilience, empathy, and the importance of building meaningful relationships.
What must organisations do to ensure that women are not only represented, but also supported to lead and influence decisions? Organisations need to believe that women genuinely make a difference. Appointing women should never be a compliance exercise. It should reflect a sincere commitment to building diverse leadership teams with different perspectives, experiences, and ideas.
We also need to move beyond outdated stereotypes. Women should not automatically be expected to take the meeting notes or organise lunch because they are the only woman in the room. That is not leadership.
Organisations should invest in developing women and provide them with opportunities to lead. Women must also be willing to step into those opportunities. Growth often begins just outside your comfort zone.
What are the FPI’ s most important priorities as the financial-planning profession continues to evolve? Our vision is simply to empower people to build better futures through trusted, professional financial planning and advice.
“ Appointing women should never be a compliance exercise.”
What would you like young women considering a career in financial planning to understand about the profession and its opportunities? Firstly, understand that financial planning is a profession, not a sales career.
It takes commitment, continuous learning, and typically between five and seven years to become an experienced financial planner. The rewards, however, go beyond professional success.
Every day you have the opportunity to help people solve problems, achieve their goals, and build financial wellbeing. You become part of some of the most important decisions in their lives.
If you are passionate about helping people, enjoy solving complex problems, and want to make a meaningful difference, financial planning offers a rewarding career. You can build better futures, not only for your clients, but also for yourself. �
That means inspiring young people to enter the profession, supporting members through lifelong learning, and ensuring that South Africans have access to competent, ethical professionals. sabusinessintegrator. co. za 29