By Julie Andress

KeyBanc Capital Markets & STA WIF Co-Chair

Finding the proper balance on how we allocate our precious time can be overwhelming. For the vast majority of us, finding enough time for family, friends and career is challenging enough, but if you add community service to the equation, words like “impossible” and “sorry, I can’t” come to mind. It appears community service finishes a distant fourth, if it finishes at all, not because of a lack of desire, but with busy lives, it can be hard to find time to volunteer. However, the benefits can be significant to you and your community. Even helping with the smallest tasks can make a real difference to organizations in need, and dedicating your time as a volunteer helps you expand your network and boost your professional and social skills. 

Each year nearly 240 individuals across North America give their time to serve on any one of STA’s 24 affiliate boards in the U.S. and Canada. All of these individuals are paying it forward in an effort and desire to improve our industry not just for today, but for the next generation as well. 

While some question if Winston Churchill uttered the quote, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give,” these powerful words remind us that service to others has its own rewards to those who give their time in doing so. In other words, there is fulfillment in community service. 

Each year nearly 240 individuals across North America give their time to serve on any one of STA’s 24 affiliate boards in the U.S. and Canada. All of these individuals are paying it forward in an effort and desire to improve our industry not just for today, but for the next generation as well. While all of these individuals deserve our appreciation, this month we wanted to say thank you and provide recognition to a subset, the Women of STA.

Today more than 25 percent of STA affiliate boards are comprised of women in the financial services industry. While this figure under represents the overall figures of women in finance, it is an improvement and more importantly, a large enough figure to build cultures of inclusion that promote and sustain a sense of belonging for other women across the network of STA affiliates.

Their names and affiliate organizations are listed below. If you know any of them, please take a moment to thank them for their service to our industry. Appreciation for their efforts to lead and inspire others to do the same is well deserved. 

• Julie Andress, KeyBanc Capital Markets, National
• Lauren Arbid, ABN Amro Clearing, Chicago
• Jill Bartell, Quest Investment Management, Portland
• Krissy Bernstein, Stifel Nicolaus, Mid-Atlantic
• Andrea Brake, ATB Investment Management, Canada
• Sue Buchanan, Scotiabank, Canada
• Nanette Buziak, Voya, Connecticut
• Sandy Chism, Kansas City Capital Associates, Kansas City
• Karen Couldrey, Scotiabank, Canada
• Brittnee Dalton, Globalt, Georgia
• Emma Danyliuk, CPP Investments, Canada
• Danielle Dayan, ACS Execution, Chicago
• Laura Delaney, Virtu, Dallas
• Alia Durbarry, Mackenzie Investments, Canada
• Joanna Fields, Aplomb Strategies, New York
• Regina Frate, SASCO Capital, Connecticut
• Bethany Graham, Cboe Global Markets, Chicago
• Linda Heuman, Fifth Third Bank, Ohio
• Lisa Jacque, BNP Paribas, San Francisco
• Karen Jardim, AltaCorp Capital, Canada
• Helen Kang, TPG, San Francisco
• Gina King, The Interstate Group, Carolina
• Patricia Koetzner, Siebert, Williams, Shank, National
• Beatrix Kondor, BTIG, Georgia
• Ginny Kowalczyk, Cboe Global Markets, Chicago
• Christina Kowalski, Conestoga Capital Advisors, Philadelphia
• Jill Kreutz, BTIG, Dallas
• Ann Claire Lathem, Montag, Georgia
• Stephanie Libien, Jefferies, San Francisco
• Agata Lipinski, Colt, Chicago
• Rosanne Lissow, Decatur Capital Management, Carolina
• Nanette Marks, ISC Global, St. Louis
• Claudette Mason, FBR Riley, Boston
• Kate McAllister, Global Liquidity Partners, National
• Lauren Miller, Jefferies, San Francisco
• Kat Miller, Stifel Nicolaus, St. Louis
• Stephanie Minister, Liquidity Book, National
• Janice Morgan-Hilsman, StoneX, Florida
• Janhavi Nandre, Mackenzie Investments, Canada
• Jennifer Nayar, Vela Trading, New York
• Kirsten Neuendorff, RBC Global Asset Management, Canada
• Nora Nicols, Fiduciary Management, Wisconsin
• Joany Page, Palos, Canada
• Irene Pajer, Interstate Group, Carolina
• Georgene Pedrie, Seagall Bryant & Hamill, Denver
• Roberta Pigat, TD Asset Management, Canada
• Amy Reichard, Broadridge, New York
• June Anne Reid, Scotiabank, Canada
• Inessa Ruffman, JonesTrading, National
• Meena Saggar, BMO Asset Management, Canada
• Cass Sanford, OTC Markets Group, National
• Patty Schuler, BOX Options Exchange, Chicago
• Paula Sexsmith, Viewpoint Investment Partners, Canada
• Alina Shah, JP Morgan, San Francisco
• Erin Sheehan, LeveL ATS, Boston
• Kelli Springer, Kansas City Capital Associates, Kansas City
• Elizabeth Traster, Wells Fargo Advisors, National
• Lisa Utasi, ClearBridge Investments, New York
• Amy Wiedmeyer, Northwestern Mutual, Wisconsin
• Ellen Wile, Lightspeed Financial Group, Boston
• Erin Williams, Stifel Nicolaus, San Francisco
• Anastasia Yamane, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, San Francisco

Read the full newsletter here.

by Julie Andress

KeyBanc Capital Markets & STA WIF Co-Chair

In case you missed all of the recent social media posts showing photos of individuals, both women and men, with their arms out in a parallel pose, yesterday was International Women’s Day. Or, maybe you saw the posts but you weren’t sure what they meant. Celebrated annually on March 8, International Women’s Day (IWD) is a united movement for women across the globe to come together in hope and action, dedicated to celebrating women’s achievements in social, economic, cultural and political spheres.
The theme for IWD 2020 is I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights , with the idea of “bringing together people of every gender, age, ethnicity, race, religion and country, to drive actions that will create the gender-equal world we all deserve.”

When I think about this year’s IWD theme, I think of previous generations, and I am hopeful.

The IWD 2020 social campaign, #EachforEqual, provides a unified direction to incite continuous collective action, and the campaign runs all year long. International Women’s Day didn’t end yesterday, or last for 24 hours. It just started, with activity around #EachforEqual to be reinforced and amplified across the globe throughout the entire year.

Yes, “women and girls continue to be undervalued; they work more and earn less and have fewer choices; and experience multiple forms of violence at home and in public spaces,” noted in a recent IWD article by UNWomen.org. But I am hopeful. We have a long way to go but we have come so far. This is the generation that pushes us fully forward. The expectations and mindset are different. We’ve seen firsthand the progress that has been made in the financial services industry over the past two decades. We’ve been fortunate enough to have mentors, and managers who have recognized us for our work. We believe that progress will continue, making it better for the generations to come.

The IWD 2020 social campaign, #EachforEqual , provides a unified direction to incite continuous collective action, and the campaign runs all year long. International Women’s Day didn’t end yesterday, or last for 24 hours. It just started, with activity around #EachforEqual to be reinforced and amplified across the globe throughout the entire year.
So to all of my fellow female colleagues, friends and family members, Happy International Women’s Day.

“In the future, there will be no female leaders. There will just be leaders.”

Sheryl Sandberg, Chief Operating Officer, Facebook  

#IWD2020#EachforEqual

See March STA Women in Finance Newsletter here

By Julie Andress

KeyBanc Capital Markets & STA WIF Co-Chair

Finding the proper balance on how we allocate our precious time can be overwhelming. For the vast majority of us, finding enough time for family, friends and career is challenging enough, but if you add community service to the equation, words like “impossible” and “sorry, I can’t” come to mind. It appears community service finishes a distant fourth, if it finishes at all, not because of a lack of desire, but with busy lives, it can be hard to find time to volunteer. However, the benefits can be significant to you and your community. Even helping with the smallest tasks can make a real difference to organizations in need, and dedicating your time as a volunteer helps you expand your network and boost your professional and social skills. 

Each year nearly 240 individuals across North America give their time to serve on any one of STA’s 24 affiliate boards in the U.S. and Canada. All of these individuals are paying it forward in an effort and desire to improve our industry not just for today, but for the next generation as well. 

While some question if Winston Churchill uttered the quote, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give,” these powerful words remind us that service to others has its own rewards to those who give their time in doing so. In other words, there is fulfillment in community service. 

Each year nearly 240 individuals across North America give their time to serve on any one of STA’s 24 affiliate boards in the U.S. and Canada. All of these individuals are paying it forward in an effort and desire to improve our industry not just for today, but for the next generation as well. While all of these individuals deserve our appreciation, this month we wanted to say thank you and provide recognition to a subset, the Women of STA.

Today more than 20 percent of STA affiliate boards are comprised of women in the financial services industry. While this figure under represents the overall figures of women in finance, it is an improvement and more importantly, a large enough figure to build cultures of inclusion that promote and sustain a sense of belonging for other women across the network of STA affiliates.

Their names and affiliate organizations are listed below. If you know any of them, please take a moment to thank them for their service to our industry. Appreciation for their efforts to lead and inspire others to do the same is well deserved. 

• Agata Lipinski – Chicago
• Amy Reichard – New York
• Alina Shah – San Francisco
• Amy Wiedmeyer – Wisconsin   
• Anastasia Yamane – San Francisco 
• Ann Claire Lathem – Georgia
• Beatrix Kondor – Georgia
• Beth Hamburger – New York
• Bethany Graham – Chicago
• Brittany Letto – Los Angeles
• Brittnee Dalton – Georgia
• Carolyn Heslop – Boston
• Cass Sanford – National
• Christina Kowalski – Philadelphia
• Claudette Mason – Boston
• Danielle Dayan – Chicago
• Elizabeth Traster – St. Louis 
• Ellen Wile – Boston
• Erin Sheehan – Boston
• Erin Williams – San Francisco 
• Frances Proctor – Florida
• Georgene Pedrie – Denver
• Gina M. King – Carolina 
• Ginny Kowalczyk – Chicago 
• Helen Kang – San Francisco
• Inessa Ruffman – Los Angeles
• Irene Pajer – Carolina 
• Janice Morgan-Hilsman – Florida
• Jennifer Nayar – New York
• Jessica Schultz – Chicago
• Jessica Theisen – New York
• Jill Bartell – Portland
• Joanna Fields – New York
• Joany Page – Canada
• Julie Andress – Ohio, National
• Karen Couldrey – Canada
• Kate McAllister – National
• Kelli Springer – Kansas City 
• Kimberly Russell – National
• Krissy Bernstein – Mid-Atlantic
• Laura Delaney – Dallas
• Lauren Arbid – Chicago 
• Lesley Cresswell – Canada
• Linda Heuman – Ohio
• Lisa Utasi – New York
• Meena Saggar – Canada
• Nanette Buziak – Connecticut 
• Nanette Marks – St. Louis
• Nora Nicols – Wisconsin
• Patricia Koetzner – New York
• Patty Schuler – Chicago
• Paula Sexsmith – Canada
• Peggy Bowie – Canada
• Regina Frate – Connecticut 
• Roberta Pigat – Canada
• Roseanne Lissow – Carolina 
• Sandy Chism – Kansas City  
• Stephanie Libien – San Francisco
• Stephanie Minister – Boston

Earlier this month, the House Financial Services Committee’s Subcommittee on Diversity and Inclusion held a hearing entitled “Examining the Need for Diversity Practices for America’s Changing Workforce”. The hearing focused solely on retention and promotion of diverse talent within US companies. As Chairwoman Joyce Beatty noted, US companies cannot just focus on recruitment, but rather must also expand their efforts through other areas. The STA Women in Finance Committee was founded with this same belief and has as one of its guiding principles, address the mentoring, networking, education and coaching needs of women.

In other words, there is power in congressional hearings that go beyond drafting legislation. While the financial services industry has pivoted on diversity and inclusion, real change requires the focus of management and hearings such as this one provide a meaningful catalyst towards achieving that goal.

Like many congressional hearings, there was no specific legislation being debated or voted upon, but that does not mean the hearing was not effective. Quite the contrary. Hearings such as this one, provide a unique and powerful opportunity to gather data and hear the opinions of subject matter experts and thought leaders within their respective fields of expertise. In other words, there is power in congressional hearings that go beyond drafting legislation and this one serves as a good example of one.

The range of topics was broad and the depth of detail was robust. We have compiled a list of the more salient points made, along with reports that were referenced. We hope you find the information insightful.

General Statements

U.S. Census Bureau states that the population of the U.S. will be majority of the minority. Women and minorities will compromise 47 percent of the U.S., and 27 percent of the workforce respectively within the U.S.

To reap the benefits of a diverse workforce, inclusion must also exist. Best practices are already taking place through sponsorships, mentorship, employee’s resource group, and diversity councils, but more can be done.

It is a core responsibility to leading companies in the world’s greatest nation to focus on the talent pool and make sure it is fully engaged to its greatest potential.

Reports

Diversity Doesn’t Stick Without Inclusion, Harvard Business School

Diversity and inclusion are often lumped together and are assumed to be the same thing and that is just not the case. report

Mending the Gender Gap: Advancing Tomorrow’s Women Leaders in Financial Services, Price Waterhouse

Despite making up more than half the workforce in financial institutions, women continue to dramatically lag behind their male counterparts in leadership roles. report

Oct. 17, 2019 Congressional Hearing Report, Williams & Jensen

Topics discussed in the hearing included: (1) Implementation; (2) Mansfield Rule; (3) Rooney Rule; (4) Incentives; (5) Best Practices; (6) Workforce Development; (7) Flexible Workforce Arrangements; (8) Unconscious Biases; (9) Age Discrimination.  report

See full STA WIF October Newsletter here

As we celebrate the 110th International Women’s Day  it is both amazing and inspiring to reflect upon more than a century of achievements by women. Each generation has continued to improve its educational attainment during the course of a lifetime. Through that knowledge and the examples of female leaders, women of every passing generation have been able to leave the world a better place for the next. Our generation, on this day, is no different. Grateful of the accomplishments and successes of women before us, and motivated through a sense of responsibility to leave something better for those yet to come, we are all trailblazers.

Finance is a dynamic and highly competitive industry with its own set of unique challenges towards achieving diversity balance. It is encouraging to see financial firms represented at the top of  Forbes America’s Best Employers for Women 2018 . When the STA WIF initiative was formed just a few short years ago, it was designed under the premise that there has not been a better time for women in finance. While true then and now, by no means does it imply that our work towards gender equality is done.

Data in key areas show improvement, but stubbornly wide gaps still must narrow. Transparency that the data provides goes a long way towards identifying where problems exist and from there, how solutions can be formed. It’s said that admission is the first step and I continue to be encouraged by the groundswell of activity around gender pay gaps, promoting women, adding women to corporate boards, and just a general awareness around the lack of diversity in boardrooms and across senior management. This transparency, coupled with a genuine desire to effect change, will be at the foundation of our generation’s achievements.

The theme of International Women’s Day 2019 is  #BalanceForBetter , a call-to-action for driving gender balance across the world. Balance in all things is better, study after study show, and it drives a better working world. To paraphrase from the IWD 2019 Balance for Better website, this unified direction to guide and galvanize continuous collective action runs all year long. It doesn’t end on International Women’s Day, but rather just begins.

There is always more we can do, and we will, but we should also be proud of how far we have come. Effecting real change requires a holistic effort, with both women  and  men invested in a common goal.

On behalf of the STA Women in Finance Committee, I wish you a happy International Women’s Day.
How will you make a difference?

See March Newsletter here

Room at the top: Women in finance and investing

by Lee McAdoo,  Managing Director

Investor Education at TD Ameritrade

Age 35. That’s about when I started to notice that I had fewer female peers.

It shouldn’t have surprised me. Women start to fall back largely due to having families and choosing to opt out of the workforce or scale back professionally just as men pull ahead in their careers. Not only does this shift have a significant impact on women’s personal finances and investing choices, but it also affects the number of women holding careers in financial services.

It can be disheartening to see talented colleagues leave the field. Individual choices—when it comes to work and life—can be difficult and are highly personal, but I do see opportunities for current financial executives, both female and male, to identify and nurture an interest in finance and investing. Why? It’s necessary in order to keep female talent, drive business forward and improve the industry as a whole.

My home life involves two busy daughters—ages seven and five—and a stay-at-home husband. It was my husband’s decision to leave his 20-year career in finance and stay at home with our kids in order to help me advance in my career and reach our goals. He’s supportive of my role as the primary breadwinner. And our situation is not as unique as it once was: 42 percent of mothers are the sole or primary breadwinners in their households and bring in at least half of family earnings. Not surprisingly, 51 percent of women report that they are the Chief Financial Officers (CFO) of their households.  Read more here

TD Ameritrade, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Stock investing is subject to risks, including risk of loss. Commentary provided for educational purposes only. Past performance of a security, strategy, or index is no guarantee of future results or investment success.

Security Traders Associate and TD Ameritrade are separate and unaffiliated and not responsible for each other’s services or policies.

 See STA Women in Finance February Newsletter here