To recognize the important work and impressive achievements of women in financial services, the STA Women in Finance Committee is pleased to highlight leaders from all areas of the industry who aim to inspire the next generation of women in finance.
Our latest edition highlights the career of Margie Hewel, Senior Equity Trader at Charles Schwab.
Margie is a seasoned expert in financial technology with more than 20 years of experience in the industry. For the past 13 years, she has served as Manager of Trading Technology at Charles Schwab, where she helps clients navigate sophisticated trading tools and platforms with confidence. Before joining Schwab, Margie spent a decade at Stifel Nicolaus & Company as an Institutional Equity Sales Trader, gaining hands-on experience in trading strategies and market dynamics. Her unique blend of technical acumen and extensive trading insights makes her a trusted and valuable resource for clients looking to optimize their trading technology experience.
Why did you choose a career in the financial services industry? How did you get started?
I’d like to say that I chose a career in financial services, but in truth—it chose me. With a degree in Hotel Restaurant Management, I found myself at a crossroads while managing a restaurant in downtown Denver. Like many people do at some point in their careers, I began to feel disenchanted with the idea that this was my lifelong path. So, I left the restaurant industry, without clear direction as to what was next. I signed with a temp agency, believing it would expose me to a variety of industries and help me discover my calling. My first placement was in the HR department of a large mutual fund company, giving me an initial glimpse into the world of finance.
By a stroke of serendipity, my second placement brought me to Stifel Nicolaus, just one block from the restaurant I had managed. The brokers immediately recognized me from my restaurant days, and within just three days, offered me a full-time position as a sales assistant.
The real turning point came six months later, when the only female trader on the desk approached me with a question that would change the course of my career: “Have you ever thought about trading securities?” Without hesitation, I said yes—and that single moment launched me into what has become the most fulfilling and exciting professional journey I could have ever imagined.
How has the industry changed in the time you have been part of it?
Where do I begin? The market’s growth over the past two decades has been nothing short of historic. When I entered the industry in 2000, the Dow stood at 10,700, the S&P at 1,300, and the Nasdaq at 2,400. That same year, I witnessed my first of many market corrections—the dot-com bubble—followed by 9/11, the 2008 housing crisis, and more recently, the COVID-19 pandemic.
When I started on the trading desk, stocks were trading in fractions. Just months later, decimalization transformed the game entirely. Many feared it would devastate the industry. While that prediction proved false, it did dramatically shift the landscape. I watched as firms consolidated through numerous mergers and acquisitions, often resulting in layoffs that resulted in leaner companies and workforces.
In 2005, Reg NMS was introduced, further revolutionizing how market participants monitored and handled their trading systems. These rules fundamentally reshaped compliance departments and had a ripple effect on nearly everyone working in finance. Even settlement processes for equity transactions evolved from T+3 to T+2 and now to T+1.
What are you most proud of in your career and why?
I am most proud of taking that leap into this industry in the first place. Changing career paths is frightening and intimidating, requiring both courage, resilience, and willingness to start over. While I had taken financial classes in college, they merely laid the foundation—nothing could have truly prepared me for the invaluable real-world experiences I’ve gained since entering this field.
The theoretical knowledge from my education gave me a starting place, but it’s the practical insights, challenges, and growth opportunities that have shaped who I am professionally. That leap of faith changed the trajectory of my life, and I’m proud of the career I’ve built since.
What are your hopes for the future of the industry?
I hope to see the financial services industry continue to break down entry barriers and make career sustainability easier for the next generation—especially for those who may not follow the traditional entry paths. We need to not only attract promising talent but create compelling reasons for them to stay.
Do you have any words of wisdom for the next generation of women in finance?
Being flexible in your career and with the people around you is a powerful skill. The industry’s cyclical nature—expanding and retracting like the market—means that adaptability becomes a crucial asset.
When you develop the capacity to bend without breaking, to reassess and redirect your efforts in the most challenging moments, you create a foundation for success in all aspects of life.
Adaptability is an incredible asset—nurture it, and you will excel even when the path shifts. It won’t just serve your career; it will strengthen you as a person.