Honoring the top women in the advice industry

Welcome to InvestmentNews’ fifth annual Women’s Issue, the only issue in the entire year where we hold off on sharing breaking news and features to focus our complete attention on the women who are leading the financial advice industry and inspiring the next generation of advisers.

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Inside this special issue you’ll meet our 20 Women to Watch honorees and hear their stories of how they have built thriving businesses, sometimes overcoming great obstacles. These women were chosen by our InvestmentNews editors and staff out of hundreds of nominations that readers and friends graciously submitted online. They’ve all met the selection criteria for nominees, specifically aimed at finding the superstars at advice firms and businesses that support the financial advice profession. Our 2019 winners have not only achieved great success at their own firms, they are giving back to the industry and supporting other women climbing the career ladder.

We’re also recognizing two exceptional advisers with our Alexandra Armstrong Award for Lifetime Achievement and our Rising Star Award. The former celebrates a female pioneer in financial planning, who has a long career as an adviser, a track record of leadership in the industry and a demonstrated commitment serving as a role model or mentor to other women. The latter honors a young female adviser who is already making her mark on this industry. These two honorees are keeping the industry on its toes, breaking molds and challenging the status quo every chance they get.

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In October, we gathered most of our 22 honorees in San Francisco for a brunch and photo shoot. While most of these amazing women were meeting each other for the first time, they were soon sharing their stories of personal and professional victories with each other. These hardcharging women also talked about the people — and pets — in their lives who provide them the mojo that makes them go.

Please enjoy the stories of this year’s Women to Watch, as well as additional pieces written by women and about women, who are challenging the financial advice industry to do more to support and encourage female firepower in this field.

And please join us in celebrating these 22 women on March 12 at an awards ceremony and luncheon in New York City. You’ll hear in person their inspiring and engaging advice for the next generation.

Also, please consider a woman you know who you think deserves this recognition, and nominate her next June, when we will begin accepting nominations for next year’s Women to Watch.

Our final Women Adviser Summit of 2019 will be held in New York City. Register now.