The Conversation That Starts a Career

Every advisor can probably point to one moment that changed the course of their career. Maybe someone explained what wealth management looked like, made an introduction that led to a first opportunity, or simply suggested financial services as a career they had never considered.

My own path into financial services started about six months after graduating college. At the time, I was working several jobs to make ends meet when I ran into a friend who suggested I explore the industry. He introduced me to several people in his network, and those introductions ultimately led to my first opportunity in financial services. Looking back, I'm reminded how one conversation can change the course of a career.

Over the past several years, I’ve spoken with many college students and early-career professionals, especially young women, who are exploring what comes next. One theme comes up consistently: financial services is rarely at the top of their list, not because they lack the interest or ability, but because they do not fully understand the breadth of opportunities that the industry offers.

Women advisors have played an important role in shaping the industry, and we're in a unique position to make it more visible to the next generation.

How Advisors Can Make a Difference

1. Help the next generation connect the dots.

Financial services is often viewed through a narrow lens. Many students picture investment banking or trading, and do not realize the industry also includes wealth management, relationship management, financial planning, investment research, fintech, compliance, risk management, product development, marketing and data analytics.

For someone just beginning their career, those roles can feel abstract. Start by asking what kinds of problems they enjoy solving, what captures their attention, and whether they are drawn to analytical work, relationship-building or both. Then connect those interests to specific roles.

One piece of advice I often share is to stay endlessly curious, ask thoughtful questions and keep learning. The people who progress fastest aren't always the ones with the strongest finance background on day one. They're often the ones who are genuinely curious and want to understand how the pieces come together.

The best career conversations feel less like recruiting and more like discovery.

2. Turn relationships into access.

Networking is often presented to young professionals as something they need to master on their own. But relationships are most valuable when they lead to exposure, useful connections, and opportunities to learn.

Women advisors can make the process more approachable by creating the first point of connection. A warm introduction, an invitation to an industry event, or a conversation with someone in a relevant role can have far more impact than general networking advice.

Recommending someone for an internship or helping them see the business more closely can turn an interesting conversation into a tangible next step. Advice is valuable. Access can be transformative.

3. Share the real story.

Early-career professionals often assume that successful careers followed a straight line. Most did not.

Sharing the unexpected turns, lessons, and relationships that shaped your own career can make the profession feel more accessible. Talk about what you learned in your first role, the skills you developed, and the opportunities you could not have predicted.

These conversations show that there is more than one way to succeed in financial services. Technical knowledge matters, but so do clear communication, emotional intelligence, curiosity, judgment and the ability to earn trust. Together, those qualities are often what distinguish great advisors and strong leaders.

By speaking candidly about our experiences, we can help young women see there is no single path to success in financial services. They can build careers that reflect their own strengths and ambitions.

Many capable young professionals do not know how their strengths could translate into a financial services career. By making the business more transparent and its networks more accessible, advisors can help more people see the industry as a place to build meaningful, rewarding careers.

Sharing our experiences does not mean prescribing someone else’s future. It is about offering the next generation more information, greater access and a clearer view of what is possible.

A single conversation may not determine someone’s career. But the right question, an honest story, or one thoughtful introduction could be the conversation that starts it.

The views expressed are those of the author as of the date of publication and are subject to change without notice. They are provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice, a recommendation, or an offer to buy or sell any security. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of New York Life Investment Management LLC or its affiliates.

"New York Life Investment Management" is the brand name and service mark used to represent a group of affiliated investment advisors of New York Life Insurance Company, including New York Life Investment Management LLC, a registered investment adviser.