Northwestern Mutual - Davis District

02/03/2023

Black women continue to face discrimination in the financial services industry, so it’s no wonder that lack of trust is a huge obstacle in finding a financial advisor. Intimidating jargon, transactional relationships, and the lack of culturally relevant research are just some of the contributing factors. I believe Northwestern Mutual and locally, my team in Central Illinois, do a great job in some of these areas. And we still have a lot to learn to keep improving our understanding, outreach, and work to continue building wealth in underserved communities. This article focuses on tips for how Black women can overcome these barriers to build wealth, and I sure hope it’s not just Black women reading this article.

Black women are often not targeted by financial advisors and face obstacles accessing wealth building tools. Financial advisors share tips for addressing those challenges.

02/01/2023

I'm honored to join the celebration of and grateful for those who sacrificed, resisted, challenged, and accomplished so much while living their lives, marrying, divorcing, having children, grieving, celebrating, learning, providing, and trying to make it in this world.

01/31/2023

I've been working on habits 2 and 3 (there were a lot of rough patches, but it's finally getting easier and easier!) and feel ready to fold in a new habit! I feel kind of embarrassed saying I'm not already doing number 6. I mean I put money away for savings, but then I sometimes send it right back to my spending account without a real goal for it. And I think fear of judgement stifles progress, especially when we're talking about money. So here we go number 6! We're going to assign that money a purpose and watch it grow (I hope!). money-habits

What you need to know to do more for your money and career and invest for your future. Plus fact-based opinions and women supporting women.

01/30/2023

"Seventy percent of the women we spoke with pivoted twice or more in order to pick up momentum." Sometimes it's time to make a change to get the career experience you want. Did you know most of the people who join our team do NOT have a background in finance? Whether it's time for something new or you just need a little help sustaining momentum where you are, here are 3 behaviors that could help, from interviews conducted by executive coaches for women leaders.

The authors, executive coaches for women leaders, wanted to understand why some women are able to sustain and maintain career momentum, despite the systemic, structural problems women — and especially women of color — face in the workplace. They interviewed 37 women in senior leadership roles, i...

01/24/2023

Of all the financial professionals in the US, 73.6% are men and 76.3% are white. That might be part of the reason only 31% of women have met with a financial advisor (compared to 59% of men, as noted in this report). The statistics get even more dismal for Black, Asian, and Latinx communities. Not to mention the LGBTQ+ community, but now I’m getting overwhelmed with all the problems to solve. But hold on, COME BACK!...this isn’t a doom and gloom post! When I read a report that highlights how women’s relationship with money differs from men, their financial and career priorities, I get EXCITED. For starters, we're talking about it, acknowledging the difference. It also adds kindling to the fire in me that wants to find a solution from my little corner of the world. The wall I’m putting up in this mansion of opportunity for women, is two-fold. I’m on a mission to get the opportunity to be a financial planner at Northwestern Mutual in front of as many women as possible (I happen to know a woman-led team you can join in Central Illinois. Psssst! it’s my team). I also aim to help more women start a financial planning conversation. Many people offer great services, but what about having the choice to work with an advisor who can partner with you, who has experienced the same fears and goals as you in the financial and career world, who understands your culture and your relationship with money? These statistics WILL change. And all of us in the world will be better off for it.

The Ellevest Financial Wellness Survey 2022 finds women prioritizing financial wellness more than ever, but in terms of financial freedom, we have a long way to go.

01/23/2023

Happy Chinese New Year! Wishing all celebrating, luck, love, health, and an abundance of peace in the coming year.
"Rabbits symbolize peace and relaxation, so we can expect a calm 2023, cross-cultural communications strategist Dottie Li told Seventeen. "Because of the rabbit's characteristics, we can expect relaxation, fluidity, quietness and contemplation."

Asian communities around the world mark the new year with fireworks, parades and other festivities.

01/20/2023

This little gal is one of my favorite people on the whole planet. I get to hang with her once/week and though I’m the “mentor”, I learn from her constantly. She’s the most authentic 11 yr old! She’s learning who she is, but also does not try to hide her essence. She’s hilarious, direct, and tells it like it is. See why I feel like the mentee in this relationship?? Her dad is a great cook, her mom is the smartest, her brothers are great advice-givers. I hope I can meet them all one day and that we get to be friends for a really long time.
Happy to all the other mentors and mentees out there! Aren’t we all so lucky??

01/19/2023

Some days I need a little Focused Work Time, but people, BUST OPEN THAT DOOR if it means I get to make a new connection!

PS see how I allllmost misspelled “interruption” 👀 squeezed in that forgotten R like a champ

01/19/2023

Some people avoid meeting with a financial advisor because of embarrassment or insecurity around their savings, or lack of. But did you know that budgeting and building realistic savings strategies is one way we help our clients start the financial planning journey? Our advisors are collaborative, kind, educational, and all about meeting you where you are to build a plan you can execute.

My advisor simplified this for me with the 60/20/20 budget. Read on to learn more and then let us know how we can help you get started!

If you have problems saving money and enjoying life, the 60-20-20 budget is a template that lets you organize your finances around real-life.

01/18/2023

Brad Smith talks about an "ecosystem of support" to help remove barriers for entrepreneurs. YASSS BRAD👏🙌 It doesn't have to be complicated!

"Design thinking teaches you to fall in love with the problem and not your idea," says Smith....Smith is already taking bold steps. He is incorporating into the required first-year curriculum at Marshall University both financial literacy and design thinking. He wants all students, when they graduate, to be "scrappy." He wants them to "know how to pivot" in response to life's hardships, "how to learn from experiments ... how to learn from failure."

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Marshall University works to instill this approach in a new generation of entrepreneurs.

01/11/2023

Making That Money is not the primary reason women start a business. In fact, women typically launch a business for mostly non-economic reasons, like to have more flexibility in their lives, more control over their day-to-day and their future, to escape the glass ceiling when it comes to advancement, or to decide what they earn and charge what they're worth. It's totally possible to be successful in your business AND not feel like you have to burn the candle at both ends. Make this the year more women explore opportunities to build their OWN THING. Now that's a resolution I can get behind.

12/23/2022

We're so proud of this lady right here. Every year since she first opened her financial planning practice with us, her hard work and commitment to doing the right thing for her clients has secured her a spot in the Top 10 of advisors in our Central Region (which has translated to Top 30 in the company overall!). So excited to celebrate another year of excellence with you, Jessica Hogue Northwestern Mutual! WELL DONE.