New Patterns & Trends: Adapting to the Change

Stuart shares, “What I love to see is the shift of wealth that is happening in the country from men to women. It gives women the opportunity to control and have a say in their financial future that may not have been the case in the past.” This shift of wealth creates the need for different advisors and different services. Women advisors tend to approach the relationship with women clients in a different manner. Here she points out, “This is not to say that there aren’t exceptional men advisors out there that can connect with women clients as well, but it has opened the door and provided the need to have all kinds of advisors in our industry to help serve all kinds of clients.”  

She recalls the time when she had just joined ML&R Wealth Management, “I was the only woman working on our wealth management team. I would go to conferences and look at the room and count the number of women present. This number has always been and still seems, to hover around 10-15%. I want to change that. I have built a team that is now about 75% women, trying to give each woman a new opportunity to participate in this industry and grow in this career.” It’s a testament to the values at ML&R which have managed to give a sense of belonging to so many for so many years, “When I joined the firm, my children were 2 and 4 years old. I wanted to join an organization that values its employees and respects their life outside of work,” adds Stuart. “From the day I joined and 19 years later, our company still focuses on its employees and the importance of creating work/life balance. This has not only created an amazing place to work but a camaraderie around team members where we all respect and support each other through all the phases of life each team member is dealing with.”

Looking Beyond: Growth, Family & Future

In keeping with the best traditions at ML&R and the changing avenues in wealth management. She believes, “The best thing you can do for the growth of your firm is to take great care of your clients. More than 80% of our new clients come from existing client referrals. This serves us in two ways. It is the best form of validation that we are doing our job well and we get to work with friends and family of our clients we love.” Wealth management will continue to change and evolve as more advisors enter the market and more regulatory laws are put in place. Throughout the change, ML&R aspires to always stay true to who they are- always putting the client first, serving as a fiduciary, building long-term relationships, and investing with an eye on costs to allow the client to have more money in their pockets. 

Stuart is a proud mom of two amazing kids now 23 and 21, both in college and creating what they want in their future. She has a wonderful husband with whom she shares so much. “As a family, we love hiking, biking, skiing, traveling, and being in the mountains any chance we get,” shares Stuart. “I love reading and gardening and my many friendships. And, if I am home on a rainy day, I will always be at my kitchen table working on my latest puzzle.” 

It’s been 19 years since she took the leap and created a space for herself in wealth management. She believes, “As we continue to grow and bring in younger advisors, I look forward to the next phase of our firm and how the younger generation steps in and takes the lead. There are always new and better ways to do things and having young minds involved creates so much potential for change and improvement. Individuals before me started this firm and passed the torch to me. I am hoping to do the same to the next generation and watch the great things they do to make it even better.”