Debra Patterson was a single mom with three kids; she was a woman who was “looking for a way out.” She left an abusive relationship searching for a better life and a way to support her family. The words: “If you leave me, you’ll never make it,” drove her to succeed and ultimately to find her passion. While she was busy helping other people protect their futures, she reinvented her own. Here’s Debra, Managing Director, Summit Advisory Group, in her own words.
Financial Services
Not Your Father’s Insurance Industry
My father was a life insurance underwriter for thirty years with a well-known company. As a little girl, I looked forward to occasionally visiting him at work, where I spent a morning “helping him” organize his desk, observing him conduct business on the phone and do paperwork and later going to lunch. My impression of his job was that he did something very important and glamorous, getting dressed up each day in a suit to talk to the men he helped with cases. Men who were much like him. At that time, many of the agents who sold policies were of a very similar demographic culturally, ethnically and gender-wise: middle-aged white men. These men helped build the success of many companies, my father’s included. (more…)
How do you Do Good in your community?
I have a hunch a lot of us think quite a bit this time of the year about how we support nonprofits in our community.
After all, many of us just finished our taxes and wondering whether we’ve remembered to include all of the charitable donations we’ve made over the past year.
But there’s more to supporting important causes than merely writing a check or offering up our credit card number.
There’s also good old-fashioned labor.
I’m reminded of this because this is National Volunteer Week, which is designed to inspire volunteerism, encourage others to give of their time and recognize those who already have.
Calling All Women – Consider a Career in Financial Services
We have all heard the statistics – women now make up more than 50% of the US population1 and are making 80% of the purchasing decisions in US households.2
Now think of this, close to 30% of businesses are owned by women and the number of wealthy women investors in the U.S. is growing at a faster rate than that of men.3
Our economy is greatly impacted by women yet there is a relatively low percentage of women in the financial services industry available to help them.
It’s time for that to change.
What Does it Mean to Be a Woman in the Financial Services Business?
I don’t know the answer for everyone, but I can share what has been my experience as a woman in financial services. I’ve been in the financial and legal services business for 30 years and have seen so many changes– mostly for the good. Women in this business can thrive because of all the choices and different ways to frame a career.
