Women Working in [Everything]

Every day, I am inspired by the women in my life. I grew up with four sisters and no brothers. My mother was my first best friend. My wife of nearly 40 years is my forever best friend. Together, we raised our two daughters with the foundation and the faith to become strong, independent women (and raised our son to respect strong, independent women). In celebration of Women’s History Month, I believe all of us—men included—can honor the women in our lives and the women in American history by supporting the positive trajectory women are taking toward a better future. Or at a minimum, by not blocking it.

Allow me to explain. Before I became the first Black president and CEO of The American College of Financial Services, I was the first Black insurance commissioner in Kentucky, the first Black president of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and the first Black person elected to New York Life’s executive management committee. When I see a woman shatter a glass ceiling, I see familiar challenges and opportunities reflected in the glass.

When I see a woman shatter a glass ceiling, I see familiar challenges and opportunities reflected in the glass.

Although our stories and our breakthroughs differ, I know firsthand what it’s like to be the “first.” But as my family name would imply (I’m the “third”), and as anyone who has been a first may tell you, we also have a keen awareness of those who came before us. And we hold a special sense of hope for whoever will come next. The first is never the only.

So when I see a woman on the path to becoming a first, I feel the least I can do is move over and let her enter traffic at her own best pace—fueled by her God-given talents, her personal drive, and her applied knowledge. Nothing should stop her.

Now I have to ask: Who or what is stopping women from entering the financial services profession? According to the latest US Census Bureau data, women make up just over 50% of the population; yet less than a third (31%) of financial advisors are women. The fact that the profession is so disproportionate seems like something’s blocking the onramp. This is why The American College Center for Women in Financial Services exists: to promote gender parity in the profession through education, research, and networking. The Center facilitates a community known as Women Working in Wealth^SM, which is also the name of the Center’s newsletter.

This is why The American College Center for Women in Financial Services exists: to promote gender parity in the profession through education, research, and networking.

As a brother, son, best friend, husband, father, and professional, I support women working in all disciplines; but—as an empathetic “first”—I have a special place in my heart for the women who are working in arenas that may be considered “male-dominated.” Women Working in [Construction, Engineering, IT, and Wealth], I see you!

And someone we all see lately is the contemporary basketball great, Caitlin Clark of Iowa. On February 15, Clark surpassed the NCAA Division I women’s record set by Kelsey Plum in 2017. On February 28, Clark became the top-scoring women’s basketball player, breaking the unofficial record held by Lynette Woodard of Kansas since 1981. Clark’s accomplishment also shined a spotlight on the lesser-known women’s basketball player Pearl Moore, whose all-time record set in 1979 is still higher than Clark’s but not included for comparison because it occurred at Francis Marion College, which is not NCAA Division I. What a wonderful phenomenon when the excellence of one player shines a light on another!

This month, on March 3, Clark set the all-time NCAA Division I scoring record, breaking the record set by men’s basketball player Pete Maravich of LSU in 1970. In that moment, Clark marked a spot in basketball history—not only women’s basketball history. Clark’s greatness as a player is a story of human potential, both for women and men. What a great example of where women are headed in all arenas!

In the final moments of the postgame press conference that followed, a reporter asked:

“You have now scored more points than anyone who has ever played [NCAA] Division I men’s or women’s basketball. As much as you say that record isn’t what you’re thinking about, when you hear it like that, is that going to hit you at some point?”

Clark’s answer:

“Oh, for sure. It's really crazy to think about. Honestly, if you would have told me that before my college career started, I would have laughed in your face and been like, ‘No, you're insane.’

I've always been able to score the ball, but I don’t think people really understand how many amazing players have come before me and been able to score the ball and do it at such a high rate and do it for teams that are really, really good.

And just to be in the same realm of all these players that have been so successful, whether it's Pete [Maravich] or whether it's Kelsey Plum or Lynette Woodard—all these people have just given so much to the game.

Hopefully somebody comes after me and breaks my records and I can be there supporting them. And that's what makes the game of basketball so fun.

But yeah, it'll definitely hit me at some point. Thanks.”

I can’t think of a better way to close out this blog—or this Women’s History Month in March of 2024—than to reiterate Clark’s hope for the future: “Hopefully somebody comes after me and breaks my records and I can be there supporting them.”

Whether you are breaking glass ceilings or breaking records (assets under management, revenue, or hours of CE!); whether you are playing in one division or another (wealth management, retirement, life insurance, tax planning); whether you are new to the game or at the top of your game—The College and I support you on your path to make history.