One is meeting women where they’re at with women-only events, so they can have a voice.
“It does seem exclusionary, but it’s just a moment in time in the development of our industry, and we need to do this for the moment because we need to nurture, educate, and cultivate comfort for these women in talking about these times,” she said. “As we come together in community, I think we wrestle all the barriers away and support each other, financially and on so many levels.”
The industry also needs to be more aware of its messaging and language – and find more appropriate ways of communicating. She said the current industry messaging doesn’t engage women when it’s too technical. And calling an advisor a word like “quarterback” doesn’t resonate as much with women as men.
“We need to look at the language we’re using in our industry because a lot of it is very male and, as much as we know what they mean by it, it still has a way of alienating the female,” said Stewart. “When people say quarterback, I get what they mean, but it doesn’t touch me deep in my soul.”
Stewart said the industry also needs to support more women advisors – bringing more into the industry and providing them with role models plus hospitable environments. Her own leadership team, for instance, is 70% female and she noted more women are rising in credit union ranks.
