Serving the Underserved: Championing Financial Independence for Women and the LGBTQ+ Community

"Don't judge a book by its cover. Treat every relationship with an open mind."

Welcome to WomenShare: a marketing guide for women in financial services. This is a very special episode of the podcast, as it is our first to feature a duo! Joanna Ehresman and Leah Alter are joined by Kathy Fish and her daughter, Kerry Jackson, of Fish and Associates, a financial planning firm focused on serving women and the LGBTQ+ community.

As a financial professional in the South, Kathy recognized how underserved the LGBTQ+ community was and wanted to create a space where these individuals would feel accepted. Fish and Associates, a boutique firm in Memphis, Tennessee, has now revolutionized financial planning for women and the LGBTQ+ community.

From challenging traditional financial norms to promoting the importance of women's financial independence, our conversation with Kathy and Kerry shows just a sliver of their inspiring stories. They offer career advice, emphasizing the importance of starting where you are and not being held back by past failures, the passed-down saying, "the harder you work, the luckier you get," and the yoga teacher's mantra, "everything is already okay," to find hope and light in difficult situations.

Kathy and Kerry also shed light on the rebranding process of their firm, emphasizing the importance of involving personal stories and values in branding and marketing.

Key takeaways:

1. Start Where You Are: Kerry Jackson's career advice to not be held back by past failures and to start planning for your future from your current position.

2. Empowerment Through Work and Mindset: Kathy Fish's advice, including her father's saying "the harder you work, the luckier you get" and the yoga teacher's mantra "everything is already okay," for finding hope and light in difficult situations.

3. Focusing on Women's Financial Independence: Kathy Fish's dedication to working with women clients and promoting financial independence, advocating for the importance of understanding people's attitudes towards money.

4. "A Man is Not a Plan" is Still Relevant: The continued relevance of this theme, appealing to women who make their own money, emphasizing financial independence, and the importance of involving women in financial decision-making within relationships.

5. The Power of Rebranding and Targeted Messaging: The impact of Fish and Associates' intentional rebranding and tailored messaging, attracting more female clients while aligning with the firm's values and goals.