According to research by Deloitte, the number of women who reach the highest level of leadership in financial services is on the rise, with women holding 18% of financial C-suite positions globally. But the research also says that number is climbing slowly — without a more concerted effort, women financial leaders may not even reach 25% by 2031.

Lindsay Hans, President and Co-head of Merrill Wealth Management, is working to change that. In her role, she’s committed to lowering the barrier to entry for women financial advisors — including being a strong advocate for their new training program which is more attractive to female advisors who may not have a pre-existing network of wealthy connections.Takeaways: 

Historical reasons, such as wealth distribution and demographics, have contributed to the underrepresentation of women in the financial services industry. 

The presence of women in leadership roles in the financial services industry is slow but increasing

Younger women are increasingly knowledgeable and comfortable with financial decisions.

There is a preference for financial advisors of the same sex, but it varies on a case-by-case basis.

Chapters:00:00 - Introduction06:51 - Lindsay Hans Career Advancement16:20 - Initiatives to Support Women Financial Advisors20:40 - Advisors and Client Relationships25:58 - Challenges in Attracting Women to Financial Advisory Role30:15 - Conclusion

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