Featured Alumni
Women Advisors Fill Key Roles in Financial Services T here are approx- imately 350,000 financial advisors “There’s retirement planning, estate planning, tax planning, all of these,” she said. Miller created
Sylvia McCallum Bateman (’12, international business) is a stand-up comedian after a career in financial consulting. She has performed nationally from New York to Texas and is auditioning for America’s Got Talent. Ashlyn Benton (’18, supply chain management) is an EDI coordinator at McLeod Software, where she has worked since graduation. Jacob Bivin (’17, finance) is a senior business analyst in the finance department of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, where he has worked since shortly after graduation. Megan Broccard (’16, MBA) was promoted to general manager of analytics for Global Airport Customer Service at Delta Air Lines in December 2020.
in the United States, but only 15 to 20% of those professionals are women. Stacy Miller, a Certified Financial Planner™, not only
the program “Budget Like a Boss” for a professional group of women in Tampa who were looking for tools, tips and tricks for manag- ing finances. This singular creation has evolved into a webinar and is the key topic
recognizes that women are underrepresented in the industry, but also that they can make a profound difference in people’s lives. “Diversity allows for more creative solutions across the board, whether it’s fi- nancial services or another industry,” said Miller, a Tampa, Florida, resident who earned an MBA in 1998 from the Harbert College and is Partner/Vice President at Bright Investments in Auburn. “Women are receiving more wealth, whether it’s generational or otherwise, and they are looking for women advisors to help them because sometimes that’s an easier, more trustworthy relationship and connection. This is an opportunity for us in financial services, but it’s also an opportunity for women who want to delegate because they don’t want to do it or don’t have the time to do it well.” Miller, who received an undergraduate degree in sociology from Boston Universi- ty, was encouraged to become a Certified Financial Planner to make a difference in the lives of others, with a focus on wom- en’s initiatives. “The definition of financial advisor is extraordinarily broad… broad in educa- tion, experience, licensing and approach,” Miller said. “Approach is really one of the things that helped me choose my defining characteristic within the industry. A lot of financial advisors have products that they sell, and that did not hold much interest to me. Helping people is the approach that I like to take and becoming a Certi- fied Financial Planner™ was a path to get to that place.” Miller approaches each client on a strategic level.
in numerous speaking engagements. “Many do not learn personal finance in school,” she said. “This program not only helps manage finances, but credit scores, spending less than you earn, etc. People know that—but they don’t always apply it. “It’s really important that you under- stand the future financial implications of what you’re doing now, for retirement or whatever long-term goals you have. You have got to understand what’s happening in your finances now and how to achieve those goals.” At the end of the day, Miller’s passion is making a positive impact for her clients. “Just knowing that I have helped relieve stress, helped a client find a solution for a problem, whether it’s finding enough money to retire or getting finances in order because a spouse passed away,” she said. “I like to know that I have added value to someone in their quality of life.”
Matthew Bryant (’10, MBA) is the founder and CEO of Artisan Labs, a skincare cosmetic contract manufacturer in Hansen, Idaho. Brett Buchanan (’17, accounting) is a licensed CPA and senior accountant at a private equity CRE investment/development firm headquartered in Atlanta.
Dara Castrodale (’16, human resource management) is the director, people services for Equinox / SoulCycle brands. She previously worked with Amazon. Dylan Clark (’19, supply chain management) is a manufacturing planner for Lockheed Martin MFC in Orlando. He has earned both a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification and an APICS CPIM - Certification in Production. Barrett Cornelius (’13, finance) is a VP private client advisor with the Private Bank at Bank of America in Atlanta.
Stacy Miller ('98, MBA) Certified Financial Planner Bright Investments
Harbert Business, Winter 2021 55
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