Jenna Brazile, CFP®
Managing Director, Client Advisor
“Women have the unique ability to connect with people, an invaluable and necessary skill. We can empathize very well with a lot of challenges other women face which gives us insight to provide better advice.”
In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re showcasing some of the inspiring talent at Freestone. By highlighting the successes of powerful women and asking them to share their wisdom, we hope to empower women to not only enter the financial services industry, but to excel.
With over 17 years of experience, Jenna Brazile is a seasoned financial advisor who is passionate about creating her client’s financial plans and implementing an investment portfolio to complement their short-term and long-term goals.
She started her wealth management career at Merrill Lynch, spent 6 years at UBS Financial Services, and has spent almost 9 years with Freestone. As the wife of a military pilot, Jenna is also passionate about assisting military families in achieving their financial goals and would like to provide pro-bono services to young military families just starting out.
What advice would you give to other women trying to break into the financial services field?
Don’t be afraid to take the chance to move outside of your comfort zone. You may fail, but that is okay. Have the perseverance to continue and learn from your mistakes. I learned to lean into my own skills and personality traits that make me who I am. People want to know that they are talking to the genuine you. I always encourage individuals to continuously improve, adapt, and keep up in our ever-changing investment world.
It is also important to not forget the intangibles. We are a people business – you need to have compassion, empathy, understanding, and perspective. We are also a team business – I wouldn’t be able to have a successful career without the investment team or my client service team.
What is your overall view of the presence and status of women in the industry?
In my 17 years in the industry, we have made huge strides, but we can always improve. Women have a unique ability to connect with people, an invaluable and necessary skill. We can empathize very well with a lot of challenges other women face which gives us the insight to provide better advice. We can also encourage women to join the industry by mentoring and guiding the next generation.
What challenges do women in the military community face?
Many women have their careers sidelined while their spouse is serving in the military, which often requires moving every few years. Freestone is an example of a company that did not let that happen to me. Not only did they adjust let me work remotely while we moved around the country, but they also have continued to help me move my career forward. I think other private companies can follow Freestone’s lead and increase their hiring of women who are spouses of active-duty military or active-duty females who have recently separated from service.