‘Women In Wealth’ is all about showcasing women in the wealth management industry who are thriving and challenging stereotypes. We feature real perspectives of what it’s like, the barriers and the breakthroughs.

Here, Sarah Steele, Operations Director at Yellowtail Financial Planning shares her take.

What is your job title?

Operations Director.

How did you get into wealth management and what makes it the career of your choice?

I worked in private banking at Coutts where relationship management was key to the success of our work with clients. The conversations I had there, with high profile clients, taught me we all have similar hopes and fears when it comes to our future financial situations. The key was to enable the client to open up and explore their own goals in a comfortable, professional environment.

The fiduciary nature of the financial planning work we do at Yellowtail resonates with the values I hold around putting the client at the centre of the conversation.

Are there any barriers you have faced as a woman working in the wealth management industry, and how have you overcome them?

When I had my children, I wanted to stay in the same profession but work on a part-time basis for a while. I had been relying on full-time childcare which was making me unhappy and unfulfilled as a mother and stressed out as an employee. As a family, we moved from London to Devon and initially, it was hard to find a company that recognised the value a working mum could bring in a 3- or 4-day week.

Then I met Dennis Hall, at Yellowtail, who was a breath of fresh air, believing, like I do, that output is more important than the hours you clock in and out. (And this was before Covid, and lockdowns influenced people’s approach to flexible working). I think there was a stereotype about part time workers, but I’d like to think that becoming a director at Yellowtail means I successfully challenged it.

What do you like the most about being a woman in wealth management?

I love how women support each other in this industry and, in my experience, how men advocate for women in financial planning. It’s common knowledge that the ratio of female to male advisers is low and I enjoy exploring why that’s the case and what we can do to encourage more females into the role.

And it doesn’t need to be as advisers. Working in operations has been the most rewarding role of my career. It allows me to collaborate closely with clients and my team while contributing to a diverse range of projects that continuously inspire and energise me.

What advice do you have for a woman wanting to get into wealth management and those wanting to advance?

Embrace the community. Engage with like-minded people and talk to them about their experiences and the journey they have taken to get where they are. Continuous development is important. This includes qualifications but should also involve collaborating with people who share your values.

And one thing I have found is that by lifting up others you will, in turn, find yourself supported and appreciated.

If you would like to get involved with the blog series and share your story as a woman in the wealth management industry, we’d love to hear from you. Follow us on LinkedIn for more!

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