In January, Regions announced Women + Wealth, an innovative initiative combining unique events and fresh insights with one-on-one guidance from a team of professionals to further support and empower women as they move forward on their financial journeys.
The inaugural hybrid event took place in front of a live audience in Birmingham, Alabama, with an insightful conversation with Leslie Fram, Country Music Television’s Senior Vice President of Music Strategy and Talent.
Fram sat down with Lisa Harless, Regions Private Wealth Management advisor for Music Row, for an intimate conversation covering everything from mentorship and taking risks to strategic career moves and giving back.
Taking a Risk
“When I first got into radio, it was a time where you could be a risk taker and it was okay to be a risk taker,” said Fram, who moved to Nashville in 2008 after spending more than two decades working in radio in New York City and Atlanta.
A self-proclaimed introvert, Fram shared some advice that she leaned into from a young age that helped shape her career.
“Putting yourself in situations where you are uncomfortable is really important and that’s what I did at an early age,” Fram shared, adding that is especially true for female introverts who may have more of a tendency to shrink back and take in the landscape before jumping into the important conversations at work.
Fram continued to put herself out there and take risks.
She recalled a story from early in her career where she blindly sent a tape to someone in the radio industry in New Orleans asking him to review and critique her. And he did.
“That made such a difference to me that I said if I am ever in a position to help someone, I’m going to do the same thing,” said Fram.
Putting yourself in situations where you are uncomfortable is really important and that’s what I did at an early age.
Leslie Fram, Country Music Television’s Senior VP of Music Strategy and Talent
Changing Landscapes
This was part of the impetus behind the trio of women in the music industry who launched Change the Conversation, a movement that aimed to bring more female artists to radio station playlists across the country. This initiative has received support from some of the most well-known female names in the country music industry and has helped support the careers of up-and-coming female country artists for the past decade, changing the landscape of the industry.
Fram credits her success with three key attributes: courage, confidence and willpower.
“When you realize you can create your own boundaries, it’s really empowering,” Fram said.
And empowerment is also key to successful financial management.
Empowerment is Key
Women currently control one-third of the money in the U.S. to the tune of $10 trillion.
And the transfer of generational wealth has been happening for years as the Baby Boomers retire, passing businesses and even wealth onto the next generations.
The number of women managing wealth is ever-growing and Women + Wealth aims to help equip, educate and empower them to take control of their financial futures and along with their families, build a financial legacy.
“The biggest thing is confidence,” shared Destinee Sanders, Regions Private Wealth Management advisor, who attended the event. “If I’m sitting across the table from a woman who has just lost her husband or inherited funds from a parent, my goal is for her to feel confident to be able to make decisions.”
Sanders went on to note that it starts with education and providing the peace of mind that her client is going to be able to navigate any journey just fine and she will be alongside her each step of the way.
Fram and Harless also discussed the importance of planning for retirement and participating in employer-sponsored savings plans, such as a company 401(k). Fram noted the importance of beginning those types of contributions early in your career, adding an employer-matching program is like free money towards retirement.
Women + Wealth Events
Women + Wealth hosted additional live events in Atlanta and Indianapolis in January with more to come, including a March event in Miami featuring Hill. Private Wealth Management Regional Executive Christina Cruzpino sat down with Tampa Bay Business & Wealth magazine in February to talk about the initiative and its goal of supporting and empowering women in managing their finances.
Laura Alvarado, executive director for Indiana Blind Children’s Foundation, and her daughter Olivia attended the event in Indianapolis where professional climber Lynn Hill spoke to the live audience.
“It was very interesting to learn the personal background behind a professional climber like Lynn Hill,” noted Olivia Alvarado. “I was inspired by her story and dedication to keep climbing especially in a male dominated sport.”
For more resources on financial wellness and wealth planning, be sure to visit Regions Women + Wealth resource library.
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