Support to Succeed

??Driving Toward Financial Freedom?? Gio’s passion for financial literacy and dedication to bridging the wealth gap in Black and Haitian communities, combined with the SIE exam, which he passed through Support to Succeed, have set him on a path toward becoming a Financial Advisor. Originally from Haiti and now residing in Somerville, MA, Giordany Joseph discovered investing in 2015 while working as a hotel shuttle driver. A chance conversation with a hotel guest transformed his financial outlook. The guest suggested depositing $100 into their account and guided them through purchasing their first stock on Robinhood. His curiosity about financial markets became a profound passion when their investment nearly doubled within three months. Eager to learn more, he pursued mentorship and fully engaged in financial education through YouTube. ??Since then, Gio has gained valuable experience, including a Senior Intern role at Each Enterprise LLC. He has developed a strong foundation in financial markets, retirement accounts like 401(k) and Roth IRA, and investment strategies such as 529 Plans and UTMA to secure their daughter's future. With a long-term goal of becoming a Financial Advisor, Gio is committed to increasing financial literacy in underrepresented communities. His experience with the Support to Succeed program played a crucial role in preparing for the SIE exam, providing a structured study plan, unwavering support from Meera Krishnan, and a strong community that kept him on track. ??For those preparing for the SIE exam, Gio offers this advice: “Follow the weekly breakdown plan and trust the process.” #Finance #FinancialLiteracy #Investing #SIEExam #CareerGrowth #SupportToSucceed Meera Krishnan, Giordany Joseph, Bradley Xaltipa, Abdirahman N. Warsame, Anmarie Ciccolo, Matthew Engler, Kathy Martindale, Mim Minichiello, David DelVillar, Jacob Harley, CFA, Mary Montgomery, Daniel Yifru, CFP?, D'aron Hill, Simone Allen, Ramon Velarde, Ty Nguyen, Karthik Krishnan, Ryan Overton, Nate Anderson, Nancy Stager

??New Talent Pipelines in Finance: The Growing Demand for Advisors?? The financial industry is facing a looming shortage of wealth management advisors, with McKinsey reporting that one-third of U.S. financial advisors are expected to retire by 2030. As firms seek to address these gaps, they are broadening their recruitment strategies to attract a more diverse and tech-savvy workforce. ?? New Entry Points for Talent: With demand outpacing supply, companies are increasingly looking to career changers, recent graduates, and professionals from non-traditional backgrounds to fill advisory roles. Support to Succeed is meeting this need - we work with workforce development nonprofits and community colleges to identify experienced talent with transferable client service skills and support them to pass the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam. ?? Tech-Enabled Wealth Management: Digital transformation is revolutionizing finance—AI, automation, and data analytics have become essential tools for modern advisors. Job seekers with digital fluency and analytical skills will gain a competitive advantage. ?? Soft Skills Matter: While financial expertise is crucial, relationship-building, empathy, and communication skills are equally important in wealth management careers. ?? What does this mean for job seekers?? ? Explore wealth management pathways – Firms need new talent! If you like building relationships with others, this may be the path for you.? ? Develop financial and digital skills. AI and automation will support advisors, not replace them, so being tech-savvy is essential.?? With financial firms rethinking their hiring strategies, now is the time for aspiring finance professionals to seize new opportunities. ?? #FinanceCareers #NextGenTalent #SIESuccess #SupportToSucceed Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/eUN7pdfj https://lnkd.in/gJukvYNR Meera Krishnan, Giordany Joseph, Bradley Xaltipa, Abdirahman N. Warsame, Anmarie Ciccolo, Matthew Engler, Kathy Martindale, Mim Minichiello, David DelVillar, Jacob Harley, CFA, Mary Montgomery, Daniel Yifru, CFP?, D'aron Hill, Simone Allen, Ramon Velarde, Ty Nguyen, Karthik Krishnan, Ryan Overton, Nate Anderson, Nancy Stager

?? Trainee Spotlight: A Journey into Investments ?? Chris' unique combination of experiences across Amazon warehouse leadership and financial services, combined with the SIE which he earned through Support to Succeed, ultimately landed him a licensed position at JP Morgan Chase. Hailing from Dallas, Texas, Chris Lopez has always been driven to grow and excel in the financial industry. After spending several years honing his leadership skills while working in a warehouse setting at Amazon, his interest in investments was sparked during the Year Up program, where he was able to intern at JPMC. This experience provided a strong foundation and exposure to the industry, ultimately shaping his career aspirations. After Year Up, Chris worked as a retail banker while pursuing a degree, leveraging his Spanish fluency, empathy, and client service skills to build meaningful client relationships. These skills have been instrumental in his success and have prepared him for his next chapter.? That experience, combined with his SIE exam, which he passed through Support to Succeed's 2nd cohort, landed him a new role as an Investment Professional at JPMC. Chris hopes to pursue a career in investment advisory or investment banking, with a strong focus on client relations. His experience with the Support to Succeed program played a crucial role in his journey, providing a structured study plan and additional support, making preparation for the SIE a much better experience. Chris offers advice for those preparing for the SIE exam: practice independently, take a day off work, and review the material the night before or the day of the exam. He is incredibly grateful for the Year Up and Support to Succeed programs, which have paved the way for a promising career in finance. #StudentSpotlight #Finance #InvestmentProfessional #CareerGrowth #YearUp #ClientRelations #SIE Meera Krishnan, Giordany Joseph, Bradley Xaltipa, Abdirahman N. Warsame, Anmarie Ciccolo, Matthew Engler, Kathy Martindale, Mim Minichiello, David DelVillar, Jacob Harley, CFA, Mary Montgomery, Daniel Yifru, CFP?, D'aron Hill, Simone Allen, Ramon Velarde, Ty Nguyen, Karthik Krishnan, Ryan Overton, Nate Anderson, Nancy Stager

?? The Advisor Retirement Wave: A New Era of Talent in Financial Services https://lnkd.in/eUN7pdfj "Retirements are outpacing recruitment, as advisors average ten years older than?professionals in similar fields" (McKinsey & Company, 2025). As highlighted by McKinsey, by 2034, the industry expects a shortage of 100,000 financial advisors. This highlights the?urgent need for firms to attract and train new talent to sustain industry?growth and meet increasing client demand. ? The financial services industry is at a turning point. With a significant portion of the workforce nearing retirement, firms need talent from new pipelines to take over and advance the industry forward. This shift isn’t merely about filling seats; it’s about upholding a legacy of financial guidance, trust, and service. Traditional hiring pathways may fall short of meeting demand, and a new pipeline of high-potential professionals is prepared to step up. ?? A New Wave of Financial Professionals Support to Succeed’s SIE Success Initiative Pilot Program assists working adults from nontraditional pathways who possess strong customer service skills. These candidates didn't go to the target 4-year colleges that firms typically recruit from, but they have the necessary skills to succeed in these roles. ?? A bank teller with exceptional customer service, ready to enter a licensed role. ??A customer service manager looking to transition into finance. ??A financial operations professional seeking a front-office career. The retirement wave presents a unique opportunity—not just for firms to fill roles but to welcome a new generation of skilled financial professionals who will uphold the industry’s values and drive it forward. #FinanceCareers #NextGenTalent #RetirementWave #DiversityInFinance #SIESuccess #SupportToSucceed Meera Krishnan,?Giordany Joseph,?Bradley Xaltipa,?Abdirahman N. Warsame,?Anmarie Ciccolo,?Matthew Engler,?Kathy Martindale,?Mim Minichiello,?David DelVillar,?Jacob Harley, CFA,?Mary Montgomery,?Daniel Yifru, CFP?,?D'aron Hill,?Simone Allen,?Ramon Velarde,?Ty Nguyen,?Karthik Krishnan,?Ryan Overton,?Nate Anderson,?Nancy Stager

?? We are excited to introduce Katia Magalnick, our Program Assistant Intern at Support to Succeed! In this role, she assists Anmarie with project management for fundraising initiatives while pursuing her SIE license through the Support to Succeed program. ??Katia recently submitted her final project for an Associate's degree through SNHU/Duet and will soon begin her next academic journey, pursuing a Bachelor's in Business Management. Outside work and academics, Katia enjoys cooking and exploring new adventures with her 7-year-old son. Recently, she has taken up skiing and indoor rollerblading, embracing these exciting challenges together! ???? What excites Katia most about her role at Support to Succeed is the opportunity to learn from experienced professionals and apply that knowledge to meaningful projects. One of the most life-changing pieces of advice they have received comes from The Proximity Principle by Ken Coleman: “To do what I want to do, I have to be around the people who are doing it and the places it is happening.” We are thrilled to have Katia on our team and can’t wait to see all they accomplish!??? #LearningAndGrowing #SupportToSucceed #CareerGrowth Meera Krishnan, Giordany Joseph, Bradley Xaltipa, Abdirahman N. Warsame, Anmarie Ciccolo, Matthew Engler, Kathy Martindale, Mim Minichiello, David DelVillar, Jacob Harley, CFA, Mary Montgomery, Daniel Yifru, CFP?, D'aron Hill, Simone Allen, Ramon Velarde, Ty Nguyen, Karthik Krishnan, Ryan Overton, Nate Anderson, Nancy Stager

?? The Results are In…..And They're Promising! https://lnkd.in/eUN7pdfj The financial services industry seeks client-facing professionals offering fresh perspectives and strong customer service skills. However, traditional hiring pathways often overlook talented individuals from non-traditional backgrounds. That’s where Support to Succeed’s SIE Success Pilot Program comes into play! ??Our Solution: Support to Succeed’s Approach We have been facilitating a pilot program of ~50 enrolled candidates to provide tailored support to working adults from non-traditional backgrounds (those who did not take the traditional college-to-career path) to pass the SIE exam and secure a job on a licensed pathway in financial services. In addition to connecting candidates to high-quality exam prep through Achievable and Kaplan, we provide: ? A community of support that fosters motivation and accountability ? ?Individual coaching for personalized goal-setting and exam preparation. ? Career path education and job readiness support ??Our Impact ??We have officially completed two out of five pilot cohorts - with 100% SIE pass rates of those who completed the training! ??Also, 80% of candidates landed a job or promotion in a licensed or content-aligned role within three months of passing the exam - with employers that include JP Morgan Chase, Vanguard, Charles Schwab, and Loomis Sayles We are proud of our early results - If you're an employer, community-based training organization, mentor, or job seeker ready to help fill this industry's talent, let’s connect!? #FinanceCareers #DiversityInFinance #SIESuccess #CareerGrowth #SupportToSucceed Meera Krishnan, Giordany Joseph, Bradley Xaltipa, Abdirahman N. Warsame, Anmarie Ciccolo, Matthew Engler, Kathy Martindale, Mim Minichiello, David DelVillar, Jacob Harley, CFA, Mary Montgomery, Daniel Yifru, CFP?, D'aron Hill, Simone Allen, Ramon Velarde, Ty Nguyen, Karthik Krishnan, Ryan Overton, Nate Anderson, Nancy Stager

?? The Wealth Management Industry Needs a New Talent Pipeline—We Have It! McKinsey's recent publication shows that financial services industry is facing a major talent shortage. The industry faces an estimated shortage of 100,000 advisors in the next decade as 38% of U.S. financial advisors are set to retire. Firms are in urgent need of new talent to fill the gap. However, current recruiting channels often overlook talented individuals from non-traditional backgrounds. This article highlights the need to tap into career switchers as a new source of talent. Support to Succeed’s Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) Success Initiative is bridging the talent gap by equipping adults from alternative skilling pathways (like workforce development nonprofits and community colleges) with the SIE exam, individualized coaching, and career education they need to break into the financial advice industry. Here are some stories of individuals who we have worked with: ? Chris Lopez has several years of experience in warehouse leadership and went through the Year Up program, while pursuing his part-time degree. He passed his SIE with us and just landed a job with JP Morgan Chase. ? Teunsha Vick worked for years in sales and entrepreneurship. She got her SIE with us and is now starting a State Farm franchise. The finance industry is evolving, and firms that embrace non-traditional talent will be better positioned to meet client needs. If you’re an employer, mentor, or job seeker, let’s connect! Read more about the financial advisor shortage and the urgent need for new talent pipelines here: https://lnkd.in/eUN7pdfj #WealthManagement #FinancialAdvisors #TalentPipeline #FutureOfFinance #DiversityInFinance #SupportToSucceed Meera Krishnan, Giordany Joseph, Bradley Xaltipa, Abdirahman N. Warsame, Anmarie Ciccolo, Matthew Engler, Kathy Martindale, Mim Minichiello, David DelVillar, Jacob Harley, CFA, Mary Montgomery, Daniel Yifru, CFP?, D'aron Hill, Simone Allen, Ramon Velarde, Ty Nguyen, Karthik Krishnan, Ryan Overton, Nate Anderson, Nancy Stager, Marcia Dukes, MBA

??Partnership in Action ??Two weeks ago, one of Support to Succeed's participants, Nyasia Armstrong, organized an event with Duet, Support to Succeed, and New York Life. Nyasia is an agent at New York Life who is currently studying for her SIE exam with Support to Succeed's guidance in order to advance in the company and be able to offer additional products to her clients. ??Nyasia is also a graduate of Duet, where she earned her associate's and bachelor's degrees through their online degree program. She saw an opportunity to bring together three organizations who can help each other: Support to Succeed can help NY Life's agents upskill and is also developing a new talent pipeline, NY Life can offer career opportunities, and Duet can support candidates to earn their degrees and advance further in the industry. A win-win-win! #FinanceCareers #DiversityInFinance #SIESuccess #CareerGrowth #SupportToSucceed Meera Krishnan, Giordany Joseph, Bradley Xaltipa, Abdirahman N. Warsame, Anmarie Ciccolo, Matthew Engler, Kathy Martindale, Mim Minichiello, David DelVillar, Jacob Harley, CFA, Mary Montgomery, Daniel Yifru, CFP?, D'aron Hill, Simone Allen, Ramon Velarde, Ty Nguyen, Karthik Krishnan, Ryan Overton, Nate Anderson, Nancy Stager

?? We are excited to continue celebrating our students passing their exams! Abreham Sequar first became interested in financial services after the pandemic, spending time studying the field, experimenting with day trading, and working as a life insurance broker. This curiosity and dedication led to a career as an Intermediate Representative at BNY, where they continue exploring the industry's many facets. A key milestone in their journey was passing the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam. It wasn’t an easy process, but their intense critical thinking and attention to detail played a crucial role in their success. Support to Succeed provided invaluable structure, a study plan, and a supportive community that helped them stay on track. For anyone looking to pass the SIE, Abreham highly recommends joining Support to Succeed. Attempting it alone wasn't easy, but having a network of like-minded individuals and experienced mentors made all the difference. As Abreham continues his career in financial services, he looks forward to learning and growing within the industry, embracing its many opportunities. #SupportToSucceed #SIEexamSuccess #FinancialServices #SIE #Mentorship #CareerGrowth #DiversityInFinance #Finance Meera Krishnan, Giordany Joseph, Bradley Xaltipa, Abdirahman N. Warsame, Anmarie Ciccolo, Matthew Engler, Kathy Martindale, Mim Minichiello, David DelVillar, Jacob Harley, CFA, Mary Montgomery, Daniel Yifru, CFP?, D'aron Hill, Simone Allen, Ramon Velarde, Ty Nguyen, Karthik Krishnan, Ryan Overton, Nate Anderson, Nancy Stager

?? Education is the Key to Opportunity At Support to Succeed, we believe that passing the SIE exam is just the beginning of an incredible journey. Our mission is to provide underrepresented candidates with the tools, resources, and encouragement they need to thrive in the financial services industry. Access to financial education is the first step toward economic empowerment. Let’s keep breaking down barriers and opening doors for those often overlooked in the industry. #FinancialEducation #SIEexamSuccess #EmpowermentThroughEducation #DiversityInFinance #FinanceForAll Meera Krishnan, Giordany Joseph, Bradley Xaltipa, Abdirahman N. Warsame, Anmarie Ciccolo, Matthew Engler, Kathy Martindale, Mim Minichiello, David DelVillar, Jacob Harley, CFA, Mary Montgomery, Daniel Yifru, CFP?, D'aron Hill, Simone Allen, Ramon Velarde, Ty Nguyen, Karthik Krishnan, Ryan Overton, Nate Anderson, Nancy Stager