Amplifying Voices: A Spotlight on the PFS Wealth & Women Podcast

Why sharing diverse stories is more than a privilege—its a responsibility.

In a profession where only 16% of financial advisers are women, showcasing the journeys, challenges, and triumphs of top female talent is a responsibility for everyone in the Financial Planning profession.

The Personal Finance Society (PFS) has always championed women working in the financial planning space - in fact, women have won the most prestigious PFS Awards category (Chartered Financial Planner of the Year) for three consecutive years. This five-part podcast series, filmed by Sam Oakes of Financial Planner Life in collaboration with the PFS, opens the floor to a conversation that has been long overdue: how do we, as a profession, attract and nurture female talent?

As someone who has spent years both in front of and behind the mic, Sam has heard from many women in the financial planning space throughout his career. So when the PFS proposed the concept for the Wealth & Women podcast, Sam's involvement was not just about putting together a great series. The award winning Emma Hall , Hazel Bowen , Alina Paula Burlacu and Tracy Brookes sat down to share the stories that often go unheard and amplify voices from different intersections in the financial planning profession - and for Sam it was a privilege to be a fly on the wall and learn from their perspectives.

Misconceptions About The Financial Planning Space

The first episode of this mini series, "Myths about Financial Planners ", kicks off by addressing one of the most common misconceptions—that financial planners are straight-laced, boring, numbers-driven salespeople. Instead, the hosts discuss how financial planning is about people, relationships, and guiding clients through life’s most significant moments. Their experiences highlight how women, in particular, excel at fostering these human connections, making a lasting impact beyond just numbers on a spreadsheet.

Encouraging More Women into Financial Planning

In episode two, our hosts discuss "How to Encourage More Women into the Financial Planning Profession ", covering recruitment and retention of women in these roles. They discuss how role models are key to encouraging younger women to pursue this career. By sharing their journeys, they emphasise that the financial planning profession is not only viable for women but one where they can thrive. While producing the podcast episodes, Sam expressed how these stories reinforced how vital it is to spotlight diverse paths into the profession, encouraging the next generation to see themselves in these roles.

"23% of Chartered Financial Planners are female and so were five of the six individual PFS Award winners in 2023/24. In fact, women have won the most prestigious PFS Awards category – the Chartered Financial Planner of the Year – for three consecutive years."

Breaking Into the Profession

The next episode on "Breaking Into The Financial Planning Profession " focuses on the practicalities of getting started on your career journey. The hosts talk about the barriers they’ve faced, such as outdated hiring practices and a lack of flexible working arrangements. During the episode, Hazel and Tracy reflect on navigating a male-dominated profession and the importance of peer support, while Alina explains her shift from financial services to coaching, driven by her passion for empowering individuals—especially women—to overcome financial confusion. The discussion serves to emphasise the personal fulfillment each finds in educating and guiding others toward financial success.

Coming Soon...

The team's fourth and fifth episodes on "Getting to the Top of the Financial Planning Profession" and "Challenges and Lessons Learnt" will be released over the next two weeks on the 19th and 26th of September. These final episodes will provide insightful advice about the qualities needed to reach the top of the profession, and the ladies will delve deep into their personal stories of how they climbed the ladder to success.

The stories shared in this series aren’t just about celebrating the individual achievements of Emma, Hazel, Alina and Tracy—they’re about breaking down barriers, redefining what it means to be a financial planner, and creating space for everyone at the table. This episode shines a light on the unseen challenges women face, from negotiating pay rises to balancing family commitments with career growth.

If you haven't already, make sure to listen to the PFS Wealth & Women podcast on YouTube and join the conversation. And if you’re interested in creating a powerful podcast platform for stories like these, reach out at [email protected] about our production services at Financial Planner Life Studios.

Lets us know what you think of the podcast, we would love to hear your feedback