Elyssa Kupferberg and Kevyn Schroeder on Finding Success in Finance and at Stifel

Kevyn Schroeder and Elyssa Kupferberg share their thoughts on working with Stifel, being included on Forbes’ 2023 Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-in-State list, and more.

Each year, Forbes names top female advisors to its Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-in-State list.? While other rankings look at portfolio performance and other numbers, Forbes’ top advisor rankings go deeper.? In addition to meeting various basic thresholds, nominees must fill out surveys and complete interviews covering areas such as client service, compliance records, and investing process to qualify.

Last year, thousands of advisors were nominated.? In the end, 1,697 women were featured on the 2023 list, including 18 Stifel Financial Advisors.? I recently had conversations with Elyssa Kupferberg, Director/Investments, and Kevyn Schroeder, Managing Director/Investments, to chat about their careers and thoughts on being named to the list.

Elyssa’s Road to Stifel

After obtaining her B.S. in Economics from Wharton Business School and B.A. in communications from Annenberg School of Communications, Elyssa was ready to use her business acumen to help clients pursue their financial goals.

Over the next few years, she completed a training program, ran a lending division, and obtained her MBA at night while working full-time.? After 10 years in New York, she and her husband decided to move to Florida to raise their two sons, where she became Senior Credit Specialist for the State of Florida and ran a Private Banking office.? Later, she decided to acquire her securities license and became a Director for Wealth Management, where she enjoyed working with ultra-high net worth clients and helping families navigate financial, estate planning, tax planning, and interpersonal family matters.? Eventually, she joined Barclays, which Stifel acquired in December 2015.

“The relationships I developed with my clients have transcended financial advice, enabled me to forge meaningful, supportive relationships, and led to an extremely fulfilling career,” she says.? “Every relationship is unique and deserving of genuine attention, advice, support, and ongoing care.”

Upon finding out she was named to Forbes’ Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-in-State list, Elyssa felt grateful to her clients.? Receiving recognition for her work has only encouraged her to continue her efforts.

“I realized that I give my clients comfort in serving as their guide and have the opportunity to truly make a difference in their lives.? I look forward to continuing to positively affect their lives, expand my team, and grow my client base.”

A Career of Taking Care of People

Kevyn had a less straightforward path to finance and Stifel.? She started in the healthcare industry, working as a nurse at St. Louis Children’s Hospital for eleven years.? But she always held an interest in finance, having started investing while she was in college.? When she realized finance also involves taking care of people, she decided to explore it as a career.

“Advising is all about relationships and taking care of people.? Your business grows itself when you concentrate on nurturing relationships,” Kevyn explains.? “Clients rely on you, but you cannot control or predict these markets.? That’s where the relationship really comes into play.? They have to believe you and trust that you’ll get them through this.”

However, breaking into finance after a nursing career wasn’t easy.? After interviewing with countless firms, everyone turned Kevyn down except for one.? She worked hard as a trainee and came in at the top of her class before working at various firms and eventually finding a place at Stifel.

Today, Kevyn excels in her field, though she remains involved with the Visiting Nurse Association in St. Louis and the St. Louis University School of Nursing.? She holds Women’s Grand Rounds twice a year to discuss the markets, the performance, and the opportunities with clients.? Being included on the Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-in-State list has only encouraged her to keep working hard for her clients.

The Joys of Working at Stifel

Being a financial advisor isn’t without its challenges, but Elyssa and Kevyn love working at Stifel.

In addition to appreciating the extensive product platform, ongoing support, and wide variety of resources, Elyssa loves the people at Stifel.

“I have interacted with many different areas within our organization, including Structured Products, Operations, Trading, Product Services, Wealth Tracker, Stifel Bank, Stifel Bank & Trust, Compliance, and our Help Desk,” Elyssa shares.? “I have found my colleagues to be smart, extremely helpful, and genuinely nice, always open to helping me navigate my clients’ unique financial objectives.”

For Kevyn, Stifel has been a breath of fresh air – and it started with an excellent transition team.

“When they ask if there’s anything that I was disappointed in when I came to Stifel, my answer is that I didn’t do it ten years earlier,” Kevyn shares.? “Wirehouses tend to offer no personalization, but Stifel is different.? You can always get a human on the phone – and they’re all very kind.? Stifel lets you build your portfolio how you want to and makes it easy to succeed.”

Advice To Women Entering The Industry

Needless to say, Kevyn and Elyssa have found success as female leaders in the financial services industry.? However, the historically male-dominated industry is still trying to fully even out its female-male ratio, which Kevyn finds simultaneously shocking yet understandable.

“Finance hasn’t grown like medicine or law because many firms don’t aggressively recruit for women – and when they do, they often don’t know how.? I don’t think they necessarily send their good female associates out there to tell other women not to be intimidated,” she says.? “Women might also tend to think they’re not good with numbers, but when they realize this career is more about relationships and doing the right thing, they generally become very successful.”

She encourages more women to entertain the idea of financial advising instead of automatically shutting it out.? Those new to the field can also talk to women that have done well.? Programs like Stifel’s Women’s Initiative Network (WIN) do a great job of connecting women with one another and empowering them.

And while financial advising may be hard work, Stifel champions a healthy work/life balance.?

“The key is discipline and flexibility,” says Kevyn.? “You need to make time for yourself, whether that means working out or taking a vacation, but you can’t be so disciplined that your life is rigid and you’re miserable.? If something gets rearranged or canceled, don’t let it get to you.? Work around it, and pick your battles smartly.”

Similarly, Elyssa advises that women set boundaries.? She manages her time as efficiently as possible so that she’s available for her clients while being present for her children and helping charities during her free time.

She also recommends finding your passion.

“When you thoroughly enjoy what you do, it’s not work.? Capitalize on your strengths and relationships.? If you truly care and stay motivated, you’ll be successful.”