New You Can Use - December 5, 2023

The #NewYouCanUse is an article series where I share important reminders of what is going on in the world and how it affects women, underrepresented professionals, male allies, and the business we do in financial services and financial technology.

You are always welcome to add articles, thoughts, and meet new people through these discussions. Please be kind to one another when differences of opinions occur. It happens and helps us all think differently.

Here are today's fresh finds:

1?? Is Your Subculture OK? via Decker Communications

It's not ok for employees / colleagues to not feel safe at work. Period. That's a universal truth that somehow continues to not be honored. All the Codes of Conduct in the world can be written with luscious language skills and people-pleasing penning, but if your subculture says, "Nope" I assure you your staff knows it and just isn't saying it to you. BRAVA that there are professionals like Ariel Corrales (who happened to write the article I'm referencing around "Your Business Problem: Our work culture is friendly, but I don’t feel safe challenging an idea that came from above me. In fact, I don’t feel comfortable sharing ideas with our leadership in general.")

2?? Are You Go-Giving? via Bob Burg

I know my friend, Bob, has to be sick of me recommending his daily newsletter, but if you're not subscribing - you're missing out. I learn DAILY from his amazingly well-written publication and it doesn't even cost you a dime. (Crazy!) Today's newsletter gem drop, "Taking the correct actions and doing the right things in the right way (e.g., providing immense value to the marketplace, following proven systems, communicating with others respectfully, avoiding gossip, etc.) doesn’t guarantee any specific result 100%...but it absolutely does create the “benevolent context” for your success." These reminders come like magic each morning. (((Thank you.)))

3?? Kids Really Are Clueless via Rethinking65

The name of my group chat with my 5 adult kids and their spouses is "Offspring" so when I saw this article by Mary Anne Ehlert, with 7 tips for the offspring, she had me hooked. I don't know if I will ever "sleep better at night" with these tips, but I was so happy to see her talk about POAs with children. Those kids at college, they need you to understand the really big picture because they are still trying to figure out their life. In the moment of need is not the time to do the planning. cc: Vicki Vollweiler, MBA, CDC Priscilla ONeill

4?? Referring Mint Users via Rethinking65

I wrote an entire post asking financial service professionals, "Where you sending your Mint folks?" Looks like I wasn't alone and Ron Lieber (He/Daddy/Abba) bottled up some concerns and suggestions in his article with a few extra suggestions that my discussion with financial advisors that weren't mentioned. cc: Laura Lonie Tony Steuer, CLU, LA, CPFFE Clare Dubé, CFSW Rhonda Noordyk Keena Pettijohn Debra Jacobs, Ed.M., AFC will likely want to make sure they know about the article suggestions, too.

Who has thoughts to share?

What are your opinions?

Where can we make the biggest change happen first?

When can we expect something to be different?

How can we get started?

Why should others care about this stuff going on?

I work on these kinds of matters and more in the Females and Finance Community and welcome thought leaders who are in or serve the professionals of financial services and financial technology to reach out, join, and let's build a better landscape of professionals.

Stay well, friends.

Sheryl Hickerson

CEO & Founder - Females and Finance