1059. A Day in the Life: What's It Really Like to Be a Wealth Management Advisor?

“For eight years after college I worked for two highly-regarded Atlanta advertising agencies in account management. In that role I collaborated with every department of the agency–the marketing team that developed the communications strategy, the creative team, the media team, and the production team. I especially enjoyed interacting with our clients about their ongoing research and refinement of their company’s vision, mission and strategy. I felt like I had earned the equivalent of a PhD in business after those years. A friend who worked at Smith Barney, a national wealth management firm at the time, suggested over and over that I consider entering his field. I told him that I could not imagine a more divergent field from my work in advertising than the world of stocks and bonds and investment strategies. Plus, I had zero experience in this field. What I did like about the idea was that it is highly entrepreneurial and I would have an opportunity to have my own business, be my own boss, and I really was attracted to that since my father had instilled the values of an entrepreneur in me! After more indepth research into the field and how my talents and abilities could be deployed there, I took an entry level role with Merrill Lynch, one of the top investment management firms in the country. My nearly 10 years there, coupled with my earlier business experiences, proved to be an excellent fit. After taking a year off to welcome my dear daughter into the world, I decided to take on a few freelance clients. To my great joy, the word spread like wildfire and the firm of CLF Financial, LLC, took shape. It’s been a gratifying journey on every level and I feel very blessed.”

Carol Fromhagen is a Wealth Management Advisor and Founding Partner of CLF Financial, LLC in Atlanta, Georgia. She focuses on helping high net worth individuals and retirees manage all aspects of their financial lives. She begins planning-based discussions around a client’s financial needs, their short and long-term objectives, their time horizons, and their risk tolerance. Recommendations can include investing in stocks and bonds, while also addressing wills, taxes, education funding, and business continuation.