Extraordinary Conversation: Attracting diverse talent to your firm

Key Takeaways:

• The Financial Alliance For Racial Equity was formed to do more than just encourage firms to build diversity in their workforce. The group is also focused on attracting diverse talent who may not previously have considered a financial services career.
• In the video at the bottom of this blog, leaders from two FARE member firms are joined by an HBCU student and a young professional pursuing her CFP certification to discuss best practices for attracting diverse talent, and why it matters.
• These diverse leaders will also discuss an innovative recruiting event recently hosted by FARE, which attracted HBCU students from across the country who envision a future for themselves in financial services.

What does it take to attract top diverse talent to your firm?

A growing number of industry leaders are embracing the value that a more diverse workforce can bring to their organizations, but many struggle to attract young professionals who may not have previously considered financial services as a viable career option.

The Financial Alliance for Racial Equity (FARE) was formed to do more than just encourage firms to build diversity in their workforce. FARE member firms have been working hard to figure out what it takes to attract and retain students and young professionals who may have a hard time imagining themselves in an industry which has historically been dominated by white males at the highest levels of leadership.

In this Extraordinary Conversation, leaders from two FARE member firms are joined by an HBCU student and a young professional pursuing her CFP certification. Kristi Martin Rodriguez, SVP of the Nationwide Retirement Institute, and Mike James, Chief Sales Officer for NFP, discuss their financial services career journeys. Kayla Farris, a student from Howard University, and Jaunell Silvera, a Client Relationship Associate at EP Wealth Advisors, join the conversation to provide powerful perspectives that can help financial services firm leaders understand what young diverse talent is looking for as they consider their career options.

The discussion touches on an innovative recruiting event recently hosted by FARE, which attracted HBCU students from across the country interested in career opportunities. The event, sponsored by Nationwide, Franklin Templeton, The Advisor Group, RBC Wealth Management and the American College of Financial Services in partnership with HBCU Connect was designed to help these young people envision a future for themselves in financial services.

View this video to learn more.