#InternationalWomensDay 2024: Tina Stanley

March 8, 2024 is International Women’s Day, and we are telling the stories of inspiring and accomplished women we are privileged to work and partner with.

Name: Tina Stanley

Position: Wealth Advisor

Designations: Certified Financial Planner

Years in industry: 17

Years at ATB Wealth: 7 months

Why did you choose a career in the financial industry? What has your career path looked like?

I began my early career in the health industry as a personal trainer and owned / operated a fitness facility in Squamish, B.C. I sold the business and was looking to begin work at a local bank, but was given the opportunity from a client of mine to join his organization at Sunlife. I began there as a receptionist learning the business from the ground up, and that was the beginning of my financial career. I loved learning and connecting and working with clients on their financial goals—much like their health goals!

I continued on to obtain my life license, mutual fund license and eventually my Certified Financial Planner designation. My husband and I made the decision to relocate to the Okanagan about seven years ago for him to start his own business and I was offered a position at a financial institution as an investment retirement planner which I thought would be a good transition for me being brand new to a community. I quickly discovered though it was not a good fit in that my role mandate was NOT meant to facilitate ongoing relationships with clients, which is what I have enjoyed most in both careers!

I made the decision to leave that role in December 2021 thinking I would semi-retire and work with my husband in our company. I soon realized how much I missed working with and helping people navigate their financial world! I connected in late 2022 with a non profit Launch Okanagan that teaches financial literacy in the Okanagan communities, and started working with them as a volunteer facilitator for various programs. The work with Launch was part time and I realized I wanted to do more so I started watching for opportunities. There were many financial planning positions that came up but I was leery of re-entering the ‘corporate’ world again in that capacity. However when ATB Wealth popped up I was intrigued as I had heard nothing but positive comments from various clients over the years who had dealings with ATB. I went into the first meeting with the assumption that it may not be the right fit, but after hearing more about the culture, the role and the opportunity it presented I felt like I had found the right fit for me as a planner and how I want to work with clients.

As a woman in this industry, what are the challenges you’ve experienced along the way?

I can’t say enough about how excited I am meeting more and more young women in this profession. There was a time when I first began that it was predominately a ‘man’s world’ in many ways. The assumption often was that I was an assistant.

The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is #InspireInclusion. Based on your experience, what does this industry need to do to support both women in finance, and women taking control of their financial well-being.

A couple of things come to mind. First is that I find that women feel they need to be an ‘expert’ at something or feel they need to be capable of doing it all themselves so they put off or don’t reach out for help. Secondly - the language! I feel that although finances are about the numbers, planning is more than just that, yet conversations still focus so much around those numbers and don’t allow the space for emotions.

What’s the best part of your job and working at ATB?

The best part of my job to this point has been the overwhelming support.

What advice do you have for other women in this industry?

Dive in! There are so many different facets to the financial industry—find what you enjoy and what resonates with who you are, how you want to work and how you want to help others and it can be a truly rewarding career!