Alice Browne, Director and Senior Investment Adviser at Evans & Partners, shares reflections from her 13-year career in wealth management ahead of the launch of CareerConnect. From industry trends and career advice, Alice offers a thoughtful glimpse into the dynamic world of investment advise.
I provide personalised investment advice to high-net-worth clients, helping them navigate dynamic and complex financial markets to grow their wealth in line with both current needs and future aspirations. With our guidance, clients feel informed and empowered to make confident, impactful decisions. My day typically starts with a podcast or reading the AFR on the commute, followed by our 8am team morning meeting with macro or research team updates, or a fund manager presentation. The rest of the day includes advice implementation or trades, client calls, portfolio review meetings, and sending relevant communications on investment updates, webinars, or educational events. Within my team, we discuss our priorities for the week, including key matters for clients and prospects, business development, and meeting new prospects or specialist professionals.
Partnering with clients through big life events and celebrating personal and financial milestones together. Often these changes are long-awaited and planned for, such as retiring, bucket list holidays, children’s weddings or first home purchases, downsizing from the family home, a sea change, or philanthropy. I’ve worked with most of my clients for over 10 years, so these events are meaningful and fulfilling to us both.
A swift market correction, downturn, or recession is obviously the biggest fear for any investor and a challenge for an adviser. I’m always aware that at the heart of my role, I am a custodian of my clients’ hard-earned capital. Due diligence, the collective expertise across our wider business, my accountability, proactive approach, and open communication are of utmost importance.
Technical skills include a good understanding of taxation, investment structures, financial strategies, investment strategy development, portfolio construction, investment analysis, risk management, and the regulatory framework. Non-technical skills include efficiency, proactiveness, listening and empathy, communication, and motivation.
Partnering with clients through big life events and celebrating personal and financial milestones together... I’ve worked with most of my clients for over 10 years, so these events are meaningful and fulfilling to us both.
A little bit of timing and luck! My dear friend Annalise recommended wealth management, and there was an opening for a graduate role at her firm. I started in strategic financial planning, which provided a solid foundation in personal finance, superannuation, taxation, and regulatory compliance.
Lean into opportunities, whether presented to you or created by you. There’s a breadth of structured learning, the ability to present fresh ideas and innovative suggestions, and exposure to a variety of wealth management professionals with different approaches. Try to assist advisers across all aspects, especially client-facing tasks, which will help you gain confidence and find your own style.
Internships are a great way to get a foot in the door, see if wealth management is the right fit, and determine what kind of business you want to work in. You’ll spend a lot of time at work, so it’s important to position yourself in a growing business with a team that resonates with and inspires you.
Plenty of equity research reports, finance news, and fiction for our book club, although I can’t go past bedtime stories with my two young children.
It’s a mix of finance, small business, parenting, and women’s news: Evans & Partners Words on Wealth, Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett, Mamamia Out Loud, Basis Points by Equity Mates, and The Mentor with Mark Bouris.
The growth of women and wealth. We are more highly educated and financially savvy, with greater entrepreneurial and leadership roles and workforce participation than ever before. Women became millionaires at twice the rate of men over the past decade. Coupled with this, we’re about to see the greatest intergenerational transfer of wealth in history.
Check out our new flash mentoring program CareerConnect to match with mentors like Alice for meaningful career conversations.
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Lean into opportunities, whether presented to you or created by you.