Tammy Wood never expected to work in the financial services industry, but she quickly learned it was where she belonged.

In 1997, after becoming unhappy with a job in the health and fitness industry, she was encouraged to apply for a position at a wealth management firm as an assistant to financial advisors.

It didn’t take long for her to realize that helping clients with their financial goals was truly what she wanted to be doing.

“Being able to work with people to make a difference in their future was important to me,” said Tammy, a Bell Investments wealth advisor in Fargo, ND, who joined the firm in 2005. “I want the best for my clients. I find it rewarding to get to know them, learn about their lives and then help find the solution that’s best for them.”

Tammy is one of six women wealth advisors at Bell, compared to twelve men. That representation is unique for the financial services industry, where women make up only around 20% of financial advisors across the country, according to research by Cerulli Associates.

Bell’s women advisors bring decades of experience serving clients, and they have achieved a variety of professional designations, including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP^®), Chartered Financial Consultant^® (ChFC^®) and Certified Retirement Counselor^® (CRC^®). The women all come from different backgrounds and bring different perspectives, but they share the same passion as every employee at Bell Investments – to serve their clients.

While such a large number of women advisors might be unusual for the industry overall, at Bell it simply demonstrates the firm’s dedication to employees who care about doing the right thing, said Tammy.

“Everyone at Bell, from wealth advisors to personal bankers, wants to do what’s right for our clients,” she said.

A Holistic Approach to Wealth Management

Lisa Moe also joined Bell Investments as a wealth advisor in 2005, after spending five years in a solo practice with a large financial services firm (where she was the only woman financial advisor in the Fargo-Moorhead market). She joined Bell in part because she wanted to be part of something bigger, she said, and immediately appreciated the varied resources she’s able to offer her clients.

“At Bell, I have the ability to refer to our mortgage division or to the bank side for CDs if that makes sense for my client’s situation,” she said. “I love being able to refer back and forth.”

In part because of those options, Lisa, like other advisors at Bell Investments, takes a holistic approach to wealth planning when working with her clients.

“If someone wants to come in and open a college account, or maybe just invest some of their money, I’ll usually tell them I want to hear more about their story first,” she said. “Having a better understanding of their situation is important to be able to help them plan for their financial goals.”

Building Relationships and Trust

When Paula Swanson joined Bell Investments in 2011, she brought more than 10 years of experience in the investment industry working with two other strong women advisors. While transitioning to Fargo, she was encouraged to see the success of other women with the Bell Investments team.

“There aren’t many places you can go and get the same support that Bell offers its employees,” Paula said.

As with Tammy, Lisa and other Bell advisors, Paula said it’s important for her to take the time and effort to get to know her clients on a personal level as part of the planning process.

“Getting to know my clients and understanding their goals is crucial to showing them you’re looking out for their best interest,” she said. “This business is about building relationships and building trust. Working together as a team, we help our clients reach their goals.”

This article appeared in the Q4 2023 issue of Bell’s Bell Wealth newsletter.