Q&A with Marilyn Bergen -- April 8 Luncheon

On April 8, Marilyn Bergen, of Confluence Wealth Management, will speak about Communication Strategies for Niche Markets of Women and Why. RSVP by April 2.  Here's a Q&A with this month's speaker.

1.    Your industry is financial planning; how would you describe what you do, or what is your elevator pitch? 

We offer an ongoing process that empowers you to grow and preserve your wealth.  Successful wealth management starts with you.  You and your family’s best interests are behind every financial recommendation we provide. No surprises.  That’s the plan.  

2.    How did you begin to work in this specialty? 

It was the back door approach.  While I was teaching school, I worked part-time with an insurance agent, who used to own the Dale Carnegie franchise in Oregon, because I wanted sales training with
him. I realized that I loved listening to what people wanted to accomplish with their financial resources.  It became clear to me that I needed a more objective, fee-only, business model to find solutions for clients. 

3.    What is your opinion of Janet Yellen’s appointment, as a women, as Chair of the Board of the Federal Reserve?

It’s exciting to see a woman be appointed to this highly visible, financial power-house position.  It has been popularized that Janet Yellen was appointed as Federal Reserve Chairman over Larry Summers by virtue of being less politically polarizing and perceived to be a “steadier hand.” Women are woefully underrepresented across the financial industry.  In the advisory space alone, only about 30% of financial advisors are women and the trend seems to be declining! Women make up only about 17% of wealth managers.  With the appointment of Janet Yellen,  another crack in the glass ceiling has been made.  
 
4.    The QB theme for 2014 is "Authentic Communication: Considering the Value of Including Diverse Perspectives”, what does this theme mean to you?

Authentic Communication is at the heart of any healthy relationship, whether at work or in our personal lives.  To me, it means that I need to ask questions, listen and seek to understand the other person’s perspective.  I need to be willing to change my opinion if there are rational reasons to do so.  I also need to be willing to be transparent and speak up if I strongly disagree and get issues out on the table for discussion, even though it may feel confrontational in the moment.  As women, many of us have been trained to be accommodative, at the expense of our own best ideas and judgments.  We need to encourage transparent dialogue and be willing to disagree, or have diverse perspectives, while still being respectful of the other person.  

5.    In a mentor role, what advice can you give others? 

Always be willing to invest in yourself, get additional training, use an executive coach or a mentor if that would be helpful, and make sure you are working in a field where you have some passion about what you are doing. Take on activities that stretch your comfort level. Ask for and be willing to listen to critical feedback, determine if it fits and if it does, see how you can improve your behavior or performance in that area.  

6.    In a mentee role, what issue would you seek guidance on? 

I am currently working with an Executive Coach.  Our company has been through some exciting growth in the past 2.5 years which involved lots of changes.  I’ve asked my coach to help me determine how I can use my skills to help develop a cohesive leadership team so we can utilize all of the knowledge, experience and intellectual capital that is available to our company.  
 
7.    What is your favorite movie?

“Out of Africa” with Meryl Streep, based on the book by Karen Blizen.  I will have to say that “Star Wars I” (which is now IV, after the prequels came out) is a close runner up.

8.    What is the last book you read for pleasure? 

“Honolulu” by Alan Brennert. Historical fiction about a Korean “picture” bride in the early 1900s and how Honolulu grew with the presence of multiple cultural immigrants. 

9.    What is something that you are proud of, that most people don't know about you?

For about 8 years, my ex-husband and I took care of several “severely disturbed” teenage foster boys.  It was exceedingly challenging and also gave me great insights into some of the children in our country who have such dramatically different upbringings than I had.