In honor of Pride Month, I hosted a Grow Live with Marci Bair, President of Bair Financial Planning, to learn how financial advisors can take a year around approach to pride and supporting the LGBTQI+ community that goes beyond the month of June.
Bair Financial Planning is an independent San Diego wealth management firm founded over 29 years ago. Marci specializes in helping females in leadership, LGBTQI+ families, and successful business owners make important financial decisions that impact their futures.
“The more things change, the more things stay the same. The core of financial services has not changed; it’s still all about servicing and doing right by our clients. That part has stayed the same.”
As a financial advisor who has experienced many seasons, Marci shared with me how the changes impacting the LGBTQI+ community over the past few decades have carried over into our profession. From how to interact with prospects to what types of questions we ask clients, the onus is on us as financial advisors to ensure our clients are comfortable enough to come out or speak openly about their personal lives so we can best support their individual and family financial goals.
So in an effort to make Pride 365, how can you show support for the LGBTQI+ community all year round, not just this month?
By being intentional and inclusive with your language, service offerings, and actions. Here are a few ways to get started that can be implemented today:
1. Use inclusive language
From your website to your introductory materials to your marketing messaging, use language that includes all types of people. This can be as bold as a call-out to the LGBTQI+ community or as subtle as a field on a form. For example, instead of saying “husband or wife’s name”, update the field to be “partner/spouse’s name.” Or another idea is to include a field like “preferred pronouns'' in your initial paperwork.
Bonus tip: Create a safe space with your clients by introducing yourself with your preferred pronoun. By proactively doing so, you encourage others to do so in a way that feels safe and authentic.
2. Show up and speak up
This is one of the easiest ways to be an ally. Repost or share content that shows support for the LGBTQI+ community. On the other hand, speak up if you see something problematic. Supporting the community also means using your voice and power to protect those around you.
3. Get involved in your city or community
Get to know LGBTQI+ people in your surrounding area through non-profit or business communities. Join a business organization or volunteer group associated with the LGBTQI+ community and you’ll start to make connections with other members that could even lead to growing your practice while being an ally. One of the best ways to get involved is to show up and ask, “what do you need, how can I help?” and use your connections in a positive, impactful way.
Together, we can create safe spaces and make a meaningful impact within the lives of our clients, their family, and our community.
Disclaimer: Altruist and its affiliates do not give legal advice. The views expressed in this video by the participants are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Altruist Corp or its subsidiaries. No compensation was provided.
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