Robin Woodell, founder of Emerald Financial Group, has been educating and assisting clients with financial wellness for over 18 years. Before embarking on her career in financial services, Robin lived her dream of becoming a professional opera singer. With a degree in education and Master’s in Vocal Performance, she traveled the world performing opera. After 8 years and a series of life changes, she left the performance world and found her new passion in financial planning and, soon after, created Emerald Financial Group.
Leah Williams had a vision: Create a financial advisory service tailored specifically for women. Her passion for helping people achieve financial independence was ignited, in part, by experiencing the loss of her brother and a challenging divorce. Leah understood firsthand the importance of financial planning in navigating life’s expected and unexpected events. She has been in the industry nearly 9 years, part of that time being spent training and mentoring new professionals.
Leah’s journey continued after the birth of her first child when she felt a strong desire to launch a venture that would empower women in managing their finances. This passion led her to Penn Mutual’s 1847Financial and Robin’s female-led firm where she found common ground in their shared values and commitment to an inclusive, supportive and effective approach to personal finance for women.
From the beginning, Leah and Robin's partnership was marked by mutual respect, a shared vision, and belief that at any level of experience, you can always get better. They look at partnership and mentorship in a different way: a fusion of experience and skills to make both parties stronger.
According to Leah, “nobody should look for a mentor relationship just because they think they can get more business from another financial professional. It needs to be with the intention to bring value – the relationship works both ways.”
In just eight months, this strong foundation paved the way for Leah to launch her own business, Savvy Financial. As a focused division of Emerald Financial Group, Savvy Financial is dedicated to empowering women to achieve financial success.
Working with Robin helped Leah start over without starting from scratch. “I wanted to help Leah get there faster than I did”, says Robin. “It’s nice to have people that run together at the same speed. This is really big!”
Leah and Robin’s success includes several key factors:
- Shared Vision and Values: Openly discussing their core values and vision helped them discover their alignment and create a unified direction for their initiative.
- Mutual Respect and Trust: Sharing their successes, challenges, and vulnerabilities helped them build a strong foundation of trust and mutual respect.
- Encouraging Growth and Learning: Being open-minded to new ideas and building on existing knowledge and skills is a theme that runs through the entire relationship. Robin and Leah leverage their own strengths to learn from and support each other.
- Clear Communication: With open, honest, and regular communication around their goals and expectations, they keep their partnership on track.
- Focus on Client Needs: Above all, Robin and Leah’s primary focus is understanding the unique needs of their clients and designing strategies to help meet their financial goals.
The creation of this targeted division also highlights the unique insights that female advisors bring to the table. Women approach financial planning with their own distinct priorities and concerns. This women-led business is expertly positioned to understand their clients’ needs and provide nuanced and tailored strategies.
Both firms are committed to maintaining their distinct brands while showcasing their relationship and synergies. While the company name may be important, the values and relationship that power the brand and business are what’s most important to their success.
The future of Emerald and Savvy Financial is bright. The collaboration of these two visionary women illustrates the power of unity and shared purpose. Their combined knowledge and passion for financial empowerment amplifies their impact, inspiring other women in the industry, and beyond.
Tina Spenzos, MBA, ACC
Director, Practice Development
1847FinancialRegistered representatives of, and securities and investment advisory services offered through Hornor, Townsend & Kent, LLC (HTK), Registered Investment Adviser, Member FINRA/SIPC, 600 Dresher Road, Horsham, PA 19044. 800-873-7637, www.htk.com. HTK is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company. Savvy Financial and Emerald Financial Group are not affiliated with HTK. HTK does not offer tax or legal advice. Always consult a qualified adviser regarding your individual circumstances.
