The Mentorship Program is offered to WIFS national members only.
If you are not a member and are interested in becoming one, join now. There are two sessions offered annually, Power Start (January - May, applications accepted October 15 - November 15) and Finish Strong (June - November).
Click here to read our Program Guidelines and Expectations. Please review these guidelines in its entirety before applying for the program. If you have any additional questions, please contact WIFS National.
Applications for the 2026 Finish Strong session are now CLOSED.
According to a McKinsey & Company survey, less than half of financial services companies have sponsorship development programs, and only 58% have formal mentorship programs, whereas 14% of women say their biggest obstacle is a lack of mentorship or sponsorship.
With more than 10 years of success, the Women in Insurance and Financial Services (WIFS) Mentorship Program has been designed to foster growth, development, and empowerment among women in the industry. Born from the belief in the power of mentoring and in community as an influential force for change, this program provides a unique opportunity for professionals at various stages in their careers to connect, learn, and grow through meaningful mentor-mentee relationships. By pairing experienced leaders with emerging talent, we aim to nurture the next generation of women leaders while also catering to experienced leaders seeking further growth and development.
- 95% of WIFS mentees in a formal study reported acquiring new knowledge from their mentors.
- 91% reported being better prepared for a promotion.
- 75% documented increased productivity.
Are you in a transition or considering a move within the profession? The WIFS Mentorship Program is an impactful opportunity that provides a safe place to be able to talk and work through those type of moves! Click below to review program specifics and expectations.
Benefits of Mentorship for Both Mentor and Mentee
Mentorship is a powerful tool for both personal and professional development. For the mentee, it provides guidance, support, and an opportunity to learn from the experiences of someone who has already navigated complexities of the industry. Mentees gain valuable insights, advice on career progression, and often, a broader network of contacts within the industry.
For the mentor, the program offers an opportunity to give back, share knowledge, and play a role in shaping the future of the industry. Mentors often experience growth in their own leadership and communication skills as they reflect on their experiences while providing guidance to their mentees. The relationship is a mutually beneficial one, with both mentors and mentees developing professionally and personally.
Join a community of leaders who are making an impact, and discover how rewarding it can be to lift women up while gaining new perspectives and skills along the way.
Testimonials
Gail Linn shares her mentor program experience:
"After years of mentoring others in this business, I made a comment last fall at the WIFS Conference that I wish I could have a mentor as I never had one. And magically…through WIFS, I got one…Jill Pietrusinski! During our first call, Jill told me she had googled me to find out what information is online about me and my practice. And of course, she asked me about my area of expertise and what market I focus on, which is retirement planning. So the first very thing Jill got me to give attention to was the fact that my website did not tell anyone that retirement planning is my focus. It was an “ah-hah moment” and of course, has been corrected. My point here is that even though I may have a successful practice, there are things that can always be improved. Sometimes it takes someone from the outside looking in to point out what appears to be obvious but when you are so busy, you don’t have time to pay attention to. Jill is helping me focus on working on my business and not always in my business. Having a mentor helps me stay on track… it is someone that I hold myself accountable to and I look forward to speaking with monthly."
Karen Roberts shares her mentor program experience:
"My mentoring experience has gone above and beyond what I could have expected. My mentee has been so appreciative of the work we've done together.In the end she has helped me as much as I have helped her. What an amazing woman I was partnered with! A huge thank you to WIFS for bringing the mentoring program to light. This has been and will continue to be a great relationship on both sides. Mentoring Rocks!"
Blanca Rodriguez had this to say about her mentee experience:
"After almost quitting this career because people would cancel on me, not pick up their phone and almost getting kicked out of someone's home, I started opening policies. My commission has been raised from 30-45%! My next goal is a commission from 45% to 62% while studying for the series exams. I can't thank my mentor, Karen, enough for the encouragement of not quitting and for maintaining the high energy to keep me going."
Pam Battle shares her experience with the WIFS Mentoring Program
"When I attended the Guardian Women's Summit in the summer of 2014, I was really in a place of needing something outside of my local agency, and I wanted the counsel of other women in this career. I was struggling with balance, with where to put my energy, and wanted fresh views and perspectives. Being the only female producer in my local agency, I was hoping that other women in this career could inspire me. I left the Guardian Women's Summit with knowledge and inspiration, and the opportunity to join WIFS and participate in the mentorship program thereafter. Tara Vanderperren Showalter was my mentor through WIFS. Tara was an amazing coach and sounding board. She listened and gave me the gift of sharing her experiences, trials, errors and successes. She gave me practical advice that ranged from time management to business strategy ideas. I was new to a Sales Manager role at the time and was paired with Tara specifically because she is also in a management role with another company and understood my challenges. I felt I could also share my fears and ask her for an unbiased opinion on some things I was attempting to do for my business. So much of financial services relies on our being confident coaches to others... we all need to be coached as well. It was a wonderful experience. I truly value what Tara did for me at the time. It is more than she probably realizes."
*A Formal Mentorship Program by American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 2014.
