WIFS Launches WOMEN AT THE TOP

Women in Insurance and Financial Services (WIFS), the preeminent professional organization for women in the industry, kicked off a research project to determine how the most successful women in the industry were able to arrive at such esteemed positions in a male-dominated field. The results were compiled and are now being published in a new book, "Financial Services: Women at the Top - A WIFS Research Study." Arthea Reed and Diane Dixon, both leaders in the financial services industry, authored the research-backed book with a goal to attract, develop and advance women in their field.

"In the attempt to answer these questions, we identified approximately 50 women in the industry who are successful by every measure," Reed said. "We then invited the women to participate in the lengthy interview process and 23 agreed."

The survey showed that most of the top producing women are either married or in a committed adult relationship. Also, a large majority of the women who responded to the survey have children.

"Although women have become much more prevalent in the workplace over the past 40 years, they have not succeeded at the level they could if provided with more support, encouragement and nurture by the primarily male leadership of the insurance and financial services industries," Reed said. "The percentage of women in professional and entrepreneurial roles in the industry is no greater than it was in 1996 when I first joined the industry-less than 20 percent. The financial services industry leadership has done a poor job of attracting, developing and advancing women in the profession. Women need other women to serve as role models and mentors."

"Financial Services: Women at the Top" provides tips on getting started in the industry, growing a successful business and creating a balance between family and work life. It will also help men and women in management create work environments that allow everyone who has the ability to succeed at the highest levels.

"This industry is a land of opportunity for women with an entrepreneurial spirit," Dixon said. "The long term payoff in this career far outweighs the short term, and the short term is pretty great if you are willing to work and learn all you can."

For more information, visit http://www.wifsnational.org.

Financial Services: Women at the Top - A WIFS Research Study
By: Arthea Reed and Diane Dixon
ISBN: 978-1-4917-7059-7
Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and iUniverse online bookstores.

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About the authors
Arthea Reed is a senior financial representative with Northwestern Mutual and senior partner of Long Term Care Insurance Connection. She was formerly a professor and chair of the Education Department at the University of North Carolina - Asheville (UNCA). She earned a doctorate at Florida State University and is a UNCA professor emeritus. She divides her time between Asheville, North Carolina, and Hilton Head, South Carolina.

Diane Dixon owns 3FCoaching (Faith | Focus | Follow Through), a national coaching business. She is a national past president of Women in Insurance & Financial Services and was its Woman of the Year in 2008. She is a graduate of Coach University, a member of International Coach Federation, a consultant of The One Page Business PlanTM, and a practitioner with Leading From Your StrengthsTM. She lives in Xenia, Ohio.

About Women in Insurance and Financial Services (WIFS)
As the preeminent professional organization for women in the insurance and financial services industry, WIFS is dedicated to attracting women to the insurance and financial services sector, developing their talents and advancing them toward their fullest potential. WIFS plans programs and delivers benefits tailored to the needs of its membership of financial advisors, agents, representatives, managers, CPAs and attorneys. Members benefit from monthly educational webinars on a variety of business and professional development topics, mentor program and peer connection. More than three quarters of the more than 1,100 members have more than ten years of business experience and earn $75,000 or more annually. Regional chapters are active across the continental US and Alaska.