From the moment she graduated college and began her career as a financial advisor, Angie Spielman found that she was often the only woman in the room.
Born and raised in Panama before moving to the United States at age 15, she also felt the pressure that comes with being a minority in an industry that has been sidestepping conversations about diversity and inclusion for decades.
“Whether it be my gender or my race, I've always kind of felt like the odd man out. And I think at times, I've had to work twice as hard as other people because of what I look like,” Spielman told Financial Planning. “Thankfully I decided to move over with a leader who appreciates that and sees everyone equally for what they can deliver, their merits and their hard work. This is a celebration of that as well, just because this is a rare occurrence in the industry.”
The celebration Spielman references is the news that she has just been
With the promotion, announced Thursday, Esparza makes it clear that Spielman’s presence and Manhattan West’s success are intrinsically linked.
“Manhattan West wouldn’t be where we are today without Angie. She has been an integral contributor to our growth and a fantastic partner from day one,” Esparza said in a statement. “As we celebrate Women’s History Month, I cannot think of anyone more deserving to be acknowledged for her commitment to the financial success of women than Angie. She is truly a role model for everyone and anyone pursuing a career in financial services.”
Spielman, meanwhile, is taking a moment to appreciate her latest achievement while reflecting on the woman who inspires her the most. Where she grew up, the patriarch typically assumes the role of managing finances for the family.
But Spielman’s mother did things differently, igniting a passion within her daughter to keep shaking things up while helping other women achieve all of their financial goals.
In addition to working with a select group of high net worth private clients, corporations and nonprofits Manhattan West, Spielman has crafted a niche in serving women seeking financial independence or direction while managing life’s major upheavals.
That includes clients who require estate planning guidance or have experienced a major liquidity event like a divorce, a spouse’s death or a business sale.
“My mother was the one managing all the finances for my father's medical practice and all of the finances for us as a family, so she always took on a very important role from a financial perspective,” Spielman said. “It took me a while to kind of find that niche and find what I truly enjoyed, and my book has grown organically because this is an area that I feel passionately about. I just think there's so much opportunity for women advisors, and there really is a space that's barely been broken through for women in the industry.”
Spielman’s career in New York began in 2004 as a Bloomberg analyst. She then joined J.P. Morgan Asset Management in a role supporting the chief U.S. economist in the fixed income trading group. Prior to joining Manhattan West, she worked in the commercial banking divisions of Bank of America and J.P. Morgan.
Outside of Manhattan West, Spielman serves as a member of the Finance Committee at the San Diego Jewish Academy.
Even with years of fixed income trading, commercial banking and private wealth management under her belt, Spielman is still in love with her job. She smiles with excitement when thinking back on her journey and beams with pride when discussing the potential of the next generation of advisors and disruptors.
At the core of that, Spielman said, is the joy that comes from working with people. Early in her career she learned that an institutional role operating in the background wasn’t for her.
She prefers the interpersonal side of the industry and likens herself to a quarterback guiding her clients to the end zone.
“It's been a long road to get here. Not just geographically but professionally … and I'm looking forward to the next 20 to 30 years doing the same thing,” Spielman said. “I think every step in my career has led me to this, and I'm at a point today where I absolutely love what I do.”
Spielman is also one of just a few women of color to hold a leadership role in financial services. According to McKinsey’s
According to the data, women of color account for 21% of entry-level employees but only 4% of C-suite executives.
Spielman is hopeful that her accomplishments and visibility may serve as inspiration for other underrepresented advisors driven to the industry by their desire to help others.
“There were a lot of instances along the growth of my career that could have deterred me to either give up or to quit. But I think it's important to have the will to move on and to know that there are going to be times where you're going to be knocked down. The most important part of it is how you get up,” she said. “Being a woman with a Latin American background, it's probably going to happen (to me) more often than others, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
“I want to pass that baton on to my clients and other advisors who are looking to come into the field and continue doing more good in the financial industry.”
