Meet Kimberly E., national vice president of Principal® Financial Network
I’ve never been afraid to take risks.
From finding my own way to attend a college I’d never visited across the country, to building my own financial advising business then taking two years off to reevaluate my career, I’ve never led with fear. So far, it’s led to my success. I can look back and say, yes, every time that I've either paused or took a risk, it turned out to be the right decision.
It’s this confidence that helped land me a regional managing director role—leading an effort to build a financial advisor network from the ground up—at Principal® nearly 10 years ago. It’s what drove me to rise in the ranks to a national vice president just six years later.
Starting from scratch
Growing up in Boston, I was surrounded by a big family with a lot of love and little financial means. After my parents divorced, I watched my mom work three jobs, but she never complained.
I found my own way to university, arranging rides from Boston to Tucson, Arizona, with friends and family. I began my college career studying nutrition biochemistry. But after being approached by an acquaintance who worked in the financial industry, I shifted my focus to financial advising.
After graduating, I worked for eight years as a financial advisor under a corporation before going out on my own. I took the risk of starting over from scratch and networked nonstop. As business hummed along, I relocated to Boston and managed my practice by flying from coast to coast monthly. Eventually, I kind of lost my passion for the day to day of being an advisor.
Focusing on long-term potential
After reflection and conversations with my business coach, I realized my passion: leadership. I cold called a financial company and earned a leadership position. It was a huge financial step backward, but believed in what I could accomplish. I knew I’d get to where I want to go. And I did.
Through my success, Principal found me and tapped me to help build and lead a group of advisors in the New England area. Understanding I was taking another career gamble with no immediate financial upside, I wanted to make sure I got to know the people I’d be working with.
Talking to my potential future colleagues, I remember thinking there was one person that was there for less than 15 years—only one. And I thought, wow, Principal must be doing something right if all these people are still here.
I took the job on one condition: If I delivered on expectations, I’d be given the opportunity to take on more.
Creating more opportunities
If I had not been educated by an acquaintance all those years ago, I may have never even known about financial advising as a career possibility.
Even with this exposure, I think I was the only woman—and one of only three out of 32 trainees in my class—who successfully became licensed to practice.
We need to create opportunities and a pathway to bring people into the industry so they can help create financial stability for individuals and families from all different backgrounds.
I think about my own family, and the difference a financial advisor could’ve made for them. Getting out ahead despite this is gratifying, for sure, but I’m always looking at what impact I can make next.
