We recently connected with Kalee Boisvert and have shared our conversation below.

Kalee, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. When you were first starting out, did you join a firm or start your own?

I didn’t grow up with money. Being poor was a pervasive theme in my childhood. Those years were hard and I wished more than anything there was something I could do to help relieve some of the financial stress my single mom had to carry. And although as a child I felt rather helpless at that point in my life, I became a student of learning all things money because I knew I would make a difference and help women one day. After finishing my degree I landed in a role assisting a financial advisor. I knew this was the right path to supporting women in their financial lives. But several years in, I was still nowhere near the position of my dreams (to be the financial advisor). The advisor I worked with failed to take me seriously and treated me more like a personal assistant. My goal to inspire money confidence in women was reignited when I went on my maternity leave after having my daughter. It was time to embrace my career ambitions to become a financial advisor. I was a single mom raising a daughter, and what I wanted to teach her more than anything was to follow her dreams and know that anything is possible.
To become a financial advisor, I designed a detailed plan, defining my advisory business. From an academic perspective, the plan was tip-top. It told a story of how I planned to support women to feel confident and empowered in their financial lives. How I would create a comfortable and safe space for women to be part of the money conversation. I was eager and excited to get started, but none of the investment firms saw a place for what I wanted to do, and I continued to be turned away.
One bank firm did invite me for subsequent interviews. At the very end of our last meeting, there was one person I had to impress to get offered the position, I sat there on the edge of my seat willing him to say yes, to offer me a chance at embarking on this journey. After the formal question part was over, the branch manager relaxed so far back in his chair I was positive he might tip, and I did all that I could to contain my eagerness. After a long pause, he acknowledged that he appreciated my enthusiasm and could tell I was very passionate, and then the words that came next I will never forget.
“But is there really a market for this?” he asked.
My jaw dropped. Tears pricked behind my eyelids. I had to choose my next words carefully for fear I might start crying or maybe even yelling, not knowing in that moment if I was more sad or mad.
I couldn’t believe the archaic and patriarchal the nature of his statement. Of course, there was a market for serving women who wanted to build wealth!
Women make up half the world’s population. There are many financially independent women who are the sole financial decision makers of their household, including me as a single parent. My dream career suddenly felt like a silly daydream that had no place in reality. I was devastated, depleted, and disheartened. This man might not have realized the impact of his statement, but his words hit me like a dagger. And as you may have guessed—I did not receive a job offer from him.
Looking back now, I’m grateful for not being offered a position by the man that couldn’t see a market for specifically serving women. And I’m grateful for all the people who turned me down, unable to see the need for female-focused advice, because it led me to the place that did embrace my vision. And that’s where I hit the ground running. And so I built my financial practice my way, giving women a safe space to thrive. I started hosting in-person events exclusively for women on various financial topics. And I received a lot of flak from my male colleagues around the office for my ‘no men allowed’ approach.
I didn’t care though, this had to be done, I had to give women a comfortable place to talk about money where they wouldn’t be ignored.
I cold called all the other companies in my office and all the neighboring buildings to invite their staff to my inaugural women’s only event. On the afternoon of the meeting, I was so nervous that nobody would show up. If I was wrong, and women indeed had no interest, then I would be left with an empty boardroom and a lot of sandwiches and salad. Waiting in that room, the clock nearing noon, I readied the excuses in my head to make myself look like less of a failure to my colleagues when it flopped.
But, as the minutes approached the start time, women flooded out of the elevators onto the 41st floor of my building. I could see them through the boardroom doors, approaching the front desk, saying they were here for the investing session.
Giddy inside, I wanted to jump up and down and shout, I did it! But I did my best to keep a cool professional exterior.
Presenting in front of that room full of women was like an out-of-body experience. I was so pumped on adrenaline that I don’t even remember how I got through the presentation. But I do remember women coming up to me when it was over. One said that she was excited to go home and talk to her boyfriend about the stock markets, feeling more confident than ever. Another woman thanked me for presenting complex concepts in a way that was easy to digest.
They were excited. Not intimidated. This is how I’d hoped women would feel. It was happening. Women were growing confident about their money.
Fast forward to now, years into building my female-focused business, I can say I absolutely love what I do. It feels amazing to walk beside my clients as they transform their relationships with money. A thrill washes over me to see the effects of money confidence take hold as women go after their most ambitious financial goals

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

With over 15 years of experience in the financial industry, I have built a purpose-led niche as a financial advisor for women.

This is my absolute passion – creating new possibilities in women’s lives by showing them the ropes when it comes to money. I’m here to spark healthy and positive conversations around wealth and investment and create a world where nobody is limited by their financial situation. I believe this begins with education and shifting our relationships with money.
I absolutely love what I do. It feels amazing to walk beside women as they transform their relationships with money. To see the effects of money confidence take hold as they achieve their most ambitious financial goals and desires. It is the proof that all this money and investing “stuff” actually does work. That you can have big bold dreams, and actually achieve them, but it starts with the unwavering belief in oneself. It starts with confidence.
If money has shown up as a source of stress, disappointment, or confusion in your life up until this point, I understand it can be hard to believe that another way is possible.

But it can be different, much different. You can get to a point where it all starts to fall into place. Every woman deserves to have money show up in their life as easy. Women can and should feel confident and empowered about their money. No matter what stage of life you are in and what your level of income, this is possible for everyone. It all begins by choosing to take action and make a change

To further my efforts supporting financial literacy, I have two books being released in 2023 – a children’s picture book called MoneyWise Mabel’s Bursting Bank, and a non-fiction book called Make Money Your Thing! Which aims to build confidence and empower women in their financial lives.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

For me, staying connected to my “why” has been the key to building a successful business. Despite the inevitable ups and downs of the entrepreneurial journey, keeping true to what makes my business important to me at its core – to support and empower women – has helped me attract the right partners and clients.

One of the most effective strategies I’ve used to grow my business is hosting information sessions and providing learning opportunities. By sharing my knowledge and expertise through workshops and events, I am able to establish myself as a trusted advisor and connect with potential clients in a more personal and engaging way. This approach has been particularly effective in my female-focused financial advising business, as it allows me to tailor my services to meet the unique needs and concerns of my clientele.

Overall, my commitment to staying true to my values and providing personalized, empowering services to women has been the foundation of my success. By continuing to prioritize these strategies, I am confident that I can attract the right partners and clients and make a meaningful impact in the lives of the women I serve

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

When I first started my career, I received a lot of sales training. However, I found that I had to unlearn a lot of it because it felt dated and didn’t align with my personality as a quiet introvert. Instead, I learned that it’s important to be true to myself and embrace my unique qualities as gifts. While I may be quiet, I happen to be a great listener, which is an essential quality when working with clients and designing personalized solutions to meet their needs.

By leaning into my strengths and passion for my work, I’ve found that this approach is far more effective than any sales course. When I’m able to authentically connect with clients and listen to their needs, I can provide them with the tailored solutions and support they need to achieve their goals. This not only benefits my clients, but it also allows me to feel fulfilled and satisfied in my work.

I’ve found that embracing my natural qualities and passion for my work has been far more effective than trying to conform to a specific sales training. By being myself and using my strengths, I am able to provide personalized solutions and build meaningful relationships with my clients.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kaleeboisvert.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaleeboisvert
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kaleeboisvertwealthandwellness/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaleeboisvert
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/boisvertkalee