Her Story
About Claire
Claire Lewis is a Client Service Associate at Edelman Financial Engines, where she supports financial advisors by delivering exceptional client service, managing account documentation, and helping clients navigate important financial decisions with confidence. She began her career in financial services as an intern with Equitable Advisors while attending college and steadily advanced through roles as a Financial Advising Assistant and Executive Assistant before joining Edelman Financial Engines. Passionate about helping others achieve financial well-being, Lewis is committed to expanding her expertise as she works toward becoming an Investment Advisor.
A graduate of SUNY Geneseo, Lewis earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a minor in Human Resource Management, graduating magna cum laude. She holds life, health, and vision insurance licenses as well as the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) certification and is continuing to pursue additional securities licensing, including the Series 66 exam. Her dedication to professional development, combined with valuable internship experience early in her career, has enabled her to build a strong foundation in financial services at a young age. One of her most memorable achievements came while she was still in high school, when she appeared on a CNBC virtual town hall during the COVID-19 pandemic to discuss its economic impact alongside industry experts.
Lewis credits much of her success to the guidance of her longtime mentor, Richard Campbell, whose encouragement and support helped shape her academic and professional journey. Today, she enjoys paying that mentorship forward by advising younger professionals and sharing career insights through LinkedIn. She is also actively involved in Edelman Financial Engines' Women in Leadership Employee Resource Group and LGBTQ+ Ally community, reflecting her commitment to fostering inclusive workplaces. Outside of her career, Lewis is passionate about animal welfare, volunteering with PetSmart cat adoption clinics and helping rescue and care for injured cats while supporting nonprofit animal sanctuaries.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Claire
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to building a strong educational foundation and continually investing in my professional growth. Earning my Bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a minor in Human Resource Management, along with obtaining my life, health, vision insurance, and Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) certifications, has prepared me to grow confidently in the financial services industry. My internship experience gave me invaluable real-world exposure early in my career, and I remain committed to expanding my expertise by pursuing additional certifications, including the Series 66, as I continue to develop professionally.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Mistakes are part of growth, not proof of failure. Don’t stay in a role just because you’ve invested years in it if it no longer helps you grow. The experience you’ve gained isn’t wasted - it becomes the foundation for your next opportunity.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
It is such a large industry, and to really kind of go in knowing that each firm that you work for is gonna be drastically different. But at the end of the day, if you're choosing to be a financial planner, or if you're choosing to be a CSA or a support team, you are still doing wonderful work for our clients, and the biggest thing is having really good communication. It's scary at times, and sometimes you are gonna think about changing career paths, and that's normal, and I would encourage looking at other career options. Sometimes you always end back up where you started, and sometimes something new pops out. Just like choosing a degree in college doesn't mean that that needs to be what you stick with the rest of your life. However, as someone in this field, I'm biased, and I would highly recommend continuing on the journey.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I just recently began my career as a CSA at a new firm and the adjustment has been challenging. My biggest learning curve has been adjusting to the different terminology between firms - but this is something I experienced recently when switching rugby teams - and it does get easier.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that matter most to me are continuous learning, mentorship, service, and giving back to others. One of my proudest professional moments was appearing on CNBC as a high school senior during the COVID-19 pandemic to discuss its economic impact, an experience that reinforced the importance of staying informed and using my voice to educate others. I'm grateful for the guidance of my mentor, Richard Campbell, and I enjoy paying that support forward by mentoring younger professionals and sharing career advice through LinkedIn. I also value creating inclusive communities, which is why I'm actively involved with Edelman's Women in Leadership and LGBTQ+ Ally initiatives. Outside of work, I'm passionate about animal welfare and volunteer with PetSmart adoption clinics while helping rescue and care for injured cats whenever I can. Whether in my career or personal life, I strive to make a positive impact through compassion, leadership, and meaningful connections.
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