Kimberly Jiang

I attribute my success to a combination of passion, experience, and balance. My career in financial advising began soon after graduation when I joined Equitable, working primarily with women in public education to help them understand their retirement options and take control of their financial futures. It wasn’t just about the numbers, it was about building confidence, helping people feel secure, less stressed, and more in control of their choices. Like many professionals, I eventually faced burnout from long hours and constant multitasking, which led me to transition into a remote Client Service Associate role. That shift gave me the space to reconnect with what truly drives me: helping people while maintaining my own peace. Today, at the Next Level Planning Group, I’ve found a healthy rhythm, focusing on meaningful financial work, opening accounts, managing transfers, and supporting clients, while staying grounded, motivated, and fulfilled.

I would advise young women entering this industry to remember that success doesn’t always mean constant hustling or saying yes to everything. Growth often isn’t a straight line sometimes a step back, a pause, or even a pivot brings you closer to where you’re truly meant to be. It’s also crucial to set boundaries. You can care deeply about your work and your clients without losing yourself in it, and burnout is not a rite of passage but a signal to realign. Take the time to explore the many facets of the industry, understand each one, and discover the areas and directions that truly resonate with you.

The biggest challenges in my field stem from its male dominated nature. Early in my career, I often felt I had to work twice as hard to prove I belonged, not just to others, but sometimes to myself. Another challenge has been overcoming the perception that financial advising is all about numbers and sales. For me, it’s always been about people: listening to their stories, understanding their fears, and helping them gain confidence in decisions that can change their futures. That human centered approach wasn’t always valued, but I’ve learned that empathy is not a weakness, it’s a superpower. Burnout is another challenge, as it’s easy to get caught up in constant performance metrics and lose sight of why you started helping people in the first place. Representation in leadership is also limited; there are still too few women, especially women of color, in senior roles. I’ve learned that visibility matters just as much as expertise. When clients see someone who looks like them and understands their experiences, it builds trust in a way numbers never can. Yet there are also great opportunities. More women are stepping into advisory and leadership roles, firms are embracing flexible work, and conversations around mental health, empathy, and authenticity in client relationships are increasing. I believe redefining success for women in finance is part of my purpose. It’s not about fitting into an old mold, but building a new one where compassion, creativity, and confidence all have a seat at the table.

The values that are most important to me in my work and personal life center on growth, curiosity, and balance. I’ve learned that every generation has its own rhythm, and that staying open, adaptable, and curious is key to personal and professional development. My parents, who came from the Bay Islands of Honduras, always emphasized education and opportunity, teaching me to seize every chance to learn, take risks, and never let fear dictate my next move. Outside of finance, I nurture my creative side through The Tiny Craft House, my Etsy shop, where I create cozy, self-care-inspired art that encourages people to slow down and focus on what matters. Being a lifelong learner is also important to me I speak three additional languages, ASL, Korean, and Chinese. While I may not be fluent in all of them, I enjoy learning about different cultures and continuously challenging myself.