Her Story
About Laura
Laura Lawrence Quinn is the owner and broker of her own brokerage firm in Schenectady, New York. She has been in the financial services industry for five years, specializing in retirement planning, life and health insurance, annuities, and estate planning. Quinn previously worked as a counselor after earning her master's degree in counseling from Arkansas State University in 1995, along with a bachelor's in psychology and an associate's degree in biology. Her career path included roles in psychiatric hospitals, long-term care, and skilled nursing facilities, where she served as Director of Social Services, handled admissions and needs assessments, and directed marketing efforts. After her children were grown and following a divorce, she transitioned into insurance to help clients with retirement planning, later expanding into annuities and pursuing securities licenses. She is a member of Electric City BNI in Schenectady, the Capital Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Women's Business Council in Albany, and she recently partnered with the woman-owned Pachira Wealth Management firm. Quinn attributes her success to her parents, who encouraged her community involvement and pursuit of education.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Laura
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my parents who gave me the freedom to explore opportunities and be active in community outreach. They encouraged me to do good things without limiting me, which set me up for success. My mother had her master's degree and my father was a successful entrepreneur, providing a strong foundation.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice is to keep moving forward, keep pressing to the next thing, always pushing forward and taking advantage of new opportunities. Never get stagnant after achieving a milestone; always look to what you can achieve next and pursue more education.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Get your life and health insurance license right out of high school and begin working part-time for an agency. Then go to college, get an MBA, and start studying for your securities license. This path would allow you to become a millionaire before you're 40 if started early.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is that it is a male-dominated industry and not enough women are involved as financial advisors. Women bring a softer, more empathetic approach that builds longer-term client relationships. Opportunities exist in life and health insurance and investment advising, especially serving underserved women through woman-owned firms like Pachira Wealth Management.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.