Heather Robertson Fortner just isn’t a monetary advisor however certainly understands what makes individuals tick, which is a giant purpose for her placing collectively advisor groups that ship top-notch outcomes and glorious consumer experiences.
Fortner is CEO and chair of Atlanta-based SignatureFD, which manages almost $70 billion in consumer belongings.
“In our trade, the place technical data is paramount, it’s assumed that simply because you have got a CFA or CFP subsequent to your identify, you’re additionally a great chief of individuals,” Fortner argues in an interview with ThinkAdvisor.
“However,” she stresses, “it’s important to perceive individuals much more than the technical elements.”
Fortner, who began on the agency in 2003 as a consumer affiliate and was named CEO in 2020, has a grasp’s diploma in skilled counseling and has earned standing as an funding adviser licensed compliance skilled.
Within the interview, Fortner, who serves on the Goldman Sachs Advisor Options Panel, describes her ascent to chief compliance officer, director of operations, president and finally to CEO, the agency’s first lady within the put up.
She bucked, and clearly overcame, colleagues’ preliminary doubt {that a} non-advisor would be capable of lead an RIA.
SignatureFD, which has 30 advisors and a second workplace in Charlotte, North Carolina, has had double-digit development 12 months after 12 months ever since Fortner took over growth of its operational platform and tech stack.
However what she takes most pleasure in is inspiring girls who’ve labored on the agency for a number of years to qualify for management positions. At present, SignatureFD’s management group is 90% feminine.
Within the latest interview with Fortner, she particulars two main upcoming developments: the massive wealth switch amongst people and the subsequent era’s shift to new applied sciences that may emerge in 5 years.
Listed below are excerpts from that cellphone dialog:
THINKADVISOR: As CEO of SignatureFD, what’s been your largest success?
HEATHER FORTNER: I’m most proud that our senior management group is majority-female, girls who’ve spent many, a few years rising up with our group.
I’ve had a big half in serving to them study what they wanted so as to be glorious at their craft.
I imagine that our agency is uniquely positioned for the longer term as a women-led group.
What classes have you ever realized as CEO?
One which I actually maintain pricey is knowing that your IQ is nearly not as necessary as your EQ [emotional quotient].
I’ve a graduate diploma in skilled counseling, so I really feel that I’ve had a bit little bit of an unfair benefit in understanding individuals and programs and the significance of how these work collectively.
In our trade, the place technical data is paramount, it’s assumed that simply because you have got a CFA or CFP subsequent to your identify, you’re additionally a great chief of individuals.
However it’s important to perceive individuals much more than the technical elements of the enterprise.
Have you ever made any errors as CEO?
Two issues I actually acquired incorrect. One was after I turned CEO in 2020, there was the belief {that a} non-advisor couldn’t lead a registered funding advisor providers agency.
I don’t serve shoppers, and there was this actual perception voiced time and again {that a} non-advisor couldn’t lead an advisory agency.
So one in all my largest errors was permitting that doubt to essentially get into my head, and I killed myself to get outcomes that I assumed would converse to the truth that I used to be certified to be in that seat.
I in all probability may have pulled again a bit and never spent as a lot time making an attempt to show to everyone that I used to be worthy of it.
What was the opposite factor you bought incorrect?
Once I turned CEO at 45, I assumed I had to surrender the dream of getting a second child due to that first mistake I simply talked about:
They don’t even suppose I can do that job — so how on the planet would getting pregnant and having a child on the similar time I’m making an attempt to show I’m worthy to be a CEO assist something?
However [my colleagues] have been so overjoyed for me after I acquired pregnant once more.
Finally, I trusted that folks I’d been on this journey with for thus lengthy actually had my finest curiosity at coronary heart.
Every other massive studying expertise?
In organizations and management, there’s a degree of [corporate] political acumen that’s required to navigate [the system].
I don’t suppose you’ll be able to simply put your head down and never have to know the best way to function in that world of management and governance our bodies.
My assumption was that if I simply didn’t interact in numerous that dialog, it will all be effective. However I actually needed to study to hit it head-on.
Has the agency at all times centered on high-net-worth shoppers?
Sure, due to our origins. The three unique founders had an accounting agency and wished to [do more financial planning with clients].
They agreed that there was a possibility for them to lean into the chief and enterprise proprietor neighborhood that they already had relationships with.
It was an exquisite strategy to seed the enterprise.
