Meet Caroline Elliott who has been working in financial services from the start of her career and recently returned to Ireland from Australia …
Our Investment Club journey began in October 2021 – and the experts from Goodbody have been with us every step of the way, sharing practical tips on investing and insights on pensions and inheritance tax, among other topics. We thought it was time to get to know our experts a little better – from their career journey and how we can attract more women to the financial services industry to their favourite podcasts and TV series, we invite you to explore our Women in Wealth series.
My journey to a career in financial services…
I started off my financial services journey at a bank as part of my transition year work experience. During my career, I’ve had the privilege to work in some great organisations in Ireland and Australia. When I was working in marketing and recruitment, I had many clients within financial services.
In 2015, I decided to go directly into the financial services sector and haven’t looked back. I spent almost seven years in relationship management at a large pension fund in Brisbane, Australia. Last year when myself and my husband and six-year-old daughter decided to move back home to Ireland, I was delighted to join the Wealth Management team at Goodbody. The team here always put the client first and that fits very well with my values.
I am passionate about building relationships with people and assisting them to achieve their personal and business financial goals. Being able to make a difference in people’s lives is why I love working in the industry.
What females bring to the industry…
Teams need to be valued and able to share their thoughts to be a success. I have been lucky to work with some inspirational leaders over my career who created this environment at work. According to studies, women leaders tend to show strong empathy, innovation, and risk-taking skills. Empathy is imperative to build and nurture relationships with teams and customers. It is important to remember that money is also emotional. In the world of finance, creating empathy for customers and meeting them on their journey are key to building a successful brand.
Career highlight to date…
Living and working abroad has been an exceptional experience. Working with people from different cultures and backgrounds has allowed me to grow in my career.
Three investing tips for beginners
1. Educate and empower yourself to take control of your own finances.
2. Start a pension and seek advice from a financial advisor. Small changes now make a big difference to your future.
3. Investing is like a rollercoaster, be prepared for the ups and downs.
Currently reading/on my list…
Colleen Hoover’s latest It Starts with Us.
What I’m watching…
HBO’s Succession.
A podcast I love…
The David McWilliams podcast for work and ‘My Therapist Ghosted Me’ with Vogue Williams and Joanne McNally for fun.
On attracting women to the financial services industry
The industry is changing, and gender balance is a key objective for many organisations. Diversity of ideas is crucial for business success. Women can make an impact to transform the industry and open more opportunities for female leaders of the future. I am proud to say that Goodbody are committed to gender equality across the firm.