Work can be work. And if you’re lucky enough, it can be meaningful work. INB’s new Assistant Vice President Amy Barnes says she found meaningful work when she left her job with a Fortune 500 company and became a wealth management advisor. But why did she make the change?
Amy says, “When I was young, I actually wanted to be the first woman president. While politics may not have been in my future, there were other amazing opportunities in my cards. I joined the Air Force shortly after high school to help with college expenses and to explore the world. After separating from the Air Force, I settled in to corporate America, which is what led me to where I am today.
“Although I may not have been the first woman president, I was the first woman in my family to get my bachelor’s degree, and my experiences made me realize how many people, especially women, lacked guidance and education when it came to their personal finances.”
Placing Value on Financial Guidance
Amy continues: “Being a financial advisor today means being one of our client’s most valued resources. I provide clients with everything from basic financial guidance and education to planning for and funding college expenses, to preparing for retirement, or just saving for a rainy day. I may not be president, but I am helping others live out their American Dreams.”
In a sense, Amy is living her own American Dream thanks to her financial education. “I didn’t have a lot growing up and watched how hard my mom worked as a single mom to make ends meet and take care of her girls. I would have done anything to make life easier for her and my family. Having the proper financial guidance can change lives, and advising and educating my clients on their personal finances makes me feel like I am advocating for anyone who needs a little help by making finances easier to manage and understand.”
Planning for Difficult Times Makes Them Easier
Amy started her civilian career with Coca-Cola, executing business plans and marketing strategies. She has spent the last six years helping people plan their financial futures. She recalls working with a widowed client who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s who wanted to prepare for her children to take over her affairs. Amy says, “I helped her . . . establish a financial organizer that outlined every aspect of her financial life. When we met with her children, they couldn’t believe how organized everything was. They were very grateful for how much work had been done and time had been spent to help prepare them for the moment their mom could no longer manage things on her own.”
She has also worked with clients who had no idea what the family’s financial situation was. Because there wasn’t proper estate planning, there was very little Amy could do to help. She recalls, “It was a very sad situation.”
Amy holds a BA from St. Ambrose University and is working on her Masters in Finance at Purdue. She has her Series 7 & 66 Securities Licenses, State Life & Health License, and has an Accredited Wealth Management Advisor designation from the College for Financial Planning. She served as a trustee for the Village of Annawan, has served in Rotary and Kiwanis, and is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Illinois Women in Leadership.