MOUNT VERNON — The chance to spend three days in Palm Beach wasn’t a vacation for Sara Mankins. It was proof that all her hard work was recognized by others in her industry.
Mankins, an Edward Jones Financial Advisor based in Mount Vernon, was invited to the Barron’s Top Women Advisors Summit in Florida at the end of November. The nation’s top 400 female financial advisors and industry leading decision makers gathered for the learning opportunity.
“It’s an invitation-only conference where they bring the top female financial advisors from across the United States together,” Mankins explained. “We talk about investing and women in our industry.”
Mankins said there was a “leaky pipeline” in the financial world when it comes to women in the industry. “A lot of women start out in business and financial services and they don’t necessarily make it into a long-term career,” Mankins said.
That’s why the summit offered female-focused development.
For Mankins, the opportunity was an honor and a little intimidating, but ultimately, very rewarding.
“(I’m) really excited to be at the table and just to hear what other people have to say and how they run their businesses. It’s very encouraging and motivating, for sure,” she said.
Mankins pointed to tennis superstar and savvy businesswoman Venus Williams as to why the summit was so beneficial for her and other women. Williams served as a keynote speaker.
“She was actually incredibly normal,” Mankins said. “It was interesting to listen to her talk about mental focus.”
According to Mankins, Williams discussed being a woman in sports and the resilience needed to live in such a competitive world while not being overly self-critical.
“I think, especially for women, because we’re taught to be kind of like that, but sports teaches you that resilience that you have to show up and keep playing,” Mankins explained. “It’s kind of a good metaphor for life.”
Mankins heads her own Edward Jones Investments office. For her, having women-led businesses only enhances a community.
“It’s good for people to see that there are women (business leaders), that it’s possible, that you can do it,” Mankins said.
She pointed to her mother as a good example of how far women have come. Her mother graduated from Ashland University as one of only a few women majoring in business in her class. Now, the rate of business degrees are near to equal between the genders. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 172,489 women obtained a bachelor’s degree in business during the 2014-2015 school year compared to 191,310 men.
“You think about how much that has change just in 40 years,” Mankins said. “It’s possible. It’s not like, ‘I want to do that someday’ and ‘women don’t do that.’ Yeah, they do (obtain degrees in business) . . . I think that’s powerful for people to see that’s possible.”
Prior to joining the Edward Jones team, Mankins was a certified public accountant. She conducted certain types of financial investigations for private practices and the federal government before deciding to forge a new path five years ago and settle down in Mount Vernon.
Mankins said she was happy to be able to gather more information from the summit that would allow her to better serve the community.
“Just because someone else is in New York City doesn’t mean they should have a better advisor. Everybody needs a good advisor that they can work with that can help them get where they’re going. Retirement and financial stability is not just for other people – it’s for anyone who wants to do it,” Mankins said. “I’m proud to do that and help people in our community and create a better future for people and their families.”
Mankins partners with clients to help them with their long-term financial goals, whether it is for retirement, sending a child to college, or helping a grandchild get a start. Mankins is typically open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday. She can be reached at 740-397-5316. Her office is located at 501 Coshocton Ave., Mount Vernon.
