Leslie Chang, CPWA^®, CFP^®

Leslie's Story

When Leslie Chang first entered the wealth management industry after graduating from college, she immediately fell in love with the field because of the fast-paced nature of the markets and the relationship management aspect of working with clients. “I enjoyed solving problems and realized quickly there was also room for creativity in this world of financial services,” said Leslie. The wealth management industry has allowed Leslie to use her passion for clients and talent for numbers to meet the daily challenges of the profession. “I have always loved working with numbers and am good at it. I also love how challenging it is because there is always more to learn given the constantly evolving nature of the business,” she said.

As a lifelong learner, Leslie shared she is always trying to expand her knowledge base and get better at her craft. She earned the CFA charter, which confirmed for her the value of continuous education. 

Obtaining the Certified Private Wealth Advisor® (CPWA®) certification came from her desire to learn about the complex needs of wealthy clients and the strategies and approaches advisors can use to help clients improve their lives and create legacies that matter.

Unlike credentials that focus specifically on investing or financial planning, the CPWA program takes a holistic and multidisciplinary approach to addressing the sophisticated needs of high-net-worth (HNW) clients. “I expect the CPWA certification will enhance my ability to add value while in discussions with an ultra-high-net-worth client or a prospective client,” she said. “One of my goals is to grow the HNW business by adding new clients with assets under management exceeding $1 million and/or gaining additional wallet share from our existing HNW clients.”

Leslie also shared her best advice for investing in yourself: "by investing in yourself, you show up better for others. Like investors, finance professionals want to see a return on investment. I am sure if you ask someone who has obtained the CIMA® certification or CPWA certification if they believe it was worth the investment (both in time and financial cost), they will likely say yes. Perhaps it does not immediately result in new AUM or additional revenue, but it certainly increases one’s knowledge base and confidence level. Just as we would expect health professionals to stay up-to-date and be well-trained as advances and discoveries in medicine are made, clients expect the same level of expertise of their financial advisors to help them navigate every aspect of their financial lives."