President and CEO, Bowman Wealth Management, LLC
Valerie Bowman has always been good with numbers, which is why she majored in accounting at Loyola University of Chicago. She was selected for an internship with the IRS and discovered her first love, taxes. Because of that experience, she was then recruited for direct entry into the Tax department at PwC (then Price Waterhouse), one of the big eight accounting firms. After various positions, she discovered the world of financial planning, which became her second love, stating that it is “perhaps because like taxes, it involves knowing the applicable laws. Thus, financial services was a natural, complementing, discipline to pursue.”
In 2000, Valerie secured a Series 7 and Series 66 at American Express (now Ameriprise Financial). “Completing a comprehensive financial plan, as taught by the company, proved to be beneficial for the client and so rewarding for me. I was able to take a holistic approach to financial planning and continued to do so while working for various broker-dealers. I was able to combine my propensity for numbers with my ability to build strong trusting relationships. Of those relationships, it is the ones that involved the more complex issues that led me to become an RIA, fee-only firm, and work with high net worth clients.”
In 2016, Valerie wrote a book on basic financial literacy, Anatomy of a Paycheck: Thinking Beyond Your Initial Paycheck to Financial Independence, for those who are at the other end of the spectrum financially.
Even with 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, Valerie felt an advanced certification was most appropriate for the direction of her practice. “I chose to pursue the CPWA® certification because the body of knowledge taught all that I wanted to address with high-net-worth clients. Studying for, and passing the CPWA® exam fed the need I have for knowledge and information to provide exemplary advice to my clients. If a client met with me today they would know that I am qualified to provide solutions to their complex issues.” Adding, “I want Bowman Wealth Management to be uppermost in the minds of estate planning attorneys and CPAs when they seek RIAs to refer their clients. I want to earn the business because I have consistently demonstrated my ability to address the complex issues of the high-net-worth individual, by providing answers to questions requiring strategic thinking, advanced concepts, and forward-looking planning.”
The best advice Valerie has for other advisors aligns perfectly with the “life-long learning” mantra of the Institute, “they have to want it, as I do, and continue to learn. I am continuously learning; I often listen to prerecorded sessions on charitable giving hosted by community foundations or financial institutions. If not listening, I am reading current economic and investment news, articles on estate planning, or watching videos on CRTs presented by various attorneys. If pursuing a designation is not a current option for advisors, they should be proactive and continue to read materials, network with other advisors, and read news relevant to this industry.”
“By investing in myself, I hope to be a role model for others, especially my son and my daughter,” Valerie shared.
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