"Women are receiving more wealth, whether it’s generational or otherwise, and they are looking for women advisors to help them because sometimes that’s an easier, more trustworthy relationship and connection." — Stacy Miller 

The Harbert College is dedicated to developing graduates who are highly-skilled, professionally prepared, confident, ethical, and globally minded.

There are approximately 350,000 financial advisors in the United States, but only 15 to 20 percent of those professionals are women. Stacy Miller, a Certified Financial Planner™, not only recognizes that women are underrepresented in the industry, but that they can make a profound difference in people’s lives.

“Diversity allows for more creative solutions across the board, whether it’s financial services or another industry,” said Miller, a Tampa, Florida, resident who earned an MBA in 1998 at the Harbert College and is Partner/Vice President at Bright Investments in Auburn. “Women are receiving more wealth, whether it’s generational or otherwise and they are looking for women advisors to help them because sometimes that’s an easier, more trustworthy relationship and connection. This is an opportunity for us in financial services, but it’s also an opportunity for women who want to delegate because they don’t want to do it or don’t have the time to do it well.”

Miller, who received an undergraduate degree in sociology from Boston University, was encouraged to become a Certified Financial Planner to make a difference in the lives of others, with a focus on women’s initiatives.

“The definition of financial advisor is extraordinarily broad … broad in education, experience, licensing and approach,” Miller said. “Approach is really one of the things that helped me choose my defining characteristic within the industry. A lot of financial advisors have products that they sell, and that did not hold much interest to me. Helping people is the approach that I like to take and becoming a Certified Financial Planner™ was a path to get to that place.”

Miller approaches each client on a strategic level.

“There’s retirement planning, estate planning, tax planning, all of these,” she said. “I have the education and the experience to be able to advise on these things and say, ‘Here are the things that I’m recommending based on your overall financial picture.’ I prefer this approach – not ‘here’s a product I have to sell. That’s how I add value with what we’re doing at Bright Investments.”

Miller created the program “Budget Like a Boss” for a professional group of women in Tampa who were looking for tools, tips and tricks for managing finances. This singular creation has evolved into a webinar and is the key topic in numerous speaking engagements, including Investing Like a Boss, Retiring Like a Boss and Financial Planning Like a Boss.

“Many do not learn personal finance in school,” she said. “This program not only helps manage finances, but credit scores, spending less than you earn, etc. People know that – but they don’t always apply it.

“It’s really important that you understand the future financial implications of what you’re doing now, for retirement or whatever long-term goals you have. You have got to understand what’s happening in your finances now and how to achieve those goals.”

At the end of the day, Miller’s passion is making a positive impact for her clients.

“Just knowing that I have helped relieve stress, helped a client find a solution for a problem, whether it’s finding enough money to retire or getting finances in order because a spouse passed away,” she said. “I like to know that I have added value to someone in their quality of life.”