Page 14 - Indulge August 2017

Photo courtesy of Lisa DeStein Strohmgirl talk
L isa D estein strohmQ&ACHATS WITH LEHIGH VALLEY MOVERS AND SHAKERS
Meet Lisa DeStein Strohm, founder and
CEO at The Athena Network and Good
Life Advisors of the Lehigh Valley.
By Linda Doell
After seeing the financials struggles her parents went
through, this issue’s Valley Girl made it her life’s organizations, chambers and several pug rescues.
mission to help others meet their financial goals.
Lisa DeStein Strohm became interested in financial
planning at an early age and has gone on to establish two
companies whose focus is financial planning and investing:
The Athena Network and Good Life Advisors of the Lehigh
Valley. She serves as CEO of both.
She grew up in Lower Bucks County and moved to the
Valley after earning her MBA from Cornell University to
work at Air Products. After several years, she left to pursue
her dream of helping people reach their financial goals.
When her husband died when she was just 34, the tragedy
put into sharp focus for her the necessity of financial
education and planning for women. And the idea of The
Athena Network was born.
14 | indulge • August 2017
Lisa has volunteered for a number of organizations over
the years, including holding board positions with the Program
for Women and Families, the Northampton County SCPA (now
the Center for Animal Health & Welfare) and the Women’s
Leadership Council. She also belongs to other business
Along with husband Rod and stepchildren, Connor and
Kennedy, Lisa likes to travel and listen to live music. She took
time out of her business schedule to answer a few questions.
Q: What drew you to your career?
A: Growing up, I became acutely aware early on that my
parents weren’t financially astute and had recurring money
problems. As a result, our family experienced what felt like
constant stress and conflict around money, leaving us to feel
powerless over our lives and fearful for our future. …
My experiences around money as a child and post-college
are why, as a financial adviser for the past 16 years, my focus
has been helping my clients gain clarity and confidence around
their financial affairs, naturally leading to feelings of power over
their lives and optimism about their future.
After many years working in a variety of wealth management
settings, I launched my independent advisory firm in 2015.
Because of my conviction that more women need to take
control of their money, I developed The Athena Network, an
entire division of my firm solely focused on engaging, educating
and empowering women around their financial lives.
Q: What advice could you give someone who is
considering a similar career path?
A: It definitely helps if you like both numbers and people.
The financial advisory field can be quite stressful, so I wouldn’t
pursue it just for the potential financial rewards — make sure
it’s a passion or calling. Also consider attaining an advanced
certification such as the Certified Financial Planner designation,
as these programs teach you invaluable concepts and practices
and can give you more credibility in the eyes of clients.
Q: What is your favorite part of your job?
A: To be a good financial adviser, you need to be able to
analyze your client’s total situation, investments, the markets,
and the economy, but you also have to care about — and
know how to deal with — people. I’m both analytical and
people-oriented, so my job is a perfect fit for my personality.
It’s rewarding and personally satisfying to support my clients in
ways that have a real impact on the quality of their lives.
Q: If you could tell women anything about personal
finances, what would you say?
A: All too often, in both my personal and professional life,
I’ve seen many women remain unengaged in their financial
lives until they were forced to address their money — usually
at a time of personal crisis such as a divorce or loss of a spouse.
At times like these, every financial decision can have a serious
long-term impact on your financial future. These times of crisis
are not the ideal time to become engaged.
I encourage every woman to take that first step. That step
is simply to become more aware and knowledgeable as to what
you have and how it can work for you.