We sat down with Trenton Johnson from NFP to pick his brain on the state of the financial services industry. Where are we now? Where are we headed? Who will lead us into the future? Trenton offers his insights on some of the burning questions facing the industry.

NFP is a member of the Financial Alliance for Racial Equity (FARE), which is sponsoring the upcoming Diversitas Symposium. FARE is a unique partnership of HBCUs and financial services organizations seeking to build sustainable economic wealth in diverse communities and increase the number of Black advisors and financial professionals through expanded research, increased training, and mentorship opportunities.

The virtual Diversitas Symposium is taking place Wednesday, November 3^rd, 2021 and is free to attend. Speakers will dive into the future of the industry and opportunities for young professionals looking to succeed in financial services. Register to attend here.

Recruiting is a major issue for wealth management firms. What do you think the industry can do to bring more young people into the financial advisory profession?

One of the things I believe that wealth management firms can do to onboard young people is to start recruiting at colleges and universities. So many young people don’t know about the wealth management industry or the different job opportunities available. By recruiting at different schools, those firms can provide them with insights into roles they could take on in financial services.

How do you suggest young professionals find mentors, and how should they leverage that relationship to their advantage?

I suggest young professional find mentors by building a network and getting to know individuals within that industry. Once they’ve done this, they should do their research on the individual that they want to mentor them.

For me, when looking for a mentor, I wanted to be mentored by the person who was most successful in my department based on their sales. In addition to this, I also looked at how this person carried themselves and talked to their clients.

Did you consider entering the wealth management industry when you were a student? Why or why not?

No, I didn’t consider entering the wealth management industry when I was a student. My degree at the time was music business and I was focused on getting into singing and acting. However, I’m truly happy with the decision I made because it’s been very rewarding.

What are you most excited for at this year’s Diversitas Symposium?

I’m most excited to help and provide advice to young people that can further their career within the financial space. Early on, I didn’t have any one to help me, so I understand just how important it is.