Firm founder cites industry’s treatment of women

investmentnews.com:

The career of Cathy Curtis, founder and CEO of Curtis Financial Planning, has been marked by a deep commitment to breaking barriers and fostering financial independence among women.

Speaking to InvestmentNews, Curtis said her inclination toward finance was ignited early in life, shaped by her upbringing in a middle-class family and exposure to affluent lifestyles in San Francisco. That early realization of the disparities in wealth seeded in her a desire for more. 

“I went to a school in a district in San Francisco where a lot of wealthy families went,” she said. “And I was exposed to lifestyles that I was not living as a young girl – that fascinated me because when you’re in your situation, you don’t realize that there’s something better unless you go out and see it.”

Her father, a businessman, played a crucial role in shaping her career path. Curtis fondly remembers sitting with him, handling “important papers” and acting as if she had her own business instead of playing with dolls. This imitation game was more than child’s play; it was the foundation of her future in business. 

Curtis’ journey diverged from that of her siblings, most of whom pursued careers in health care. Her path led her to the financial sector, driven by a blend of admiration for her father and a personal aspiration for a better life. However, it wasn’t long before Curtis recognized a glaring disparity in the field — the under-representation and undervaluation of women, especially in wealth management.

This observation spurred her to establish her own firm, focusing primarily on female clients. The decision to pivot toward a niche of women clientele, at a time when few others were focusing on this demographic, was a defining moment for her