[00:17] Tara Bansal: Welcome to Her Life, Her Practice, Her Way A podcast for and about Female Financial Advisors Tara I’m Tara Conti Bansal and I’ve been a financial planner and life coach for over 20 years.

[00:32] I want this show to share other women financial advisors journeys, struggles and triumphs.

[00:39] I want to highlight the unique and similar ways to enjoying our life and our practice on our own terms.

[00:46] I hope to build a community of like minded, deeply caring and exceptional female advisors who want to help our clients and ourselves live a life that we love.

[00:59] One that is filled with love,

[01:01] learning, connection, meaning and joy.

[01:04] I hope you listen in.

[01:07] Tara Bansal: Hello hello, this is Tara Conti Bansal and I am super excited to be here with Kim Abmeyer on her life, Her Practice, her way and I’ve known.

[01:21] Tara Bansal: Kim for several years now.

[01:24] Kim Abmeyer: We.

[01:26] Tara Bansal: Were assigned to the same mastermind group. So I think throughout the show you’re going to get to meet everyone in my mastermind group. I think they are all fabulous women and deserve their own show by far.

[01:42] But Kim is a smarty pants. She has a cfa,

[01:47] her CFP and is also an enrolled agent.

[01:51] She is with Ascentis wealth and formerly her own firm,

[01:57] Abmeyer Wealth.

[02:00] So the change has been fairly recent I think just in the past year and I’m super excited to talk to Kim and I’m thrilled to have you here.

[02:11] Tara Bansal: So I always start, I always start.

[02:15] Tara Bansal: With the first question,

[02:16] tell me your story.

[02:18] So I’d love to hear even where you grew up and how you got to be where you are now for sure.

[02:26] Kim Abmeyer: Thanks for having me. That’s, I’m, I’m excited to be a part of this because I’ve been together so to speak since this is just an idea and now it happens. So I love it.

[02:38] Let’s see, I was,

[02:40] I was born in Texas, lived in Austin my pretty much the majority of my life from about four or five years old through college.

[02:51] I grew up playing sports.

[02:53] I ended up playing volleyball which actually is really the key to kicking off my career now that I think about that.

[03:05] I played volleyball, I played for a club team.

[03:08] When I got into college I coached for that club team and one of the moms of one of my teammates was like the lone wolf woman like top advisor at Merrill Luch.

[03:21] And I was in college I discovered that I loved economics which everyone thinks is insane,

[03:30] but I just loved all the formulas. I liked the numbers and how it you could get from A to B by utilizing inputs to get outputs.

[03:40] So she said you’ve got to have an internship while you’re in College, it’s just crucial for whatever career path you go on.

[03:48] And if you think you want to be in financial services, why don’t you come intern for me?

[03:54] So I interned for her for about two years.

[03:59] In fact, I think I worked more quicker than I did go to class.

[04:05] Tara Bansal: So this was. You did this while you were still in college?

[04:08] Kim Abmeyer: Yes.

[04:09] Wow. This is like my job to make extra money.

[04:13] So I coached, I worked for her,

[04:16] and then I also bartended. I. I really liked to work.

[04:20] Wow.

[04:21] Yeah. Yeah.

[04:23] So I graduated, and at that point,

[04:30] Merrill lynch had a position open that they offered me that I just didn’t think was the right fit. And having lived in Austin for what I just pretty much say my whole life of what I know of it.

[04:45] Austin’s a really small town when you’ve been there that long. And it definitely was that long ago.

[04:52] Tara Bansal: Yeah.

[04:52] Kim Abmeyer: Back then, I.

[04:53] Tara Bansal: Before it’s had this explosion.

[04:55] Kim Abmeyer: Yeah, exactly.

[04:57] So I was like, I kind of want to go somewhere where I don’t know anybody.

[05:01] We’ll see what happens. So I looked for jobs in Denver, Colorado, and in Dallas.

[05:06] And I ended up in Dallas, which I’m truly thankful for because it ended up being, you know, a drive home instead of a flight.

[05:15] Tara Bansal: Yes.

[05:17] Kim Abmeyer: Much closer, so I could come home more frequently. But it started out as, like, a marketing role for a team.

[05:25] And realized kind of pretty quickly that wasn’t.

[05:28] Wasn’t what I was,

[05:30] at that point, best suited for.

[05:32] So.

[05:33] Tara Bansal: And that was at Merrill Lynch?

[05:35] Kim Abmeyer: No. So that was. I hired on. At that time, we were Dane Rauscher. Okay.

[05:41] So this is in 2000.

[05:43] They’re no longer. Now they are RBC Dane Rauscher. So we went through an iteration of acquisition.

[05:50] I started out as a marketing. Like I said, for this gentleman, just wasn’t the right fit.

[05:55] But the woman that did compliance said, well, there’s this other team at one of our offices that’s looking for a sales assistant. Maybe you can interview with them.

[06:04] And then there’s no interruption of benefits or you, like, trying to find a truly find a new job with a new company and all that.

[06:11] So I went and interviewed the plan. It was a. An older gentleman and a younger female partner.

[06:19] And it kind of seemed like an instant fit. They had laid out for me that if.

[06:27] If it was something that I wanted to grow into,

[06:30] you know, at some point he would be retiring and I could become,

[06:33] you know, an advisor and a partner. And at that point, I was like, no, that’s not for me.

[06:38] I didn’t want to be an Advisor.

[06:41] In fact, I went and got an MBA in sports and entertainment marketing.

[06:46] Tara Bansal: I’m winning so much.

[06:50] Kim Abmeyer: Yes.

[06:51] By the time I finished that though, I had gotten really embedded into our stock and like investment research process because we were probably one of the only few, if not only advisors that actually did individual stocks investing.

[07:14] So I finished my, my MBA and they said,

[07:19] you’re not going anywhere,

[07:21] you’re staying here. They gave me a nice little bump on pay towards not turn down.

[07:26] And so then I went back and got a second graduate degree on state and financial aid. And so the rest is kind of history. We ended up splitting with our female partner and it was just Bill and I.

[07:37] He and I became partners and then when he retired, I took over his practice.

[07:42] Tara Bansal: And when was that? Approximately.

[07:45] Kim Abmeyer: Yeah, so he retired end of 2014. Okay, so 10 full years.

[07:53] Tara Bansal: Yeah. 11.

[07:54] Kim Abmeyer: Yeah, 11. Yeah.

[07:58] And so then it was.

[07:59] We were, let’s see. So then I’ll take you through kind of the history of firms. So we were at Dave Rashford, which was acquired by rvc.

[08:08] From there we moved to Bear Stearns, which during the financial crisis was taken in by JP Morgan.

[08:17] And that I’ll never forget sitting at like a St. Patrick’s Day party on a,

[08:21] on that weekend, thinking one of the choir offices will just be locked in dark, want to show up for work on Monday.

[08:30] And so J.P. morgan securities is what they had brained in the Bear Stearns of arms.

[08:35] And that, that was great for quite some time until J.P. morgan, the private bank and the bank started trying to evolve the culture. And the brokerage culture and vacant culture were very different.

[08:54] So when Bill retired,

[08:58] I was pregnant with my first son. I’ll have him in March.

[09:02] And in October of that year, I moved our entire practice to Raymond Jones.

[09:07] Tara Bansal: Wow.

[09:08] Kim Abmeyer: Because Raymond James was very much. JP Morgan was starting to get really concerned, I guess, about the fact that we were so hands on with our investment process instead of like farming.

[09:21] Tara Bansal: Using theirs.

[09:22] Kim Abmeyer: Yeah,

[09:23] using theirs.

[09:26] And Raymond James was very much your business. As your business, you can run it however you choose. We’re just here to support you.

[09:34] They were a very conservatively run institution, so it felt safe from a balance sheet standpoint.

[09:41] So we all made that move.

[09:44] Tara Bansal: When you say we, who else was it?

[09:47] Kim Abmeyer: I said we as in my clients. Some of it.

[09:50] Tara Bansal: Oh, okay. But did you have any staff or anyone that you brought with you?

[09:55] Kim Abmeyer: No. The sales assistant I had was really kind of just helping me on the side that she was part of a big team that stayed JP Morgan.

[10:06] Tara Bansal: Okay.

[10:09] Kim Abmeyer: But I’m Glad for that because I got paired up with a self assistant at Raymond James who ultimately became my go to.

[10:20] In fact, I just lost her February of last year.

[10:30] But I also met two gentlemen that office next to me that also worked with Holmes, Valerie and Valley. So the four of us became pretty tight and just kind of how this industry evolves.

[10:47] What I thought was so great about Raymond James letting you be morphed into there was fine print added, you know, that said, if your production wasn’t at this level, then the firm could technically take over ownership of your book.

[11:02] Oh,

[11:03] and I just didn’t like it occurred to me I don’t want to work somewhere where they can just change the rules on me at any time and I have no day.

[11:13] So the other two advisors were kind of having the same feelings and Rain and James had.

[11:21] So the four of us all moved from rja, which is the brokerage side, traditional brokerage,

[11:27] over to the employment division.

[11:32] And that was the best thing I’ve probably ever. One of the best things I’ve ever done.

[11:38] I’m going that individual channel, but also opened up a whole nother.

[11:43] I never thought I would be a business owner,

[11:48] so. And so that was great.

[11:50] Spent a few years.

[11:52] Tara Bansal: And how independent were you? Or like, was it the four of you or each of you had your own.

[12:00] Kim Abmeyer: So we all had our own businesses,

[12:02] separate books.

[12:04] And then Valerie was our one what tied us all together. But we would kind of collaborate on things.

[12:11] Let’s see, one of the gentlemen was like 10 years older than me and the other one was 23,

[12:18] 24 years older than me.

[12:22] Tara Bansal: Okay.

[12:23] Kim Abmeyer: So it’s kind of nice also to have that.

[12:26] I really missed working with people. I really loved being part of a leadership, having someone to bounce ideas off of,

[12:34] like make sense of things if it doesn’t make sense to you. And so that was great. We did end up tucking into an RIA that was created by another legacy, Raymond James.

[12:47] Tara Bansal: Okay.

[12:49] Kim Abmeyer: So not surprising. I was the only female advisor in that group.

[12:59] They were the other gentlemen that were advisors there were all, like I said, within that 15 to 25 year years older than me. So they were more on the like, how do we monetize our books so we can retire stage where I was really raising up growth.

[13:17] So that’s when I decided to actually leave that group and go independent under Org Partners. So that was March of 22.

[13:30] And that’s what has evolved. So that was Abmeyer. Well and then with those colleagues that I met through Origin Partners,

[13:41] we’ve evolved now into asylum so that’s the long story.

[13:49] That’s how we got where we are.

[13:52] And since then we’ve ultimately.

[13:55] So a friend, a longtime friend in the neighborhood was a financial planner.

[14:01] She joined me in August of 23.

[14:07] Tara Bansal: Okay.

[14:07] Kim Abmeyer: So it was she and I and Valerie. So that’s where we really kind of embraced this female led firm, all female team.

[14:18] Tara Bansal: Which I love.

[14:20] Kim Abmeyer: Yeah, I know it’s, it’s a lot of fun.

[14:25] Since then we’ve kind of, we’ve gone through.

[14:28] Valerie ended up moving with the other two advisors that I was. Well,

[14:33] that I have been connected with.

[14:36] We were sharing firm even though I was here and they were at another firm,

[14:41] but they ultimately did tuck into a larger firm. Well, she became an employee. Obviously she couldn’t work with me anymore. So we’re currently on the search.

[14:53] Well actually we hired a new assistant.

[14:56] That is a gentleman.

[14:59] Tara Bansal: You can’t say you’re all female anymore.

[15:01] Kim Abmeyer: But now we’re just a female led team.

[15:04] But I think our goal is to ultimately bring in another female, whether that’s a planner or an almost systems just because. And it’s a question that you have buried in here.

[15:20] So I won’t maybe jump ahead of both. I think we need more management issue y and so I want to support that money fashion that I’m able to.

[15:32] Tara Bansal: Why do you feel like we need.

[15:33] Tara Bansal: More women in the industry?

[15:37] Kim Abmeyer: I think women are just innately like we’re just a natural fit,

[15:43] you know, as as much I think what scares.

[15:48] Well, I’d say people in general, but probably women is,

[15:52] I mean one is very male dominated. Two, everyone thinks it’s investments and numbers,

[16:00] performance and like all of these stem type, you know,

[16:10] ideas.

[16:11] But I think what and what I, you know, what I talk to clients, especially new clients is I like to explain that while we are your financial advisor, we’re also your therapist like or your counselor or like we’re going to hold your hand until everything’s going to be okay.

[16:27] If the market’s going wild or if you go through a life changing event and the loss of a loved one, we’re going to be here to help,

[16:34] you know, support you and all of those things that you’re not in the right frame of mind to be dealing with. So I think as women we just have that natural like nurturing ability that men don’t have that also.

[16:55] But I just say for sure,

[16:58] yeah.

[16:58] Tara Bansal: No, and I agree.

[16:59] Tara Bansal: And when I think of the good.

[17:02] Tara Bansal: Advisors,

[17:03] it’s not about the numbers, it’s how they connect to people, how they Listen how they care.

[17:11] I feel like at a different level than just the numbers. Right. Like.

[17:16] Kim Abmeyer: Right.

[17:17] And I think that is becoming even more important now with AI. Yeah. Coming online. Everyone’s terrified that it’s gonna.

[17:25] Advisors aren’t gonna have a job anymore. But I think it’s the exact opposite. I think,

[17:31] you know, if you really dial in on that relational piece and then let AI do some of that heavier lifting. Right. In the analytical side.

[17:42] Tara Bansal: Yeah. That. That I think women do worry about, like, let. Let the computer do that part and you get to do the relationship part.

[17:52] Kim Abmeyer: Yeah, yeah. So I think it’ll just become more people. It will, it will.

[17:59] It will remain a people business.

[18:02] I think people. Especially people.

[18:04] Well, really of all,

[18:06] you know,

[18:07] scales of wealth, so to speak. Right.

[18:09] They all want someone there to tell them everything’s going to be okay or everything’s on track or.

[18:19] I don’t see that.

[18:20] And that’s why I really think that when we need more women, I’ll just think we have a different perspective.

[18:26] I mean, I’m kind of in the same boat again with my new firm. Is I’m the only female advisor and on the leadership team,

[18:37] which can be challenging sometimes,

[18:39] but I.

[18:40] My male counterparts are always thankful for my perspective because it’s difficult for me. Right.

[18:46] Tara Bansal: Yeah. Well, that. I’m glad for that. But I also want you to have more women on the leadership team with you, so.

[18:54] Kim Abmeyer: Yes, same, same.

[18:58] Tara Bansal: What.

[18:59] Tara Bansal: What do you like about this profession and doing what you do?

[19:07] Kim Abmeyer: Oh, gosh, I feel like I’ve been really blessed that the clients that I have today are the same clients that I started with 25 years ago.

[19:22] So they feel like family.

[19:25] You know, I’ve grown. Literally grown up with some of them. Some of them.

[19:31] Well,

[19:31] I have grown up with all of them,

[19:34] but, you know, it’s really fun. Now we’ve got multi generations, right. Like grandparents and parents and grandkids and great grandkids.

[19:43] But I think. So the people part is really,

[19:47] really fun.

[19:49] But I also think it’s,

[19:51] you know, solving problems. I. We like to. We make the analogy that your financial picture is of the puzzle. Right. So we like helping people identify what their puzzle pieces are and then how we can put them together to create the, you know, image and design with their puzzle that they want their puzzle to show.

[20:11] So it just.

[20:15] It makes you feel good when you actually are able to do that for someone in there.

[20:19] You can just see the. If the body language change,

[20:24] you know, like this relief.

[20:25] Tara Bansal: It’s like they sit. Yeah. Settle in or Relax. And yeah, I agree. Who are your ideal clients? Who do you want to work with?

[20:36] Kim Abmeyer: Yeah. So we, you know, per say our website site or well, our new, well the new website, the new company website also released. Well,

[20:45] we’ve always focused on what we call entrepreneurial minded professionals.

[20:52] So we do work with business owners. But I think also, you know, there are people that can work in executive positions that have that entrepreneurial mind.

[21:04] And then what we call,

[21:06] just for sake of not using bad words,

[21:09] high powered women.

[21:11] We like to really say like we like to wear fat *** women in whatever it is that we do.

[21:18] And so those are our three kind of thoughts.

[21:23] A lot of times like our clients will span all three of those. Right.

[21:27] Tara Bansal: I was going to say to me, they, they overlap I’m sure quite a bit.

[21:33] Kim Abmeyer: And then unfortunately we started working with a lot more women that are getting divorced. Well through divorce.

[21:42] And that’s been. While it’s. I said it’s unfortunate because you never wanted to see that happen.

[21:50] It’s also rewarding when you’re able to, I mean to help a woman who never really had control of her finances or know like knew what their assets were, what their balance sheet looked like or anything come out of a divorce and just be like, I don’t even know.

[22:09] I don’t even know.

[22:10] Tara Bansal: Yeah.

[22:13] Kim Abmeyer: But I’d say, you know, from you know, an AUM perspective. Right. I think we add, we can add the most value.

[22:23] We work with clients that are like 3 million to 25 million.

[22:27] So they’re not in that like high, ultra high net worth bucket.

[22:31] But they’ve got enough that they’re not.

[22:35] Tara Bansal: Trying to make ends meet. Yeah. Like they.

[22:38] Kim Abmeyer: Right,

[22:38] right. They’ve got enough complexity that we can be more like very strategic with how they’re invested, their investment plan or be more tax efficient if they, you know, if you’re in Ohio bracket which is I think one of the really important parts especially with lots of changing tax regulations in the last two couple of years,

[23:01] I should say helping those in those like upper to that scrapbooks be more efficient with how they manage their investments. Charitable giving family like legacy plumbing, Lovelace.

[23:16] Tara Bansal: And very nice for the divorced women are most. How, how are they getting to you?

[23:26] Kim Abmeyer: Referrals really.

[23:28] Tara Bansal: Okay.

[23:29] Kim Abmeyer: Yeah.

[23:29] Tara Bansal: From other women or from divorce attorneys?

[23:34] Kim Abmeyer: From other women.

[23:35] Tara Bansal: Okay.

[23:36] Kim Abmeyer: Yeah. Yeah. And you know, like I said, it’s okay. Some of them are actually friends.

[23:42] Tara Bansal: Yeah.

[23:44] Kim Abmeyer: Just where we are in life.

[23:46] Tara Bansal: Yeah.

[23:47] Kim Abmeyer: Not my age, but yeah. We get a lot of our. Really the majority of our new clients come from. Okay.

[23:56] Tara Bansal: What has surprised you about this job and what you do.

[24:02] Kim Abmeyer: Not surprising,

[24:03] but interesting or maybe. But also, like, probably what keeps me drawn to it is I feel like there’s this constant evolution. Right. Of services or how, like, how you can improve how you service clients with all these new technologies.

[24:25] You know, I feel like we can really. We have the ability to really, like, step up our game when it comes to servicing clients and not taxing ourselves.

[24:38] Right.

[24:39] To give that white glove service.

[24:41] So I am kind of a lifelong learner, so I think maybe the surprise, you could say, but I feel like it goes with anything that you do and that, you know, you’re constantly.

[24:56] You have to constantly evolve with the industry to stay relevant. Right. Or to stay.

[25:06] Tara Bansal: Almost ahead of the curve.

[25:07] Tara Bansal: Like. Yeah. Sharp. And. Yeah. What’s one decision that shaped your life or career?

[25:22] Kim Abmeyer: I would absolutely say taking that.

[25:25] That second job, that sales assistant job with one.

[25:30] Was it, though,

[25:31] the gentleman? Yeah, with Bill Chestnut.

[25:35] He was my.

[25:36] He became my mentor. He literally taught me everything he knew.

[25:41] I still. I think we talked on our mastermind group. Like, I kind of joke, like,

[25:46] what would Bill Chestnut do? And that I’m in probably personally and professional,

[25:55] because he was just salt of the earth. Like, the kindest gentleman I’ve ever known.

[26:02] And he was just for a reference, there he was. He probably. He could have been my grandfather.

[26:10] He was 46 years older than me.

[26:13] Tara Bansal: Wow.

[26:14] Kim Abmeyer: So he had a lot of experience.

[26:17] Experiences life.

[26:20] So I would say that because that truly I would not be here today if it was not on that whole road that he.

[26:34] Yeah.

[26:36] But that actually leads me to another question that you have on here.

[26:40] Talking about, like, what would you tell your younger self or someone?

[26:47] I mean, all day long I would say find.

[26:51] Find someone or some people to work with or for that knows a lot more than you do that can teach you all the things that they need and they’re good and they should be good human beings.

[27:06] Tara Bansal: But yes.

[27:09] Kim Abmeyer: Because otherwise, especially in this business, I feel like it’s. It’s really hard to just start,

[27:15] like, on your own and to try to figure it out. And if you want to be an advisor, you know, getting from A to middle.

[27:30] Yeah. That would be my biggest piece of advice, too.

[27:33] I got lucky, I think. I didn’t know that’s what I was doing when I did.

[27:39] Tara Bansal: But the importance of having that mentor and having someone that.

[27:43] Tara Bansal: Did he grow?

[27:45] Tara Bansal: Had he been in the business or industry for a really long time? Yeah. Okay.

[27:50] Kim Abmeyer: Yeah.

[27:51] Yeah. He was pretty well established. While we’ll join them trying to think they were like a one and a. Maybe a one and a half or $2 million team.

[28:03] So they.

[28:04] They’ve done pretty well.

[28:05] Tara Bansal: Yeah. That’s great. How was the transition from him deciding to retire and then him leaving? How was that for you?

[28:21] Kim Abmeyer: It was probably easier than expected,

[28:25] but that’s because we had gone about it with such intention.

[28:30] You know, he had really started building me into all of our client meetings so that our clients had got to know me really well as their self, their service associate.

[28:39] Right. So I had already. I talked to them all the time.

[28:43] And then with him having me sit in on all of our review meetings. And then ultimately,

[28:50] when he finally retired,

[28:53] you know, I was kind of running the meetings and he was there.

[28:57] Yeah. No,

[28:58] he would always say that he was my gray hair.

[29:03] So.

[29:04] So when he. When he retired.

[29:09] And again, that’s one thing that, like, in hindsight,

[29:12] like, she was literally my biggest shoe. He told every client repeatedly, like, she’s the smartest girl I knew who. Stick with her. She will take care of you until.

[29:26] She will always do the right thing. And so we didn’t lose a single client.

[29:31] Tara Bansal: That’s wonderful.

[29:33] Tara Bansal: And you just said earlier you did.

[29:37] Tara Bansal: Not want to be a financial advisor. So what changed to, you know, convince you to want to do that?

[29:50] Tara Bansal: And why did you think you didn’t want to?

[29:52] Tara Bansal: I guess is part of my first question.

[29:56] Kim Abmeyer: I don’t. I don’t know. I think because it just seemed like such a big job. Right.

[30:02] Tara Bansal: Like, so much responsibility.

[30:04] Kim Abmeyer: Yeah. Maybe in your, you know,

[30:07] your people’s finances, like, in your hands, literally. And you.

[30:11] One maybe wrong decision could be very costly to them and to you. And then also, I think it was a little bit of triple, unfortunately, you’re really good at, like, not thinking that we have the right skill set or the right intelligence or,

[30:33] you know, whatever it is to sit in that big of a role.

[30:37] But it’s funny because I think the way,

[30:41] like, my journey, it was almost like I didn’t realize it was happening. It was just like, slow, so gradual, and then all of a sudden, like, oh, okay,

[30:50] I’m an advisor when I’m coming into my own business.

[30:55] Okay. I’m one of this. Like, this is.

[30:58] There are definitely challenging days, but, you know, you realize, like, it’s not as.

[31:03] It’s not as hard as you maybe.

[31:05] Tara Bansal: Have thought process at the beginning. Yeah, that’s great.

[31:08] Kim Abmeyer: Yeah.

[31:09] So I think that’s also like, an important point, too, is,

[31:13] like, embrace the men in your circles or in your.

[31:20] At your work. That that can be that.

[31:25] I know there’s like a word for it now, right?

[31:26] Tara Bansal: You’ve got advocate or like supportive or.

[31:30] Kim Abmeyer: Yeah,

[31:31] but like you got. And into a certain degree, you’ve got to work the system. Right.

[31:39] And if,

[31:41] if it’s a male dominated industry and utilizing the tools that are around you where you want to go, they’re really integral in that. So I think you can find,

[31:53] you can absolutely find the right ones.

[31:56] You probably ran into the wrong ones, but you’ll know who they are pretty quick and you’ll go and like trust your own esteem. Yeah, I agree.

[32:09] Very true.

[32:13] Tara Bansal: How are you designing your life and your practice so that it’s right for you?

[32:24] Kim Abmeyer: I’ll say a good question.

[32:28] And I say that because with this new venture, our new firm,

[32:36] I am a wealth advisor and a founding equity partner on the wealth side.

[32:41] But as I mentioned before, being an individual stock picker, I also run equity models. So I’m also on the leadership team for the Asantos Asset Management as well.

[32:54] So.

[32:54] Tara Bansal: So you have two roles, two big roles.

[32:57] Kim Abmeyer: Two roles.

[32:59] And so I’m,

[33:00] I’d say I’m in that kind of what your. The name of your product. I’m in that messy middle right now where I’m trying to point her out.

[33:08] Like having Alicia on board, who’s my. The other advisor on her team, is really helpful because she can, you know,

[33:16] she works with all of my clients.

[33:18] She’s bringing on her own that I help her with. It’s so it’s,

[33:24] it’s that learning to like delegate part. Right. Like I don’t have.

[33:32] And then.

[33:32] Tara Bansal: Yeah.

[33:32] Kim Abmeyer: Trying to balance,

[33:34] you know, as you know, I have kids roughly around longer kids age too is. Yeah,

[33:40] a lot.

[33:41] I don’t want to be working all the time now that I’m taking on more like role,

[33:48] more additional roles and responsibilities.

[33:52] But I do love it. So it’s hard. Yeah, I’m trying to figure that out.

[33:58] Tara Bansal: Do you feel like you work a lot more than you want to, hours wise?

[34:05] Kim Abmeyer: No. No.

[34:07] Tara Bansal: Okay.

[34:07] Kim Abmeyer: And I say that because before Alicia came on,

[34:12] it was pretty brutal. I felt like I literally worked all the time,

[34:16] like during the day and then when I got home, maybe on.

[34:20] Tara Bansal: Weekends, cramming it in.

[34:22] Kim Abmeyer: Yeah. And then Alicia coming on board really helped because she’s a much better, like much. She’s very skilled on the planning side.

[34:34] Tara Bansal: Yeah.

[34:36] Kim Abmeyer: My kind of sweet spot is the investment sign. So it really helped bridge, you know,

[34:41] she and I coming together helped really bridge the gaps for both of us because she wasn’t quite as savvy on the investment side. So really, it turned out to be an amazing partnership.

[34:53] We’re so thankful for her.

[34:58] So,

[34:59] no, I’m not working all the time, but I feel like it’s.

[35:02] It kind of ebbs and flows now.

[35:05] I got strung at, you know, a conference in three weeks to.

[35:11] To come as someone that sits on the asset management team. Right. So.

[35:17] Tara Bansal: And I know. Well, I. You.

[35:22] Tara Bansal: You said your interests are more on.

[35:25] Tara Bansal: The investment side more so than the planning. I know you’re a great planner, but it’s just. Would you say that’s what you enjoy more?

[35:37] Kim Abmeyer: Yes, I love. And again, I love the planning side because that goes back to. I was talking about, like, the puzzle pieces. Yeah.

[35:45] But that investment piece, I think just.

[35:49] It’s just very interesting to me to find up and coming companies or, you know, investment opportunities.

[35:58] And I think that that’s also what differentiates me from a lot of other advisors too. Right.

[36:06] That’s kind of the model that most firms have now is, you know, you onboard a new client,

[36:11] you went through all the, you know, due diligence on the new client, and then you find some managers to hand the assets off to.

[36:18] Um, which is great. It’s. It absolutely is wonderful because some advisors don’t want to spend time on the investment side.

[36:24] Tara Bansal: That’s me. Like, I don’t. I’m not that interested in the investment side at all.

[36:29] Kim Abmeyer: And so,

[36:30] but like reading up on companies and, you know,

[36:35] evaluating the technicals of how a stock was moving for when to move in and out of Il,

[36:40] identifying themes and trends and all, like, that’s just super interesting.

[36:47] Tara Bansal: So do you build portfolios or do you build a fund that other advisors now use?

[36:55] Kim Abmeyer: So,

[36:56] yes, now to both.

[36:58] Before, I was just building models for our clients.

[37:01] Now we put those models on, like a model marketplace that other clients have done our final to do those. So.

[37:08] Tara Bansal: Okay.

[37:10] Kim Abmeyer: Wow. No pressure there.

[37:13] Tara Bansal: Yeah.

[37:14] But it’s something you enjoy and that’s, to me,

[37:17] yeah. Just interesting. On the women I’ve had on the podcast,

[37:23] I feel like there’s. You can tell those who lean more towards the landing, the planning side and then those that.

[37:31] And it’s not that they dislike the planning, it’s just they also love the investments and.

[37:38] Yeah,

[37:40] I love that.

[37:42] Where.

[37:43] Where are you growing and stretching right now?

[37:50] Kim Abmeyer: I would say, like I mentioned just a few minutes ago, that, like, delegating part of, like,

[37:56] what are things that I don’t necessarily have to do myself, that I’m taking hand off to someone. Someone I Feel like even maybe today or yesterday. I was just reading.

[38:06] Oh, this morning,

[38:08] old friend of mine does a podcast for sales. She calls it Sales on Service.

[38:14] But it was talking about, like,

[38:16] if your business pretty much runs on you touching, you know, everything,

[38:21] then it’s not.

[38:23] That’s not good.

[38:24] So I’m trying to work to quantum identifying what can be taken on by someone else,

[38:34] which is actually, it was really scary at first. I think I’m getting a little more comfortable with it.

[38:42] That’s where I’m.

[38:44] Tara Bansal: Yeah, I feel like that’s a big part of Steph Bogan’s program with Limitless that we did together was choosing what to let go of and what you should really focus on.

[38:55] Like what.

[38:57] What your superpowers are that are unique to you.

[39:00] Kim Abmeyer: Right.

[39:01] Tara Bansal: So.

[39:02] Kim Abmeyer: Yeah, but it’s also as, you know, like, it’s hard, especially if you’re.

[39:06] I mean, I’m like the first daughter. Right. Of my.

[39:10] In my family, I’m super type A. So like having.

[39:16] I naturally, I think, want to control everything.

[39:20] So.

[39:21] Tara Bansal: And, you know, you do it well and you’re detail oriented and so it can be hard to let go of that. My can relate to that struggle.

[39:32] Kim Abmeyer: Yeah. Yeah.

[39:33] But I’m constantly trying to. I do a lot of audiobooks just so it’s easier driving children around and whatnot. But I feel like I try. I’m trying to, you know, listen to lots of notes on cava, like,

[39:48] change your mindset.

[39:51] What.

[39:52] Tara Bansal: What does success look like for you now? How would you define that?

[40:02] Kim Abmeyer: Success, I think would be freedom in sense.

[40:11] Most time going back to what we were just talking about, like,

[40:14] money to delegate and like,

[40:16] have to control everything. I think,

[40:19] you know, our goal with the census wealth is to grow it into a very large firm.

[40:27] But we will at some point probably sell to another large firm.

[40:35] I,

[40:36] like, I’m still in that time of life and mindset where I’m really in growth mode. And that’s like,

[40:46] fun to me. I really said the very beginning. I really have always loved to work,

[40:52] but I think,

[40:54] you know, and you. I’m sure you’ve thought about this too. Like, My oldest turns 11 and two months from today.

[41:02] I’ve got seven years right. Left with him at home with the younger one. I’ve got nine years left with left with home at home. Like, at some point,

[41:12] like, I want to hit the ground running now to build and then I’d like to have the freedom when that time comes to be able to like, be.

[41:25] I feel like I’m pretty. I’M fairly present now,

[41:28] but, you know, to be more. Because you just hear about, like, the older they get, like, while they might not seem to want you around, they really need you around.

[41:37] Yeah.

[41:38] Yeah. So.

[41:40] Tara Bansal: And so is that working less? Like, so you can go to the sports events or doing things like that, or what does that mean for you? The freedom.

[41:54] Kim Abmeyer: Maybe working less. But I think also having,

[42:00] you know, truly having a team that I can.

[42:04] I can be out, still accessible, and I know that everything is still running without being.

[42:11] Tara Bansal: Yeah.

[42:12] Kim Abmeyer: So like I said, I think.

[42:16] I think I will be very much like Bill. Bill retired when he was 82.

[42:22] I told him, like, it was time.

[42:26] Um,

[42:27] I mean, I have friends now that are like, I want to retire when I’m 55. What would you do? I don’t know. I don’t. I don’t.

[42:34] Tara Bansal: Well, that’s.

[42:34] Tara Bansal: I want to keep working, but I don’t. I want it on my terms. Right. Like,

[42:39] it’s the time I get to decide, you know, like, how much a week and when during the workday,

[42:49] things like that. Trying to.

[42:51] That’s what I want. But. But, yeah, I have no plans to retire.

[42:55] Kim Abmeyer: Let’s just do fun.

[42:57] Tara Bansal: Yeah.

[42:57] Kim Abmeyer: And especially, like I said, I feel like I’m so lucky and blessed to have clients that I truly feel like are family, that I just.

[43:06] I would like to be there for them as long as I’m able.

[43:10] Whatever generation we’re at at that point.

[43:13] Yeah.

[43:14] But.

[43:16] Tara Bansal: So what’s next for you in your firm?

[43:22] Kim Abmeyer: Oh, I mean, just really trying to at this point, now that we’ve got. I think yesterday, just yesterday we had some press releases go out. So now it’s truly kind of awareness.

[43:32] Right. Getting our name out.

[43:35] Some of my goals for this year are I want to do at least five speaking engagements.

[43:45] Tara Bansal: And are the speaking engagements on both investments and women leaders? What are the topics?

[43:54] Kim Abmeyer: I think so. Yeah. I would like to. I would like to at some point speak to investments.

[44:02] I signed up as a sponsor again for. In Dallas. We have a magazine called D Magazine. There’s a DCDO magazine as well.

[44:12] I spoke at their leadership conference last year. And this year I’ll be speaking at.

[44:18] There’s a women like Health Will.

[44:24] It’s Invest in you is what it’s called present there. And that will be about planning, but also investment. So I think there’s a lot. Already a lot of overlap. Right.

[44:34] Because you can’t have one without the other.

[44:36] Tara Bansal: Yeah.

[44:37] Kim Abmeyer: Right.

[44:40] So if I were to tell you, like, one of my big.

[44:46] Like a big Dream that’s, you know,

[44:50] is a wild dream. I would. I would love to be on cnbc.

[44:55] You’d love to be what on cnbc.

[44:57] Tara Bansal: Okay.

[44:59] Kim Abmeyer: Talking about. Yeah. Investments and how we work with our clients and how we bring it all together.

[45:05] Tara Bansal: I can see you doing that.

[45:07] Definitely.

[45:09] I love that you’re putting it out there.

[45:11] You have.

[45:13] You have the knowledge. You have the ability for sure.

[45:17] I mean,

[45:18] that.

[45:19] Kim Abmeyer: Yeah. So great. Got that.

[45:24] Tara Bansal: But you’re just starting with speaking engagements and putting yourself out there, I feel like, is a really. Yeah. Good first step.

[45:31] Kim Abmeyer: Even this, like, you know, I. I got nervous before I hopped on this call again. I’m not.

[45:37] Tara Bansal: I can’t tell. You’re like. Yeah.

[45:40] Kim Abmeyer: So. Yeah.

[45:41] Tara Bansal: Yeah.

[45:42] Kim Abmeyer: Getting out of our comfort.

[45:44] Tara Bansal: What advice do you have for how we can get more women into this industry?

[45:54] Kim Abmeyer: What ideas Talk to young people. I have. I’m having coffee with.

[46:00] So a friend of mine’s housekeeper. Her daughter was the first to, like, go to. Go to college, and she’s interested in finance.

[46:09] And so my friend set me up with. Or set this girl up with me. We’re having coffee on Friday.

[46:17] And so I think it’s just talking to young people about why on. I will tell you this. I’ll never forget. I went to. I don’t even know if the group’s around anymore.

[46:28] It’s, like, called Women.

[46:30] It was Whips, whatever that was. Maybe Women in financial Services a decade or maybe longer ago.

[46:39] It was longer than that.

[46:41] And a woman was talking about another reason why this is a great career for women is like, there’s.

[46:52] And I guess it also depends on your role. Right. But there is that flexibility. She was saying, I love that I can drop my kids off at school and go into the office where I love that I can leave early to go pick my kids up from school.

[47:02] Tara Bansal: Yeah.

[47:03] Kim Abmeyer: And I’m still, you know, I’ve got, like, that core day that I can knock things out, but I have the ability to, like, make your own schedule.

[47:11] Tara Bansal: Yeah, I agree.

[47:13] Kim Abmeyer: And so I think, like, that. Something to just make sure that young women are truly informed about the different roles and responsibilities within financial services.

[47:26] Ways that you can,

[47:28] you know, make those work for you and whatever your life goals are.

[47:34] I think it’s just like anything. I think it’s education. We’ve got to.

[47:37] Tara Bansal: We’ve just got the word out.

[47:39] Kim Abmeyer: Yeah.

[47:40] And then provide opportunities for them. Right. So getting them. I mean,

[47:46] I. I got out of college and got my foot in the door as a sales assistant. Never thinking. I really thought in three to five years. I was gonna move back to Austin and I would.

[47:56] Maybe I’d get married or have kids. I didn’t know what I was gonna do for a job, but I just thought I would move back to Austin.

[48:02] And that’s 26 years later. Right. When still here in my life.

[48:08] I don’t know what I thought. I was never the kid that like, knew what I wanted to be when I grew up.

[48:13] So I’m thankful that I’ve. That my path has taken me to where I am.

[48:20] But I wouldn’t have, I wouldn’t have known about it had it not been for my friend’s mom.

[48:26] Tara Bansal: Yeah.

[48:26] Kim Abmeyer: Right. It was like, you should come work for me. So I think if we could provide opportunities like that for young women to come intern or give them that entry level position into whatever facet of financial services maybe is of interest to them.

[48:47] Ton of opportunity. It’s just trying to plug in. Right.

[48:51] Yes.

[48:52] Tara Bansal: No, I agree. Yeah, we do. We do need more. And I think it is an awareness.

[48:59] Kim Abmeyer: I mean, it’s like 15% or something. Sad.

[49:01] I know, I know in CFAs,

[49:04] and I think CFPs aren’t much more than that. Maybe 17 or 18%. I don’t know. What.

[49:11] Tara Bansal: Yeah, that’s surprising to me because I feel like there’s less CFAs women than women CFPs. But I don’t know the numbers around that.

[49:20] Kim Abmeyer: I’m just, you know, my impression percentages, not necessarily numbers. Right. So.

[49:25] Tara Bansal: Yeah, but still, I guess. Oh, we’re almost out of time.

[49:31] Tara Bansal: What?

[49:33] Tara Bansal: I know you do a ton of audiobooks and books and other resources, but what’s a favorite that you would recommend right now?

[49:44] Kim Abmeyer: I would say the last one that I finished was one that’s all over the place right now. It was The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins.

[49:52] I love that entire concept.

[49:57] I do. I love that section. These questions.

[50:01] The favorite Booker podcast. But then I do think.

[50:04] I don’t know what I call it self care, but I’ve been talking a lot lately to people about like physical fitness. And for me, the. The gym is my therapy.

[50:18] I would say your. My best self care ritual. I’d say lifting weights.

[50:22] And then I am. I’m a sucker for. I get a massage every week.

[50:27] Tara Bansal: That’s great.

[50:28] I always say that. And then I never do it. It’s like one of those. I just need to put it in my calendar and schedule it every time. But that’s like my dream and I never do it.

[50:40] Kim Abmeyer: I know, I know it’s hard, but it just. I got Again, lucky. A spot open just around the corner where you can do like the monthly.

[50:48] Tara Bansal: Yeah.

[50:48] Kim Abmeyer: And it’s pretty. It’s very reasonable.

[50:51] Tara Bansal: So that helps motivate you to do it.

[50:54] Kim Abmeyer: My account every month I should take a Google Journal, so.

[50:57] Tara Bansal: Yeah, that’s smart. I love that.

[50:59] Tara Bansal: What’s one thing giving you joy right now?

[51:03] Kim Abmeyer: I was hoping you would ask that because I’m just coming off of dinner last night with.

[51:09] So there’s a group, it’s national, but there’s a group called ACG association for Corporate Growth that I had joined a year or so ago. And I have been going to events and, you know, kind of run into the same women that we would like.

[51:27] Oh, we’re so glad you’re here.

[51:29] We’ve gone to an event that one of them had invited me too,

[51:35] and then another girl, and we were like, you know, let’s start our own networking group when we called it the lead her like her leaderboard group.

[51:47] And every month on like the second Wednesday.

[51:52] And we basically were in all different areas of financial services and things that touch financial services and our bowl ones.

[51:59] Let’s get to know each other as friends and then we can refer business to each other because we know like and trust each other.

[52:07] So it’s,

[52:09] It’s.

[52:10] It’s turned into something really fun. Last night we actually brought the spouses and we all went to dinner.

[52:16] Tara Bansal: How big a group is it?

[52:19] Kim Abmeyer: We have. I think there’s six of us.

[52:22] Tara Bansal: That’s a nice size. Like, it’s not too big, but it’s like. Yeah.

[52:28] Kim Abmeyer: So I think the answer to why is that joyful.

[52:33] I feel like we’re in this era of,

[52:39] like I mentioned generational. Right.

[52:45] I think you had a lot of women that used to operate in this. That scarcity mindset. Right. That, like, I’ve got to. I’ve got to take. I got to get what’s mine, and then I got to hold on to it when I.

[52:56] If I share anything with you, you might take something from me. And I feel like,

[53:02] at least in my circles and maybe it’s because I’m trying to be intentional about it. Like, if you’re gets morphed into this, like,

[53:09] there’s. There’s plenty out there for all of us. And if we put it together,

[53:15] like, it actually there’s more or, you know, like abilities to grow and succeed seed. And so I think that’s what’s really fun right now is.

[53:27] And again, it’s not to be sexist, but it’s with like, other women that we’re all like, how can we love each other?

[53:38] Tara Bansal: I love that. Yeah. And it’s fun, so.

[53:43] Kim Abmeyer: Yeah, it’s fun.

[53:44] Tara Bansal: That’s great. Anything I didn’t cover that you wish I had or that you’d love to share?

[53:54] Kim Abmeyer: I think you’ve hit all the. All the ones that I had that I have made notes of.

[53:59] Okay.

[54:02] Thanks for having me. This has been a lot of fun.

[54:04] Tara Bansal: Of course it was fun.

[54:06] And,

[54:06] yeah, you, like,

[54:08] you’ve always impressed me,

[54:10] how you show up and not just your intelligence, but who you are as a person. And so you are a leader, I feel like. And you’ll continue to inspire people all around you.

[54:23] So. But thank you for being here. I’m thrilled.

[54:26] Kim Abmeyer: Yeah. And I’ve. It’s been a lot of fun watching this, your journey. So, you know, like, you started limitless. You really were kind of like, what am. What am I doing?

[54:34] What am I doing?

[54:36] Yeah.

[54:37] And I feel like, you know, you started out.

[54:42] Tara Bansal: I’m finding my way. Yes. So that’s so true. As we all are, I guess, but.

[54:48] Kim Abmeyer: Yeah. Yes. Yes. I don’t know if we’ll ever truly.

[54:52] Tara Bansal: No. Because it’s a journey. There’s always more.

[54:55] Kim Abmeyer: Yeah.

[54:56] Tara Bansal: All right, well, thank you, and we’ll.

[55:00] Tara Bansal: Put all your information in the show.

[55:02] Tara Bansal: Notes for how people can find you and see you, too. Thanks.

[55:06] Tara Bansal: Bye.

[55:07] What stayed with me most from this conversation with Kim was how naturally she grew into work that fits her and her strengths so well.

[55:17] Work she once found intimidating and now clearly loves.

[55:21] Kim didn’t set out wanting to be a financial advisor.

[55:25] Her path wasn’t linear or ego driven.

[55:29] She grew into the role as her confidence,

[55:32] competence, and sense of responsibility expanded.

[55:37] And that feels deeply reassuring for women who feel called to this work and are also scared.

[55:44] In fact, the more I think about it, the more I believe that Kim’s hesitation is probably why she is so.

[55:51] Tara Bansal: Good at what she does.

[55:53] Tara Bansal: She understood early on the weight of this role, the responsibility we carry, and the real impact our guidance can have on people’s lives.

[56:03] That awareness didn’t hold her back.

[56:06] It shaped her.

[56:07] And today you can hear how much she cares,

[56:10] how thoughtful she is, and how much she genuinely enjoys the positive difference she gets to make for her clients.

[56:20] Another thing that really stayed with me was her deep commitment to supporting other women,

[56:26] not just in this profession, but through real friendship and community.

[56:31] The group of women she described meeting with monthly feels like such a powerful example of what’s possible when we move away from competition and scarcity and toward joy, connection, and mutual support.

[56:46] I personally believe women want to help each other thrive and this conversation felt like a beautiful reflection of that.

[56:55] My hope is that you found something meaningful here,

[56:59] whether it’s permission to feel scared and move forward anyway.

[57:04] Reassurance that caring deeply is a strength or inspiration to seek out or create a community with other women who truly support you.

[57:16] Before I wrap up,

[57:17] I want to thank you for being here and for staying with us through this conversation.

[57:22] The sound quality isn’t perfect in this episode, but I truly believe the substance of Kim’s story and more than makes up for it.

[57:31] There are real nuggets of wisdom here and I hope you’re carrying forward an idea,

[57:37] a permission slip, or a moment of recognition that stays with you.

[57:43] Thank you for listening to her life, her practice, her way A podcast for and about Female Financial Advisors I truly hope you have enjoyed this podcast and got some value from it.

[57:56] If so I would love to ask a favor of you.

[57:59] Please go to Apple Podcasts or Spotify and rate and review my podcast.

[58:05] This will help me get the word out to other amazing like minded female financial advisors.

[58:10] You can also send it to a friend or two who you think would gain something from listening to it.

[58:16] Until next time, I’m wishing you the very best.

Ascentis Wealth
Private Wealth Management For Affluent Families & Founders | Ascentis Wealth

 Connect with Kim Abmeyer on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-abmeyer-cfa-cfp-ea/

 

Podcasts, Programs & Books Mentioned

Sales on Service Podcast
https://studiothree49.com/podcast

Limitless Advisor
https://limitlessfa.life/

The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins

https://www.melrobbins.com/book/the-let-them-theory/

Kim Abmeyer, CFA, CFP®, EA, is a trailblazing wealth advisor and founding equity partner of Ascentis Wealth and Ascentis Asset Management. Recently, Kim’s all-female team at Abmeyer Wealth joined forces with some esteemed colleagues to create this dynamic, multi-faceted partnership. Her team specializes in helping entrepreneurial-minded professionals and high-achieving women align their financial achievements with their life’s purpose, transforming their dreams into reality.

As a wealth advisor, Kim specializes in developing tax-efficient plans, creating bespoke investment portfolios, and implementing comprehensive financial strategies unique to each client. As head of equity strategy for Ascentis Asset Management, she also serves as an equity portfolio manager, guiding both advisors and clients with her deep market insight.

Kim’s journey-from sales assistant to practice owner and industry leader-reflects her commitment to lifelong learning and building meaningful client relationships. She is Past President of CFA Society DFW, former board member of CFA Texas, and Past President of Altrusa International of Downtown Dallas.
Holding the Chartered Financial Analyst, Certified Financial Planner, and Enrolled Agent designations, Kim is recognized as a thought leader in wealth management. She is passionate about supporting growth-minded professionals and remains at the forefront of industry trends, delivering exceptional value and insight to her clients.

[00:17] Tara Bansal: Welcome to Her Life, Her Practice, Her Way A podcast for and about Female Financial Advisors Tara I’m Tara Conti Bansal and I’ve been a financial planner and life coach for over 20 years.

[00:32] I want this show to share other women financial advisors journeys, struggles and triumphs.

[00:39] I want to highlight the unique and similar ways to enjoying our life and our practice on our own terms.

[00:46] I hope to build a community of like minded, deeply caring and exceptional female advisors who want to help our clients and ourselves live a life that we love.

[00:59] One that is filled with love,

[01:01] learning, connection, meaning and joy.

[01:04] I hope you listen in.

[01:07] Tara Bansal: Hello hello, this is Tara Conti Bansal and I am super excited to be here with Kim Abmeyer on her life, Her Practice, her way and I’ve known.

[01:21] Tara Bansal: Kim for several years now.

[01:24] Kim Abmeyer: We.

[01:26] Tara Bansal: Were assigned to the same mastermind group. So I think throughout the show you’re going to get to meet everyone in my mastermind group. I think they are all fabulous women and deserve their own show by far.

[01:42] But Kim is a smarty pants. She has a cfa,

[01:47] her CFP and is also an enrolled agent.

[01:51] She is with Ascentis wealth and formerly her own firm,

[01:57] Abmeyer Wealth.

[02:00] So the change has been fairly recent I think just in the past year and I’m super excited to talk to Kim and I’m thrilled to have you here.

[02:11] Tara Bansal: So I always start, I always start.

[02:15] Tara Bansal: With the first question,

[02:16] tell me your story.

[02:18] So I’d love to hear even where you grew up and how you got to be where you are now for sure.

[02:26] Kim Abmeyer: Thanks for having me. That’s, I’m, I’m excited to be a part of this because I’ve been together so to speak since this is just an idea and now it happens. So I love it.

[02:38] Let’s see, I was,

[02:40] I was born in Texas, lived in Austin my pretty much the majority of my life from about four or five years old through college.

[02:51] I grew up playing sports.

[02:53] I ended up playing volleyball which actually is really the key to kicking off my career now that I think about that.

[03:05] I played volleyball, I played for a club team.

[03:08] When I got into college I coached for that club team and one of the moms of one of my teammates was like the lone wolf woman like top advisor at Merrill Luch.

[03:21] And I was in college I discovered that I loved economics which everyone thinks is insane,

[03:30] but I just loved all the formulas. I liked the numbers and how it you could get from A to B by utilizing inputs to get outputs.

[03:40] So she said you’ve got to have an internship while you’re in College, it’s just crucial for whatever career path you go on.

[03:48] And if you think you want to be in financial services, why don’t you come intern for me?

[03:54] So I interned for her for about two years.

[03:59] In fact, I think I worked more quicker than I did go to class.

[04:05] Tara Bansal: So this was. You did this while you were still in college?

[04:08] Kim Abmeyer: Yes.

[04:09] Wow. This is like my job to make extra money.

[04:13] So I coached, I worked for her,

[04:16] and then I also bartended. I. I really liked to work.

[04:20] Wow.

[04:21] Yeah. Yeah.

[04:23] So I graduated, and at that point,

[04:30] Merrill lynch had a position open that they offered me that I just didn’t think was the right fit. And having lived in Austin for what I just pretty much say my whole life of what I know of it.

[04:45] Austin’s a really small town when you’ve been there that long. And it definitely was that long ago.

[04:52] Tara Bansal: Yeah.

[04:52] Kim Abmeyer: Back then, I.

[04:53] Tara Bansal: Before it’s had this explosion.

[04:55] Kim Abmeyer: Yeah, exactly.

[04:57] So I was like, I kind of want to go somewhere where I don’t know anybody.

[05:01] We’ll see what happens. So I looked for jobs in Denver, Colorado, and in Dallas.

[05:06] And I ended up in Dallas, which I’m truly thankful for because it ended up being, you know, a drive home instead of a flight.

[05:15] Tara Bansal: Yes.

[05:17] Kim Abmeyer: Much closer, so I could come home more frequently. But it started out as, like, a marketing role for a team.

[05:25] And realized kind of pretty quickly that wasn’t.

[05:28] Wasn’t what I was,

[05:30] at that point, best suited for.

[05:32] So.

[05:33] Tara Bansal: And that was at Merrill Lynch?

[05:35] Kim Abmeyer: No. So that was. I hired on. At that time, we were Dane Rauscher. Okay.

[05:41] So this is in 2000.

[05:43] They’re no longer. Now they are RBC Dane Rauscher. So we went through an iteration of acquisition.

[05:50] I started out as a marketing. Like I said, for this gentleman, just wasn’t the right fit.

[05:55] But the woman that did compliance said, well, there’s this other team at one of our offices that’s looking for a sales assistant. Maybe you can interview with them.

[06:04] And then there’s no interruption of benefits or you, like, trying to find a truly find a new job with a new company and all that.

[06:11] So I went and interviewed the plan. It was a. An older gentleman and a younger female partner.

[06:19] And it kind of seemed like an instant fit. They had laid out for me that if.

[06:27] If it was something that I wanted to grow into,

[06:30] you know, at some point he would be retiring and I could become,

[06:33] you know, an advisor and a partner. And at that point, I was like, no, that’s not for me.

[06:38] I didn’t want to be an Advisor.

[06:41] In fact, I went and got an MBA in sports and entertainment marketing.

[06:46] Tara Bansal: I’m winning so much.

[06:50] Kim Abmeyer: Yes.

[06:51] By the time I finished that though, I had gotten really embedded into our stock and like investment research process because we were probably one of the only few, if not only advisors that actually did individual stocks investing.

[07:14] So I finished my, my MBA and they said,

[07:19] you’re not going anywhere,

[07:21] you’re staying here. They gave me a nice little bump on pay towards not turn down.

[07:26] And so then I went back and got a second graduate degree on state and financial aid. And so the rest is kind of history. We ended up splitting with our female partner and it was just Bill and I.

[07:37] He and I became partners and then when he retired, I took over his practice.

[07:42] Tara Bansal: And when was that? Approximately.

[07:45] Kim Abmeyer: Yeah, so he retired end of 2014. Okay, so 10 full years.

[07:53] Tara Bansal: Yeah. 11.

[07:54] Kim Abmeyer: Yeah, 11. Yeah.

[07:58] And so then it was.

[07:59] We were, let’s see. So then I’ll take you through kind of the history of firms. So we were at Dave Rashford, which was acquired by rvc.

[08:08] From there we moved to Bear Stearns, which during the financial crisis was taken in by JP Morgan.

[08:17] And that I’ll never forget sitting at like a St. Patrick’s Day party on a,

[08:21] on that weekend, thinking one of the choir offices will just be locked in dark, want to show up for work on Monday.

[08:30] And so J.P. morgan securities is what they had brained in the Bear Stearns of arms.

[08:35] And that, that was great for quite some time until J.P. morgan, the private bank and the bank started trying to evolve the culture. And the brokerage culture and vacant culture were very different.

[08:54] So when Bill retired,

[08:58] I was pregnant with my first son. I’ll have him in March.

[09:02] And in October of that year, I moved our entire practice to Raymond Jones.

[09:07] Tara Bansal: Wow.

[09:08] Kim Abmeyer: Because Raymond James was very much. JP Morgan was starting to get really concerned, I guess, about the fact that we were so hands on with our investment process instead of like farming.

[09:21] Tara Bansal: Using theirs.

[09:22] Kim Abmeyer: Yeah,

[09:23] using theirs.

[09:26] And Raymond James was very much your business. As your business, you can run it however you choose. We’re just here to support you.

[09:34] They were a very conservatively run institution, so it felt safe from a balance sheet standpoint.

[09:41] So we all made that move.

[09:44] Tara Bansal: When you say we, who else was it?

[09:47] Kim Abmeyer: I said we as in my clients. Some of it.

[09:50] Tara Bansal: Oh, okay. But did you have any staff or anyone that you brought with you?

[09:55] Kim Abmeyer: No. The sales assistant I had was really kind of just helping me on the side that she was part of a big team that stayed JP Morgan.

[10:06] Tara Bansal: Okay.

[10:09] Kim Abmeyer: But I’m Glad for that because I got paired up with a self assistant at Raymond James who ultimately became my go to.

[10:20] In fact, I just lost her February of last year.

[10:30] But I also met two gentlemen that office next to me that also worked with Holmes, Valerie and Valley. So the four of us became pretty tight and just kind of how this industry evolves.

[10:47] What I thought was so great about Raymond James letting you be morphed into there was fine print added, you know, that said, if your production wasn’t at this level, then the firm could technically take over ownership of your book.

[11:02] Oh,

[11:03] and I just didn’t like it occurred to me I don’t want to work somewhere where they can just change the rules on me at any time and I have no day.

[11:13] So the other two advisors were kind of having the same feelings and Rain and James had.

[11:21] So the four of us all moved from rja, which is the brokerage side, traditional brokerage,

[11:27] over to the employment division.

[11:32] And that was the best thing I’ve probably ever. One of the best things I’ve ever done.

[11:38] I’m going that individual channel, but also opened up a whole nother.

[11:43] I never thought I would be a business owner,

[11:48] so. And so that was great.

[11:50] Spent a few years.

[11:52] Tara Bansal: And how independent were you? Or like, was it the four of you or each of you had your own.

[12:00] Kim Abmeyer: So we all had our own businesses,

[12:02] separate books.

[12:04] And then Valerie was our one what tied us all together. But we would kind of collaborate on things.

[12:11] Let’s see, one of the gentlemen was like 10 years older than me and the other one was 23,

[12:18] 24 years older than me.

[12:22] Tara Bansal: Okay.

[12:23] Kim Abmeyer: So it’s kind of nice also to have that.

[12:26] I really missed working with people. I really loved being part of a leadership, having someone to bounce ideas off of,

[12:34] like make sense of things if it doesn’t make sense to you. And so that was great. We did end up tucking into an RIA that was created by another legacy, Raymond James.

[12:47] Tara Bansal: Okay.

[12:49] Kim Abmeyer: So not surprising. I was the only female advisor in that group.

[12:59] They were the other gentlemen that were advisors there were all, like I said, within that 15 to 25 year years older than me. So they were more on the like, how do we monetize our books so we can retire stage where I was really raising up growth.

[13:17] So that’s when I decided to actually leave that group and go independent under Org Partners. So that was March of 22.

[13:30] And that’s what has evolved. So that was Abmeyer. Well and then with those colleagues that I met through Origin Partners,

[13:41] we’ve evolved now into asylum so that’s the long story.

[13:49] That’s how we got where we are.

[13:52] And since then we’ve ultimately.

[13:55] So a friend, a longtime friend in the neighborhood was a financial planner.

[14:01] She joined me in August of 23.

[14:07] Tara Bansal: Okay.

[14:07] Kim Abmeyer: So it was she and I and Valerie. So that’s where we really kind of embraced this female led firm, all female team.

[14:18] Tara Bansal: Which I love.

[14:20] Kim Abmeyer: Yeah, I know it’s, it’s a lot of fun.

[14:25] Since then we’ve kind of, we’ve gone through.

[14:28] Valerie ended up moving with the other two advisors that I was. Well,

[14:33] that I have been connected with.

[14:36] We were sharing firm even though I was here and they were at another firm,

[14:41] but they ultimately did tuck into a larger firm. Well, she became an employee. Obviously she couldn’t work with me anymore. So we’re currently on the search.

[14:53] Well actually we hired a new assistant.

[14:56] That is a gentleman.

[14:59] Tara Bansal: You can’t say you’re all female anymore.

[15:01] Kim Abmeyer: But now we’re just a female led team.

[15:04] But I think our goal is to ultimately bring in another female, whether that’s a planner or an almost systems just because. And it’s a question that you have buried in here.

[15:20] So I won’t maybe jump ahead of both. I think we need more management issue y and so I want to support that money fashion that I’m able to.

[15:32] Tara Bansal: Why do you feel like we need.

[15:33] Tara Bansal: More women in the industry?

[15:37] Kim Abmeyer: I think women are just innately like we’re just a natural fit,

[15:43] you know, as as much I think what scares.

[15:48] Well, I’d say people in general, but probably women is,

[15:52] I mean one is very male dominated. Two, everyone thinks it’s investments and numbers,

[16:00] performance and like all of these stem type, you know,

[16:10] ideas.

[16:11] But I think what and what I, you know, what I talk to clients, especially new clients is I like to explain that while we are your financial advisor, we’re also your therapist like or your counselor or like we’re going to hold your hand until everything’s going to be okay.

[16:27] If the market’s going wild or if you go through a life changing event and the loss of a loved one, we’re going to be here to help,

[16:34] you know, support you and all of those things that you’re not in the right frame of mind to be dealing with. So I think as women we just have that natural like nurturing ability that men don’t have that also.

[16:55] But I just say for sure,

[16:58] yeah.

[16:58] Tara Bansal: No, and I agree.

[16:59] Tara Bansal: And when I think of the good.

[17:02] Tara Bansal: Advisors,

[17:03] it’s not about the numbers, it’s how they connect to people, how they Listen how they care.

[17:11] I feel like at a different level than just the numbers. Right. Like.

[17:16] Kim Abmeyer: Right.

[17:17] And I think that is becoming even more important now with AI. Yeah. Coming online. Everyone’s terrified that it’s gonna.

[17:25] Advisors aren’t gonna have a job anymore. But I think it’s the exact opposite. I think,

[17:31] you know, if you really dial in on that relational piece and then let AI do some of that heavier lifting. Right. In the analytical side.

[17:42] Tara Bansal: Yeah. That. That I think women do worry about, like, let. Let the computer do that part and you get to do the relationship part.

[17:52] Kim Abmeyer: Yeah, yeah. So I think it’ll just become more people. It will, it will.

[17:59] It will remain a people business.

[18:02] I think people. Especially people.

[18:04] Well, really of all,

[18:06] you know,

[18:07] scales of wealth, so to speak. Right.

[18:09] They all want someone there to tell them everything’s going to be okay or everything’s on track or.

[18:19] I don’t see that.

[18:20] And that’s why I really think that when we need more women, I’ll just think we have a different perspective.

[18:26] I mean, I’m kind of in the same boat again with my new firm. Is I’m the only female advisor and on the leadership team,

[18:37] which can be challenging sometimes,

[18:39] but I.

[18:40] My male counterparts are always thankful for my perspective because it’s difficult for me. Right.

[18:46] Tara Bansal: Yeah. Well, that. I’m glad for that. But I also want you to have more women on the leadership team with you, so.

[18:54] Kim Abmeyer: Yes, same, same.

[18:58] Tara Bansal: What.

[18:59] Tara Bansal: What do you like about this profession and doing what you do?

[19:07] Kim Abmeyer: Oh, gosh, I feel like I’ve been really blessed that the clients that I have today are the same clients that I started with 25 years ago.

[19:22] So they feel like family.

[19:25] You know, I’ve grown. Literally grown up with some of them. Some of them.

[19:31] Well,

[19:31] I have grown up with all of them,

[19:34] but, you know, it’s really fun. Now we’ve got multi generations, right. Like grandparents and parents and grandkids and great grandkids.

[19:43] But I think. So the people part is really,

[19:47] really fun.

[19:49] But I also think it’s,

[19:51] you know, solving problems. I. We like to. We make the analogy that your financial picture is of the puzzle. Right. So we like helping people identify what their puzzle pieces are and then how we can put them together to create the, you know, image and design with their puzzle that they want their puzzle to show.

[20:11] So it just.

[20:15] It makes you feel good when you actually are able to do that for someone in there.

[20:19] You can just see the. If the body language change,

[20:24] you know, like this relief.

[20:25] Tara Bansal: It’s like they sit. Yeah. Settle in or Relax. And yeah, I agree. Who are your ideal clients? Who do you want to work with?

[20:36] Kim Abmeyer: Yeah. So we, you know, per say our website site or well, our new, well the new website, the new company website also released. Well,

[20:45] we’ve always focused on what we call entrepreneurial minded professionals.

[20:52] So we do work with business owners. But I think also, you know, there are people that can work in executive positions that have that entrepreneurial mind.

[21:04] And then what we call,

[21:06] just for sake of not using bad words,

[21:09] high powered women.

[21:11] We like to really say like we like to wear fat *** women in whatever it is that we do.

[21:18] And so those are our three kind of thoughts.

[21:23] A lot of times like our clients will span all three of those. Right.

[21:27] Tara Bansal: I was going to say to me, they, they overlap I’m sure quite a bit.

[21:33] Kim Abmeyer: And then unfortunately we started working with a lot more women that are getting divorced. Well through divorce.

[21:42] And that’s been. While it’s. I said it’s unfortunate because you never wanted to see that happen.

[21:50] It’s also rewarding when you’re able to, I mean to help a woman who never really had control of her finances or know like knew what their assets were, what their balance sheet looked like or anything come out of a divorce and just be like, I don’t even know.

[22:09] I don’t even know.

[22:10] Tara Bansal: Yeah.

[22:13] Kim Abmeyer: But I’d say, you know, from you know, an AUM perspective. Right. I think we add, we can add the most value.

[22:23] We work with clients that are like 3 million to 25 million.

[22:27] So they’re not in that like high, ultra high net worth bucket.

[22:31] But they’ve got enough that they’re not.

[22:35] Tara Bansal: Trying to make ends meet. Yeah. Like they.

[22:38] Kim Abmeyer: Right,

[22:38] right. They’ve got enough complexity that we can be more like very strategic with how they’re invested, their investment plan or be more tax efficient if they, you know, if you’re in Ohio bracket which is I think one of the really important parts especially with lots of changing tax regulations in the last two couple of years,

[23:01] I should say helping those in those like upper to that scrapbooks be more efficient with how they manage their investments. Charitable giving family like legacy plumbing, Lovelace.

[23:16] Tara Bansal: And very nice for the divorced women are most. How, how are they getting to you?

[23:26] Kim Abmeyer: Referrals really.

[23:28] Tara Bansal: Okay.

[23:29] Kim Abmeyer: Yeah.

[23:29] Tara Bansal: From other women or from divorce attorneys?

[23:34] Kim Abmeyer: From other women.

[23:35] Tara Bansal: Okay.

[23:36] Kim Abmeyer: Yeah. Yeah. And you know, like I said, it’s okay. Some of them are actually friends.

[23:42] Tara Bansal: Yeah.

[23:44] Kim Abmeyer: Just where we are in life.

[23:46] Tara Bansal: Yeah.

[23:47] Kim Abmeyer: Not my age, but yeah. We get a lot of our. Really the majority of our new clients come from. Okay.

[23:56] Tara Bansal: What has surprised you about this job and what you do.

[24:02] Kim Abmeyer: Not surprising,

[24:03] but interesting or maybe. But also, like, probably what keeps me drawn to it is I feel like there’s this constant evolution. Right. Of services or how, like, how you can improve how you service clients with all these new technologies.

[24:25] You know, I feel like we can really. We have the ability to really, like, step up our game when it comes to servicing clients and not taxing ourselves.

[24:38] Right.

[24:39] To give that white glove service.

[24:41] So I am kind of a lifelong learner, so I think maybe the surprise, you could say, but I feel like it goes with anything that you do and that, you know, you’re constantly.

[24:56] You have to constantly evolve with the industry to stay relevant. Right. Or to stay.

[25:06] Tara Bansal: Almost ahead of the curve.

[25:07] Tara Bansal: Like. Yeah. Sharp. And. Yeah. What’s one decision that shaped your life or career?

[25:22] Kim Abmeyer: I would absolutely say taking that.

[25:25] That second job, that sales assistant job with one.

[25:30] Was it, though,

[25:31] the gentleman? Yeah, with Bill Chestnut.

[25:35] He was my.

[25:36] He became my mentor. He literally taught me everything he knew.

[25:41] I still. I think we talked on our mastermind group. Like, I kind of joke, like,

[25:46] what would Bill Chestnut do? And that I’m in probably personally and professional,

[25:55] because he was just salt of the earth. Like, the kindest gentleman I’ve ever known.

[26:02] And he was just for a reference, there he was. He probably. He could have been my grandfather.

[26:10] He was 46 years older than me.

[26:13] Tara Bansal: Wow.

[26:14] Kim Abmeyer: So he had a lot of experience.

[26:17] Experiences life.

[26:20] So I would say that because that truly I would not be here today if it was not on that whole road that he.

[26:34] Yeah.

[26:36] But that actually leads me to another question that you have on here.

[26:40] Talking about, like, what would you tell your younger self or someone?

[26:47] I mean, all day long I would say find.

[26:51] Find someone or some people to work with or for that knows a lot more than you do that can teach you all the things that they need and they’re good and they should be good human beings.

[27:06] Tara Bansal: But yes.

[27:09] Kim Abmeyer: Because otherwise, especially in this business, I feel like it’s. It’s really hard to just start,

[27:15] like, on your own and to try to figure it out. And if you want to be an advisor, you know, getting from A to middle.

[27:30] Yeah. That would be my biggest piece of advice, too.

[27:33] I got lucky, I think. I didn’t know that’s what I was doing when I did.

[27:39] Tara Bansal: But the importance of having that mentor and having someone that.

[27:43] Tara Bansal: Did he grow?

[27:45] Tara Bansal: Had he been in the business or industry for a really long time? Yeah. Okay.

[27:50] Kim Abmeyer: Yeah.

[27:51] Yeah. He was pretty well established. While we’ll join them trying to think they were like a one and a. Maybe a one and a half or $2 million team.

[28:03] So they.

[28:04] They’ve done pretty well.

[28:05] Tara Bansal: Yeah. That’s great. How was the transition from him deciding to retire and then him leaving? How was that for you?

[28:21] Kim Abmeyer: It was probably easier than expected,

[28:25] but that’s because we had gone about it with such intention.

[28:30] You know, he had really started building me into all of our client meetings so that our clients had got to know me really well as their self, their service associate.

[28:39] Right. So I had already. I talked to them all the time.

[28:43] And then with him having me sit in on all of our review meetings. And then ultimately,

[28:50] when he finally retired,

[28:53] you know, I was kind of running the meetings and he was there.

[28:57] Yeah. No,

[28:58] he would always say that he was my gray hair.

[29:03] So.

[29:04] So when he. When he retired.

[29:09] And again, that’s one thing that, like, in hindsight,

[29:12] like, she was literally my biggest shoe. He told every client repeatedly, like, she’s the smartest girl I knew who. Stick with her. She will take care of you until.

[29:26] She will always do the right thing. And so we didn’t lose a single client.

[29:31] Tara Bansal: That’s wonderful.

[29:33] Tara Bansal: And you just said earlier you did.

[29:37] Tara Bansal: Not want to be a financial advisor. So what changed to, you know, convince you to want to do that?

[29:50] Tara Bansal: And why did you think you didn’t want to?

[29:52] Tara Bansal: I guess is part of my first question.

[29:56] Kim Abmeyer: I don’t. I don’t know. I think because it just seemed like such a big job. Right.

[30:02] Tara Bansal: Like, so much responsibility.

[30:04] Kim Abmeyer: Yeah. Maybe in your, you know,

[30:07] your people’s finances, like, in your hands, literally. And you.

[30:11] One maybe wrong decision could be very costly to them and to you. And then also, I think it was a little bit of triple, unfortunately, you’re really good at, like, not thinking that we have the right skill set or the right intelligence or,

[30:33] you know, whatever it is to sit in that big of a role.

[30:37] But it’s funny because I think the way,

[30:41] like, my journey, it was almost like I didn’t realize it was happening. It was just like, slow, so gradual, and then all of a sudden, like, oh, okay,

[30:50] I’m an advisor when I’m coming into my own business.

[30:55] Okay. I’m one of this. Like, this is.

[30:58] There are definitely challenging days, but, you know, you realize, like, it’s not as.

[31:03] It’s not as hard as you maybe.

[31:05] Tara Bansal: Have thought process at the beginning. Yeah, that’s great.

[31:08] Kim Abmeyer: Yeah.

[31:09] So I think that’s also like, an important point, too, is,

[31:13] like, embrace the men in your circles or in your.

[31:20] At your work. That that can be that.

[31:25] I know there’s like a word for it now, right?

[31:26] Tara Bansal: You’ve got advocate or like supportive or.

[31:30] Kim Abmeyer: Yeah,

[31:31] but like you got. And into a certain degree, you’ve got to work the system. Right.

[31:39] And if,

[31:41] if it’s a male dominated industry and utilizing the tools that are around you where you want to go, they’re really integral in that. So I think you can find,

[31:53] you can absolutely find the right ones.

[31:56] You probably ran into the wrong ones, but you’ll know who they are pretty quick and you’ll go and like trust your own esteem. Yeah, I agree.

[32:09] Very true.

[32:13] Tara Bansal: How are you designing your life and your practice so that it’s right for you?

[32:24] Kim Abmeyer: I’ll say a good question.

[32:28] And I say that because with this new venture, our new firm,

[32:36] I am a wealth advisor and a founding equity partner on the wealth side.

[32:41] But as I mentioned before, being an individual stock picker, I also run equity models. So I’m also on the leadership team for the Asantos Asset Management as well.

[32:54] So.

[32:54] Tara Bansal: So you have two roles, two big roles.

[32:57] Kim Abmeyer: Two roles.

[32:59] And so I’m,

[33:00] I’d say I’m in that kind of what your. The name of your product. I’m in that messy middle right now where I’m trying to point her out.

[33:08] Like having Alicia on board, who’s my. The other advisor on her team, is really helpful because she can, you know,

[33:16] she works with all of my clients.

[33:18] She’s bringing on her own that I help her with. It’s so it’s,

[33:24] it’s that learning to like delegate part. Right. Like I don’t have.

[33:32] And then.

[33:32] Tara Bansal: Yeah.

[33:32] Kim Abmeyer: Trying to balance,

[33:34] you know, as you know, I have kids roughly around longer kids age too is. Yeah,

[33:40] a lot.

[33:41] I don’t want to be working all the time now that I’m taking on more like role,

[33:48] more additional roles and responsibilities.

[33:52] But I do love it. So it’s hard. Yeah, I’m trying to figure that out.

[33:58] Tara Bansal: Do you feel like you work a lot more than you want to, hours wise?

[34:05] Kim Abmeyer: No. No.

[34:07] Tara Bansal: Okay.

[34:07] Kim Abmeyer: And I say that because before Alicia came on,

[34:12] it was pretty brutal. I felt like I literally worked all the time,

[34:16] like during the day and then when I got home, maybe on.

[34:20] Tara Bansal: Weekends, cramming it in.

[34:22] Kim Abmeyer: Yeah. And then Alicia coming on board really helped because she’s a much better, like much. She’s very skilled on the planning side.

[34:34] Tara Bansal: Yeah.

[34:36] Kim Abmeyer: My kind of sweet spot is the investment sign. So it really helped bridge, you know,

[34:41] she and I coming together helped really bridge the gaps for both of us because she wasn’t quite as savvy on the investment side. So really, it turned out to be an amazing partnership.

[34:53] We’re so thankful for her.

[34:58] So,

[34:59] no, I’m not working all the time, but I feel like it’s.

[35:02] It kind of ebbs and flows now.

[35:05] I got strung at, you know, a conference in three weeks to.

[35:11] To come as someone that sits on the asset management team. Right. So.

[35:17] Tara Bansal: And I know. Well, I. You.

[35:22] Tara Bansal: You said your interests are more on.

[35:25] Tara Bansal: The investment side more so than the planning. I know you’re a great planner, but it’s just. Would you say that’s what you enjoy more?

[35:37] Kim Abmeyer: Yes, I love. And again, I love the planning side because that goes back to. I was talking about, like, the puzzle pieces. Yeah.

[35:45] But that investment piece, I think just.

[35:49] It’s just very interesting to me to find up and coming companies or, you know, investment opportunities.

[35:58] And I think that that’s also what differentiates me from a lot of other advisors too. Right.

[36:06] That’s kind of the model that most firms have now is, you know, you onboard a new client,

[36:11] you went through all the, you know, due diligence on the new client, and then you find some managers to hand the assets off to.

[36:18] Um, which is great. It’s. It absolutely is wonderful because some advisors don’t want to spend time on the investment side.

[36:24] Tara Bansal: That’s me. Like, I don’t. I’m not that interested in the investment side at all.

[36:29] Kim Abmeyer: And so,

[36:30] but like reading up on companies and, you know,

[36:35] evaluating the technicals of how a stock was moving for when to move in and out of Il,

[36:40] identifying themes and trends and all, like, that’s just super interesting.

[36:47] Tara Bansal: So do you build portfolios or do you build a fund that other advisors now use?

[36:55] Kim Abmeyer: So,

[36:56] yes, now to both.

[36:58] Before, I was just building models for our clients.

[37:01] Now we put those models on, like a model marketplace that other clients have done our final to do those. So.

[37:08] Tara Bansal: Okay.

[37:10] Kim Abmeyer: Wow. No pressure there.

[37:13] Tara Bansal: Yeah.

[37:14] But it’s something you enjoy and that’s, to me,

[37:17] yeah. Just interesting. On the women I’ve had on the podcast,

[37:23] I feel like there’s. You can tell those who lean more towards the landing, the planning side and then those that.

[37:31] And it’s not that they dislike the planning, it’s just they also love the investments and.

[37:38] Yeah,

[37:40] I love that.

[37:42] Where.

[37:43] Where are you growing and stretching right now?

[37:50] Kim Abmeyer: I would say, like I mentioned just a few minutes ago, that, like, delegating part of, like,

[37:56] what are things that I don’t necessarily have to do myself, that I’m taking hand off to someone. Someone I Feel like even maybe today or yesterday. I was just reading.

[38:06] Oh, this morning,

[38:08] old friend of mine does a podcast for sales. She calls it Sales on Service.

[38:14] But it was talking about, like,

[38:16] if your business pretty much runs on you touching, you know, everything,

[38:21] then it’s not.

[38:23] That’s not good.

[38:24] So I’m trying to work to quantum identifying what can be taken on by someone else,

[38:34] which is actually, it was really scary at first. I think I’m getting a little more comfortable with it.

[38:42] That’s where I’m.

[38:44] Tara Bansal: Yeah, I feel like that’s a big part of Steph Bogan’s program with Limitless that we did together was choosing what to let go of and what you should really focus on.

[38:55] Like what.

[38:57] What your superpowers are that are unique to you.

[39:00] Kim Abmeyer: Right.

[39:01] Tara Bansal: So.

[39:02] Kim Abmeyer: Yeah, but it’s also as, you know, like, it’s hard, especially if you’re.

[39:06] I mean, I’m like the first daughter. Right. Of my.

[39:10] In my family, I’m super type A. So like having.

[39:16] I naturally, I think, want to control everything.

[39:20] So.

[39:21] Tara Bansal: And, you know, you do it well and you’re detail oriented and so it can be hard to let go of that. My can relate to that struggle.

[39:32] Kim Abmeyer: Yeah. Yeah.

[39:33] But I’m constantly trying to. I do a lot of audiobooks just so it’s easier driving children around and whatnot. But I feel like I try. I’m trying to, you know, listen to lots of notes on cava, like,

[39:48] change your mindset.

[39:51] What.

[39:52] Tara Bansal: What does success look like for you now? How would you define that?

[40:02] Kim Abmeyer: Success, I think would be freedom in sense.

[40:11] Most time going back to what we were just talking about, like,

[40:14] money to delegate and like,

[40:16] have to control everything. I think,

[40:19] you know, our goal with the census wealth is to grow it into a very large firm.

[40:27] But we will at some point probably sell to another large firm.

[40:35] I,

[40:36] like, I’m still in that time of life and mindset where I’m really in growth mode. And that’s like,

[40:46] fun to me. I really said the very beginning. I really have always loved to work,

[40:52] but I think,

[40:54] you know, and you. I’m sure you’ve thought about this too. Like, My oldest turns 11 and two months from today.

[41:02] I’ve got seven years right. Left with him at home with the younger one. I’ve got nine years left with left with home at home. Like, at some point,

[41:12] like, I want to hit the ground running now to build and then I’d like to have the freedom when that time comes to be able to like, be.

[41:25] I feel like I’m pretty. I’M fairly present now,

[41:28] but, you know, to be more. Because you just hear about, like, the older they get, like, while they might not seem to want you around, they really need you around.

[41:37] Yeah.

[41:38] Yeah. So.

[41:40] Tara Bansal: And so is that working less? Like, so you can go to the sports events or doing things like that, or what does that mean for you? The freedom.

[41:54] Kim Abmeyer: Maybe working less. But I think also having,

[42:00] you know, truly having a team that I can.

[42:04] I can be out, still accessible, and I know that everything is still running without being.

[42:11] Tara Bansal: Yeah.

[42:12] Kim Abmeyer: So like I said, I think.

[42:16] I think I will be very much like Bill. Bill retired when he was 82.

[42:22] I told him, like, it was time.

[42:26] Um,

[42:27] I mean, I have friends now that are like, I want to retire when I’m 55. What would you do? I don’t know. I don’t. I don’t.

[42:34] Tara Bansal: Well, that’s.

[42:34] Tara Bansal: I want to keep working, but I don’t. I want it on my terms. Right. Like,

[42:39] it’s the time I get to decide, you know, like, how much a week and when during the workday,

[42:49] things like that. Trying to.

[42:51] That’s what I want. But. But, yeah, I have no plans to retire.

[42:55] Kim Abmeyer: Let’s just do fun.

[42:57] Tara Bansal: Yeah.

[42:57] Kim Abmeyer: And especially, like I said, I feel like I’m so lucky and blessed to have clients that I truly feel like are family, that I just.

[43:06] I would like to be there for them as long as I’m able.

[43:10] Whatever generation we’re at at that point.

[43:13] Yeah.

[43:14] But.

[43:16] Tara Bansal: So what’s next for you in your firm?

[43:22] Kim Abmeyer: Oh, I mean, just really trying to at this point, now that we’ve got. I think yesterday, just yesterday we had some press releases go out. So now it’s truly kind of awareness.

[43:32] Right. Getting our name out.

[43:35] Some of my goals for this year are I want to do at least five speaking engagements.

[43:45] Tara Bansal: And are the speaking engagements on both investments and women leaders? What are the topics?

[43:54] Kim Abmeyer: I think so. Yeah. I would like to. I would like to at some point speak to investments.

[44:02] I signed up as a sponsor again for. In Dallas. We have a magazine called D Magazine. There’s a DCDO magazine as well.

[44:12] I spoke at their leadership conference last year. And this year I’ll be speaking at.

[44:18] There’s a women like Health Will.

[44:24] It’s Invest in you is what it’s called present there. And that will be about planning, but also investment. So I think there’s a lot. Already a lot of overlap. Right.

[44:34] Because you can’t have one without the other.

[44:36] Tara Bansal: Yeah.

[44:37] Kim Abmeyer: Right.

[44:40] So if I were to tell you, like, one of my big.

[44:46] Like a big Dream that’s, you know,

[44:50] is a wild dream. I would. I would love to be on cnbc.

[44:55] You’d love to be what on cnbc.

[44:57] Tara Bansal: Okay.

[44:59] Kim Abmeyer: Talking about. Yeah. Investments and how we work with our clients and how we bring it all together.

[45:05] Tara Bansal: I can see you doing that.

[45:07] Definitely.

[45:09] I love that you’re putting it out there.

[45:11] You have.

[45:13] You have the knowledge. You have the ability for sure.

[45:17] I mean,

[45:18] that.

[45:19] Kim Abmeyer: Yeah. So great. Got that.

[45:24] Tara Bansal: But you’re just starting with speaking engagements and putting yourself out there, I feel like, is a really. Yeah. Good first step.

[45:31] Kim Abmeyer: Even this, like, you know, I. I got nervous before I hopped on this call again. I’m not.

[45:37] Tara Bansal: I can’t tell. You’re like. Yeah.

[45:40] Kim Abmeyer: So. Yeah.

[45:41] Tara Bansal: Yeah.

[45:42] Kim Abmeyer: Getting out of our comfort.

[45:44] Tara Bansal: What advice do you have for how we can get more women into this industry?

[45:54] Kim Abmeyer: What ideas Talk to young people. I have. I’m having coffee with.

[46:00] So a friend of mine’s housekeeper. Her daughter was the first to, like, go to. Go to college, and she’s interested in finance.

[46:09] And so my friend set me up with. Or set this girl up with me. We’re having coffee on Friday.

[46:17] And so I think it’s just talking to young people about why on. I will tell you this. I’ll never forget. I went to. I don’t even know if the group’s around anymore.

[46:28] It’s, like, called Women.

[46:30] It was Whips, whatever that was. Maybe Women in financial Services a decade or maybe longer ago.

[46:39] It was longer than that.

[46:41] And a woman was talking about another reason why this is a great career for women is like, there’s.

[46:52] And I guess it also depends on your role. Right. But there is that flexibility. She was saying, I love that I can drop my kids off at school and go into the office where I love that I can leave early to go pick my kids up from school.

[47:02] Tara Bansal: Yeah.

[47:03] Kim Abmeyer: And I’m still, you know, I’ve got, like, that core day that I can knock things out, but I have the ability to, like, make your own schedule.

[47:11] Tara Bansal: Yeah, I agree.

[47:13] Kim Abmeyer: And so I think, like, that. Something to just make sure that young women are truly informed about the different roles and responsibilities within financial services.

[47:26] Ways that you can,

[47:28] you know, make those work for you and whatever your life goals are.

[47:34] I think it’s just like anything. I think it’s education. We’ve got to.

[47:37] Tara Bansal: We’ve just got the word out.

[47:39] Kim Abmeyer: Yeah.

[47:40] And then provide opportunities for them. Right. So getting them. I mean,

[47:46] I. I got out of college and got my foot in the door as a sales assistant. Never thinking. I really thought in three to five years. I was gonna move back to Austin and I would.

[47:56] Maybe I’d get married or have kids. I didn’t know what I was gonna do for a job, but I just thought I would move back to Austin.

[48:02] And that’s 26 years later. Right. When still here in my life.

[48:08] I don’t know what I thought. I was never the kid that like, knew what I wanted to be when I grew up.

[48:13] So I’m thankful that I’ve. That my path has taken me to where I am.

[48:20] But I wouldn’t have, I wouldn’t have known about it had it not been for my friend’s mom.

[48:26] Tara Bansal: Yeah.

[48:26] Kim Abmeyer: Right. It was like, you should come work for me. So I think if we could provide opportunities like that for young women to come intern or give them that entry level position into whatever facet of financial services maybe is of interest to them.

[48:47] Ton of opportunity. It’s just trying to plug in. Right.

[48:51] Yes.

[48:52] Tara Bansal: No, I agree. Yeah, we do. We do need more. And I think it is an awareness.

[48:59] Kim Abmeyer: I mean, it’s like 15% or something. Sad.

[49:01] I know, I know in CFAs,

[49:04] and I think CFPs aren’t much more than that. Maybe 17 or 18%. I don’t know. What.

[49:11] Tara Bansal: Yeah, that’s surprising to me because I feel like there’s less CFAs women than women CFPs. But I don’t know the numbers around that.

[49:20] Kim Abmeyer: I’m just, you know, my impression percentages, not necessarily numbers. Right. So.

[49:25] Tara Bansal: Yeah, but still, I guess. Oh, we’re almost out of time.

[49:31] Tara Bansal: What?

[49:33] Tara Bansal: I know you do a ton of audiobooks and books and other resources, but what’s a favorite that you would recommend right now?

[49:44] Kim Abmeyer: I would say the last one that I finished was one that’s all over the place right now. It was The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins.

[49:52] I love that entire concept.

[49:57] I do. I love that section. These questions.

[50:01] The favorite Booker podcast. But then I do think.

[50:04] I don’t know what I call it self care, but I’ve been talking a lot lately to people about like physical fitness. And for me, the. The gym is my therapy.

[50:18] I would say your. My best self care ritual. I’d say lifting weights.

[50:22] And then I am. I’m a sucker for. I get a massage every week.

[50:27] Tara Bansal: That’s great.

[50:28] I always say that. And then I never do it. It’s like one of those. I just need to put it in my calendar and schedule it every time. But that’s like my dream and I never do it.

[50:40] Kim Abmeyer: I know, I know it’s hard, but it just. I got Again, lucky. A spot open just around the corner where you can do like the monthly.

[50:48] Tara Bansal: Yeah.

[50:48] Kim Abmeyer: And it’s pretty. It’s very reasonable.

[50:51] Tara Bansal: So that helps motivate you to do it.

[50:54] Kim Abmeyer: My account every month I should take a Google Journal, so.

[50:57] Tara Bansal: Yeah, that’s smart. I love that.

[50:59] Tara Bansal: What’s one thing giving you joy right now?

[51:03] Kim Abmeyer: I was hoping you would ask that because I’m just coming off of dinner last night with.

[51:09] So there’s a group, it’s national, but there’s a group called ACG association for Corporate Growth that I had joined a year or so ago. And I have been going to events and, you know, kind of run into the same women that we would like.

[51:27] Oh, we’re so glad you’re here.

[51:29] We’ve gone to an event that one of them had invited me too,

[51:35] and then another girl, and we were like, you know, let’s start our own networking group when we called it the lead her like her leaderboard group.

[51:47] And every month on like the second Wednesday.

[51:52] And we basically were in all different areas of financial services and things that touch financial services and our bowl ones.

[51:59] Let’s get to know each other as friends and then we can refer business to each other because we know like and trust each other.

[52:07] So it’s,

[52:09] It’s.

[52:10] It’s turned into something really fun. Last night we actually brought the spouses and we all went to dinner.

[52:16] Tara Bansal: How big a group is it?

[52:19] Kim Abmeyer: We have. I think there’s six of us.

[52:22] Tara Bansal: That’s a nice size. Like, it’s not too big, but it’s like. Yeah.

[52:28] Kim Abmeyer: So I think the answer to why is that joyful.

[52:33] I feel like we’re in this era of,

[52:39] like I mentioned generational. Right.

[52:45] I think you had a lot of women that used to operate in this. That scarcity mindset. Right. That, like, I’ve got to. I’ve got to take. I got to get what’s mine, and then I got to hold on to it when I.

[52:56] If I share anything with you, you might take something from me. And I feel like,

[53:02] at least in my circles and maybe it’s because I’m trying to be intentional about it. Like, if you’re gets morphed into this, like,

[53:09] there’s. There’s plenty out there for all of us. And if we put it together,

[53:15] like, it actually there’s more or, you know, like abilities to grow and succeed seed. And so I think that’s what’s really fun right now is.

[53:27] And again, it’s not to be sexist, but it’s with like, other women that we’re all like, how can we love each other?

[53:38] Tara Bansal: I love that. Yeah. And it’s fun, so.

[53:43] Kim Abmeyer: Yeah, it’s fun.

[53:44] Tara Bansal: That’s great. Anything I didn’t cover that you wish I had or that you’d love to share?

[53:54] Kim Abmeyer: I think you’ve hit all the. All the ones that I had that I have made notes of.

[53:59] Okay.

[54:02] Thanks for having me. This has been a lot of fun.

[54:04] Tara Bansal: Of course it was fun.

[54:06] And,

[54:06] yeah, you, like,

[54:08] you’ve always impressed me,

[54:10] how you show up and not just your intelligence, but who you are as a person. And so you are a leader, I feel like. And you’ll continue to inspire people all around you.

[54:23] So. But thank you for being here. I’m thrilled.

[54:26] Kim Abmeyer: Yeah. And I’ve. It’s been a lot of fun watching this, your journey. So, you know, like, you started limitless. You really were kind of like, what am. What am I doing?

[54:34] What am I doing?

[54:36] Yeah.

[54:37] And I feel like, you know, you started out.

[54:42] Tara Bansal: I’m finding my way. Yes. So that’s so true. As we all are, I guess, but.

[54:48] Kim Abmeyer: Yeah. Yes. Yes. I don’t know if we’ll ever truly.

[54:52] Tara Bansal: No. Because it’s a journey. There’s always more.

[54:55] Kim Abmeyer: Yeah.

[54:56] Tara Bansal: All right, well, thank you, and we’ll.

[55:00] Tara Bansal: Put all your information in the show.

[55:02] Tara Bansal: Notes for how people can find you and see you, too. Thanks.

[55:06] Tara Bansal: Bye.

[55:07] What stayed with me most from this conversation with Kim was how naturally she grew into work that fits her and her strengths so well.

[55:17] Work she once found intimidating and now clearly loves.

[55:21] Kim didn’t set out wanting to be a financial advisor.

[55:25] Her path wasn’t linear or ego driven.

[55:29] She grew into the role as her confidence,

[55:32] competence, and sense of responsibility expanded.

[55:37] And that feels deeply reassuring for women who feel called to this work and are also scared.

[55:44] In fact, the more I think about it, the more I believe that Kim’s hesitation is probably why she is so.

[55:51] Tara Bansal: Good at what she does.

[55:53] Tara Bansal: She understood early on the weight of this role, the responsibility we carry, and the real impact our guidance can have on people’s lives.

[56:03] That awareness didn’t hold her back.

[56:06] It shaped her.

[56:07] And today you can hear how much she cares,

[56:10] how thoughtful she is, and how much she genuinely enjoys the positive difference she gets to make for her clients.

[56:20] Another thing that really stayed with me was her deep commitment to supporting other women,

[56:26] not just in this profession, but through real friendship and community.

[56:31] The group of women she described meeting with monthly feels like such a powerful example of what’s possible when we move away from competition and scarcity and toward joy, connection, and mutual support.

[56:46] I personally believe women want to help each other thrive and this conversation felt like a beautiful reflection of that.

[56:55] My hope is that you found something meaningful here,

[56:59] whether it’s permission to feel scared and move forward anyway.

[57:04] Reassurance that caring deeply is a strength or inspiration to seek out or create a community with other women who truly support you.

[57:16] Before I wrap up,

[57:17] I want to thank you for being here and for staying with us through this conversation.

[57:22] The sound quality isn’t perfect in this episode, but I truly believe the substance of Kim’s story and more than makes up for it.

[57:31] There are real nuggets of wisdom here and I hope you’re carrying forward an idea,

[57:37] a permission slip, or a moment of recognition that stays with you.

[57:43] Thank you for listening to her life, her practice, her way A podcast for and about Female Financial Advisors I truly hope you have enjoyed this podcast and got some value from it.

[57:56] If so I would love to ask a favor of you.

[57:59] Please go to Apple Podcasts or Spotify and rate and review my podcast.

[58:05] This will help me get the word out to other amazing like minded female financial advisors.

[58:10] You can also send it to a friend or two who you think would gain something from listening to it.

[58:16] Until next time, I’m wishing you the very best.

Ascentis Wealth
Private Wealth Management For Affluent Families & Founders | Ascentis Wealth

 Connect with Kim Abmeyer on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-abmeyer-cfa-cfp-ea/

 

Podcasts, Programs & Books Mentioned

Sales on Service Podcast
https://studiothree49.com/podcast

Limitless Advisor
https://limitlessfa.life/

The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins

https://www.melrobbins.com/book/the-let-them-theory/

Kim Abmeyer, CFA, CFP®, EA, is a trailblazing wealth advisor and founding equity partner of Ascentis Wealth and Ascentis Asset Management. Recently, Kim’s all-female team at Abmeyer Wealth joined forces with some esteemed colleagues to create this dynamic, multi-faceted partnership. Her team specializes in helping entrepreneurial-minded professionals and high-achieving women align their financial achievements with their life’s purpose, transforming their dreams into reality.

As a wealth advisor, Kim specializes in developing tax-efficient plans, creating bespoke investment portfolios, and implementing comprehensive financial strategies unique to each client. As head of equity strategy for Ascentis Asset Management, she also serves as an equity portfolio manager, guiding both advisors and clients with her deep market insight.

Kim’s journey-from sales assistant to practice owner and industry leader-reflects her commitment to lifelong learning and building meaningful client relationships. She is Past President of CFA Society DFW, former board member of CFA Texas, and Past President of Altrusa International of Downtown Dallas.
Holding the Chartered Financial Analyst, Certified Financial Planner, and Enrolled Agent designations, Kim is recognized as a thought leader in wealth management. She is passionate about supporting growth-minded professionals and remains at the forefront of industry trends, delivering exceptional value and insight to her clients.