Name: Colleen Harvey
Location: Colorado
Professional Industry: Finance
Company: Large National Wealth Management Firm
Job Title: Financial Advisor
WIXII-ISM™ FROM COLLEEN:
“I’ve gradually narrowed down what I like to do into a career – helping people find financial solutions for their life goals. While I am glad to have this opportunity, starting a new job in my 40’s is a little harder than it would have been 10 years ago! But, I pursued the credentials and job experience needed and now have a work-life mix that both engages me and supports my family. Despite taking many years of doing different things to get to this point, I feel fortunate that I was able to figure out something that works with my interests and my family life.”
PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL INFORMATION:
Meet our featured Wixii™, Colleen. She is 42 years old and mother to three sons ages 4, 5 and 8 years old. She and her husband were married 3 years before they welcomed their first child into the world. She received her B.A. in History and English from the University of Notre Dame and M.A. in History from Tufts University in Massachusetts. She recently returned to work as a financial advisor at a national wealth management firm. Colleen’s responsibilities include providing wealth management strategies and solutions for individuals, families, and small business owners. Her husband is in the medical software business and works from home.
Colleen hired a nanny to help during working hours, and she splits the care giving pretty equally with her husband while not working. She devotes 40-45 hours per week to her career and would rate both her job satisfaction level and work-life satisfaction level as 8 on a scale of 1-10 (10 being highest). In a typical week, she spends 40 hours care giving, 4 hours cooking, 2 hours cleaning, 3 hours on laundry, 3 hours shopping and about 1 hour on her children’s schoolwork.
To maintain her own well-being, Colleen tries to exercise at least every few days. Daily she tries to eat well and find time to catch up on sleep, connect with loved ones and friends, and prayer/meditation weekly. Monthly she aims for a bit of pampering in the form of dates with her husband or girls’ nights out, and she takes time for travel at least annually. She participates in volunteer activities through her company and also helps out frequently at her kids’ schools.
WORK-LIFE MIX:
Describe any choices you have made in arriving at your current work-life mix. In what ways did your work-life mix change after having children?
I spent the first five years as a mother working outside the home, then took the last three years off to stay home full time. Taking time off allowed me to re-prioritize and focus on what was best for our family, including finding the most suitable environment based on our interests. We relocated from Massachusetts to Colorado and have loved our new lifestyle. I took some time to get everyone settled after we moved and to job hunt, and recently started back to work as a financial advisor at a local office of a large wealth management firm.
Describe your career path to this point and any envisioned future changes.
I’ve gradually narrowed down what I like to do into a career – helping people find financial solutions for their life goals – and got the credentials and job experience to pursue that. It took many years of doing different things to get to this point, but fortunately I was able to figure out something that works with my interests and my family life. For me, finding a local office that I can get to quickly and even bring my kids to visit allows me to stay better connected and accessible. As for goals, I want to grow my financial practice by finding hard-working and fun-loving people like me who are seeking someone they can trust to help them pursue their goals.
My current work-life mix is possible (manageable) because of…
It is both exciting and challenging to be back at work full-time with three young sons and a busy husband. So far, the mix has been possible because my husband works from home and can take on more and handle unexpected needs. My wonderful nanny has also allowed me to feel comfortable being away from home because I know the kids are in good hands. My colleagues at work have been very supportive and flexible if I need to tend to family issues. All of these factors have helped and I am very grateful.
Describe a current “day in your life” from waketime to bedtime:
5:30-7:00 am: Get the day going, sometimes sneak in a quick jog before the kids get up.
7:00-7:45 am: Everyone gets fed, dressed and out the door to catch their buses (another blessing)
8:00-4:30pm: Off to my office to start work at 8:00. Sometimes try to meet with kids for lunch, take care of errands or doc appointments on breaks, sometimes a quick workout after work
5:00-8:00pm: Family time, dinner, regroup on what needs to be done for the next day, kids to bed
8:00-10:00pm: Catch up on computer stuff, reading for work then crash for the night
On a daily basis…:
At home, I am frustrated by having less time with the kids and they spend much of that time whining and fighting. I’m energized by the kids’ new ideas and the fun things they say and do.
At work, I get a sense of accomplishment from work tasks that I can do yet frustrated at all the new things I still haven’t learned. Overall, I am energized by the intellectual stimulation and the interactions with smart and accomplished colleagues.
WIXII™ WISDOM:
Share your key(s) to maintaining order (“managing it all”) and any tools you highly recommend:
My keys are prioritizing, multi-tasking the small stuff but taking time to focus on bigger things one at a time. I recommend taking time for exercise and time to see and talk to friends and family. Also, delegate and find trustworthy outside help (cleaning service!!!) where you can.
Lastly, when creating a family budget, set a few goals for saving that involve everyone – a vacation this summer, new bikes, a pet. Remind the kids that the small things really add up and they will never reach their goals if they keep spending on little stuff. They will really get it when their savings help you achieve the goal!
What advice would you give an earlier version of yourself?
Take more time to travel before having kids. Also, I wish I knew sooner what career path I was taking. I’m glad I took time to try different things and that helped answer what I didn’t want to do, but it has taken longer to get myself established. While I am glad to have my new opportunity, starting a new job in my 40’s is a little harder than it would have been 10 years ago!
Is there anything else you would like to share regarding your work-life mix?
Focus on doing what you enjoy – such as helping people, exercise, church, volunteering – and it will carry over into all other aspects of your life. Plus even if you are busy, you’ll be happier and hopefully will be a better partner, parent, worker and community member.
