ANNANDALE, NJ / ACCESSWIRE / July 16, 2021 / It is no secret that the financial world is a historically male-dominated landscape, with few women and minorities able to break in. Financial Advisor Sydney Kozakis of the Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company is on a mission to change that and is working to empower women to live their best lives through promoting financial literacy. Kozakis is paving the way for other women to change their lives by taking hold of their own personal finances, as well as opening doors to those who want to pursue a career in the financial industry. While studying at Muhlenberg College, as a rising star and changemaker in the industry, she was awarded the prestigious distinction of the Top College Financial Representative at Northwestern Mutual, only the second woman in company history to be awarded this national honor since 1966. Kozakis is a third-generation financial advisor who strives to teach others, with a focus on helping women, to build and manage wealth using the power of financial literacy to live the life they want to, not a life they feel stuck in.

Kozakis is on a mission to make meaningful change and she knows how important it is for women to become more financially literate in their own lives and more involved in the industry as a whole, as they add a perspective that is lacking. "The vast majority of this industry is made up of men," Kozakis says, "Despite the fact that two-thirds of all the wealth in America will be in the hands of women by 2027 and 52% of all new businesses today are started by women, male advisors are still much less likely to reach out to women as potential clients." This is why she is passionate about reaching as many women as possible in her practice, because she knows the unfortunate truth that women are so underrepresented in the industry. Kozakis goes on to explain, "Too many women stay in unhealthy jobs and unhealthy relationships for far too long because they lack the financial knowledge and confidence around their money that they need in order to make better decisions for themselves. Knowing the right things to do with your money gives you options and the freedom to live life on your own terms. For this reason, every woman should feel comfortable and confident to stand on her own two feet financially. Money is power. That may sound dramatic, but it really is the truth."

The importance of financial literacy and education is part of Kozakis' mission, as she points out that it is not a required curriculum in most school systems around the country. She educates clients, showcasing the importance of planning, and is committed to bringing this information into schools as well. Her dream is to make financial education accessible to everyone, and she hopes that others in the industry will join her in this effort. She believes that everyone should have equal opportunity and access to the same tools, and that starts with educating students about finance from a young age.

Until now, the financial services industry has largely been unsuccessful in attracting quality women to this career, a fact that Northwestern Mutual is working hard to change. With fewer female advisors, and men being less likely to pursue female clients, women are historically less likely to invest and build generational wealth than men are. This is a narrative Kozakis is actively working to change. She works to help women impact the world and bring about positive change and believes that this starts with empowering them through financial education. Every day, she is educating her clients, working with them one-on-one to understand their individual circumstances, taking a personalized approach. Kozakis believes this kind of approach is crucial and encourages everyone, even those who feel like they do not have enough money to start planning, to seek out the advice of a financial advisor. It is of paramount importance to work with someone who will take the time to understand your values, where you are now, where you want to be, and then create a roadmap specifically to get you there.

Women need to know more about the world of finance, what their options are when it comes to their money, and what vehicles are available to help them achieve their goals. Understanding the spectrum of your financial options translates to power and the ability to make decisions and choices based on what you want and what is best for you overall, not based on being tied to a person or job because of money. Kozakis wants women to access this power, which starts with learning to be comfortable with and knowledgeable in how money and various personal finance tools and accounts work.

"Money in the hands of good-intentioned, loving women can only do good things for our world, and we need to make sure it is not just men building wealth and making these changes for the future. We need everyone to have equal opportunity and access to the same tools, resources and advice as the person next to them."

Kozakis got her start in finance as a young child growing up in Clinton Township, New Jersey. Her father has worked in the industry for decades, as did her grandfather, and she recalls watching him work with his clients as a young girl, marveling at the impact he had on their lives through proper planning. She knew she wanted to help people in the same way, so she pursued an education in finance at Muhlenberg College, became investment licensed before she could legally drink, and interned at Northwestern Mutual for two years. Since then, she has graduated and become a full-time Financial Advisor with the Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company. Now in her private practice, she provides personalized financial planning services, with a goal of changing the perspective of every single person she sits down with, hoping they walk away from the conversation with a healthier relationship with money.

Connect with Kozakis via her website, and take the first step to change your life by empowering yourself through financial literacy and planning.

Company Name: Northwestern Mutual
Contact Person: Sydney Kozakis
Address: 1322 Route 31 North, Suite 1, Annandale, NJ 08801
Phone Number: 908.617.0559
Website Link: https://www.northwesternmutual.com/office/nj/annandale/20691898/financial-advisor-team/sydney-kozakis

SOURCE: Northwestern-Mutual