Personal purpose drives Park Avenue Securities

Marianne Caswell’s passion for the industry is helping her clients achieve financial confidence and improve their well-being.

“It [also] helps me fulfill my own personal purpose, which is helping others,” she says.

As president of New York-based Park Avenue Securities, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Guardian), Caswell is focused on a number of things: business growth, building a competitive platform, ensuring ease of doing business, leading with accountability, and communicating with purpose.

Under her leadership, the firm has seen an increase in AUM, reaching $48 billion at the end of 2023 held within 350,000 accounts through its financial professionals.

When asked what makes her a standout player in the industry, she remarks it’s not just her own individual effort but that of her team as well.

“I am privileged to lead an organization that truly focuses on holistic planning,” she says. Citing a recent Guardian study, Mind, Body, Wallet, Caswell reflects that confidence and well-being are at an all time low.

“A big part of that is because of financial confidence,” she added. “We can't control the markets, we can't control the economy. But what we can control is helping our investors with the plan. We're differentiated because we truly look at holistic planning.

“Not only do we look at building wealth, but we look at protecting that wealth, and protecting the lives so that they can have that financial confidence and live out their dreams without having to worry.”

Caswell’s leadership at Park Avenue Securities is being recognized as an InvestmentNews Awards 2024 Excellence Awardee, with the winners announced on June 20 at 583 Park Avenue, New York City in a glitzy, red carpet ceremony. Click here to register to attend.

Her best piece of advice for future leaders and CEOs? “Take the wins, look at the accomplishments that you made and be proud of what you've done,” she says.

For more details about the InvestmentNews Awards, including a list of all finalists and details of how to attend, follow this link.