What it means to be iconic

Many magazine covers bedeck the walls of the InvestmentNews offices (which I remember fondly), but two stand out above the rest.

In our largest conference room, from the southwest window one can see two icons of the New York City skyline: the Chrysler Building in the foreground and the Empire State Building right behind it. And on an adjacent wall are magazine covers with two more icons who loom just as large: Jack Bogle and Charles Schwab.

These two remarkable individuals represent IN’s inaugural class of Icons and Innovators. And in reviewing each class since, one must marvel at the depth of talent in this industry.

It’s fitting that this year we add a class that has broken ground across all aspects of financial advice, with a bent toward technology. 

The individuals and firms highlighted in this issue represent the efforts being made to improve service to all clients across the advice spectrum. They are diverse and dynamic. 

That description fits this year’s Icon, Sallie Krawcheck, perfectly. 

The word “iconic” gets thrown around often, but it’s hard to find a more apt term to describe the career of a woman who has led wealth management divisions for two of the major wirehouses and then launched Ellevest, a company that serves the underserved community of women. 

Congratulations, Sallie Krawcheck!