Finalist founded her RIA at just 29 years old

Jenna Biancavilla’s career could have looked differently today had she pursued the healthcare industry.

Despite going to school for pre-med and volunteering in hospitals as a young freshman out of college, blending her passion for science and math, she recalls the environment being frustratingly sad.

“I didn't have good mentors and leaders to say you don't have to work in a hospital,” the Arizona-based principal said. “Lucky for me, I did a whole career study on myself and found that I love people, I love math, I love numbers, I love puzzles. I got plugged into this career through a career assessment and I feel like I'm exactly where I need to be because I did that work early on.”

Since becoming a financial advisor, Biancavilla has accomplished a lot in such a short time. She founded her own RIA, Pearl Capital Management, in 2016 and last year, launched a technology platform Svvy with her sister. Svvy is a financial advisor vetting service that educates and empowers women, identifies their needs, and connects them with a vetted advisor who has their best interests at heart.

In addition to that, recognizing the lack of non-professional education beyond introductory financial literacy courses, she also launched an accessible online masterclass last year. This initiative makes tried and true investment philosophies available to a broader audience, presenting complex financial concepts in a digestible and easy-to-understand format.

She’s a multi-entrepreneur who’s trailblazing the future for women advisors.

“I'm pulling women into the industry and letting them learn this new career path helping them use some of their soft skills that they were told weren't great for STEM, but instead say ‘What makes us unique as women actually makes you a great advisor,’ Biancavilla said. “Teaching them how and what makes them different is actually what's going to make them successful in a male dominated industry.”

These initiatives and Biancavilla’s uplifting attitude are several reasons why she’s 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.

Reflecting on what makes her a standout nominee, she says being a young female owner of an RIA firm makes her very different.

“I started the RIA firm when I was 29 years old, which the whole industry says you're not supposed to do when you're a young woman, but here I am. I did it.

“It's such a passion project of mine to empower women investors and I'm just really excited that this passion of making the financial world a little bit safer for women is actually being noticed and recognized,” she added.

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