As firms like Raymond James endeavor to boost the ranks of women in the brokerage business, their executives and advisors say the Sallie Krawcheck story, despite her recent layoff from Bank of America-Merrill Lynch, remains a powerful one. "She has played in the big league at several firms [such as Bank of America, Citibank-Smith Barney and Sanford Bernstein] and shows women that it can be done," Raymond James COO Chet Helck said during the firm's recent Women's Symposium.
Firms like Raymond James are seeking to increase women advisors and executives at all levels," Helck said. "They want to do that as a good idea for business. And with the limited number of women advisors and executives, the competition is intense."
"Sallie Krawcheck will not have hard time finding another job. Just as when a woman advisor wants to change firms, the competition is tough," Helck adds. Her success, he says, "is that people know her as a household word."
Female advisors agree. "I heard her speak at a conference after she'd joined BofA from Citi," said Raymond James advisor Sacha Millstone of Boulder, Colo. "The women at the event from Citi gave her a standing ovation. That showed me that those who work for her are very devoted to her. She is a total star."
