We had the good fortune of connecting with Allie Beckmann and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Allie, how do you think about risk?
As an artist, entrepreneur, and financial planner, I have spent a lot of time thinking about and taking risk. Watching the documentary “Marina Abramovic: The Artist is Present” in 2015 was a huge catalyst; observing the way she played with physical danger in her performance art was really impactful for me.

It made me think about the ways artists can construct or force reactions through surprise or even fear tactics. In turn, I’ve also spent a lot of time thinking about safety and the interplay between the two ends of the spectrum.

Somewhere around the same time I discovered and started training and teaching as a Trauma-Informed Care facilitator, which recognizes that creating a safe container for the participants must be the first step in healing, learning, and growth.

As an artist, it made me wonder … what might someone allow themselves to feel, experience, or discover if they felt truly safe? And I’ve been pondering it ever since.

Now as a financial advisor, so much of my work revolves around evaluating risk and finding the right balance of risk and safety in my clients’ financial portfolios. Risk tolerance can sound really basic and analytical – a number to check off on a list, but I find that the risk conversation can be really personal and act as a portal to connecting with my clients on a much deeper level.

One’s relationship to risk is so closely connected to one’s relationship to fear and in/security. And when I guide my clients to open up about those deeper feelings and experiences, it creates a container of safety and trust. From there, I can start to educate them and empower them as they rewrite limiting fear-based narratives. We talk about what kind of safety they need and how we can build it into their financial lives to support them taking the right amount of risk for them.

Whether in an investment portfolio or an artist’s studio, the bottom line is this: when we feel safe, we can take greater risks. Ask yourself: What does safety mean and look like to you? Then you can start putting those structures in place so that you can really start to take the risks you’re meant to take and live the life you’re meant to live.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I’m a financial planner with a unique and holistic approach. I focus just as much on life planning and coaching as I do financial planning. I take the time to build real relationships with my clients, prioritizing who they are as humans above all else. In my process, your values and goals are the north star of your financial plan – they give meaning to your money. So once we clarify “what it’s all for,” then we work to build the right strategy and system for your unique life, instead of trying to fit you into a one size fits all box.

Coming from a background in experiential art, education, and mindfulness, I’ve put a lot of intention and care into building a client experience and process that is accessible, effective, and enjoyable. It’s a step-by-step process that is built with the expectation that life will change – it’s both flexible and resilient and gets people excited to take action.

One of the things I’m most passionate about – and a big differentiator in my practice – is how much space I make for the emotional side of money to work in harmony with the strategic side of planning. I see myself as equal parts financial coach, therapist, and financial advisor. Money is inherently emotional – regardless of how successful you are! – and most advisors don’t address this aspect of our financial lives. In my opinion this is a missed opportunity. It doesn’t matter how awesome your financial plan is if you can’t execute on it and your advisor isn’t there to help you overcome those obstacles. I love being able to blend my background as a social-emotional and trauma-informed facilitator with my analytical brain in my business. In this way I give my clients a well-rounded and fully supported experience which ultimately supports the way they implement their strategic plan. (Hint: there’s a lot more joy and excitement!!)

I also structure my fees differently than most advisors. Instead of selling you products for commissions or only wanting to grab your assets, I largely work on a flat-fee basis that allows me to eliminate minimums, prioritize transparent advice, and to champion client empowerment. I have three different tiers of service that grow with complexity, in addition to offering one-time engagements and an hourly coaching and consulting rate. I also give my clients the choice if they’d like me to manage their assets or if they’d like to do it themselves. It’s important to me to create choice and transparency in my services so I can really meet my clients where they are starting from and give more people access to financial advice.

What’s next? I’m doing more thought leadership in the financial industry. I’m starting by supporting female financial advisors building their dream practice that aligns with their own mission and values while getting effective business coaching. I also just wrote a course on LinkedIn Learning called “Inclusive Wealth Management: Best Practices” to help advisors build more inclusivity into their practice – both in terms of clients and their internal team. I’m passionate about helping more women build careers in finance, giving them the support and representation they truly need, and am developing a coaching program as I write this!

My journey to get here hasn’t been easy – and it’s not over! It’s taken an incredible amount of work, study, perseverance, resilience, and grit. Changing careers is challenging in itself, let alone starting over three times in three years as I plowed my way through the financial industry in order to get to the place I am now. There’s been so many lessons learned, but one of the biggest is how important it is to cultivate self-awareness and your internal guidance system. If you try to build something that is out of alignment with who you are and how you best work, you’re always going to be fighting a losing battle. Alignment is huge for success, ease, and sustainability. It was my dedication to and trust in myself that kept me moving forward until I found the right spot. Put in non-negotiables for your health (mental, physical, emotional, spiritual, social) and guard them seriously. And get particular about who you’re surrounding yourself with – community is critical.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Hosting and curating experiences are my jam, so I love this question!

For me, Denver is about nature, local art, live music, and small business – so our trip would revolve around exploring my favorites!

Walking is one of my favorite ways to explore and introduce a new city. Go-to spots include the Berkeley, Highlands, and LoHi neighborhoods for the historic architecture and classic Denver charm. I’m particularly fond of Tennyson St and the strip along 32nd & Lowell. I also love walking around Sloan’s Lake and Wash Park.

Food and bev will definitely be a big part of this trip! Hard to choose, but favorite spots include: The Fox and The Hen, El Camino Tavern, Spuntino, Bar Dough, Sera’s Ramen Enclave, Ros Siam, Senor Bear, Alma, Barcelona, Root Down and Vital Root, and Berkeley Untapped. But I’m sure we’d also pop into some new spots we discover while wandering on foot!

I could also see some thrifting and boutique shopping happening around the Highlands… Second Love, Inspyre, and Ruby Jane are a few of my faves.

My friends and I are art lovers and makers so we’d definitely need some music and art on this trip! From the music side, whether it’s a show at Red Rocks, or something smaller in scale at a place like Ophelia’s, Cervantes, or the Gothic, Denver puts on some really great shows with tons of energy. We might also check out a late night jazz show at Dazzle or Meadowlark. And if there’s a Love Languages happening – we’d definitely make it a priority to go! Love Languages is hands down one of my favorite events in Denver for dancing, music, and self-expression in a beautiful and diverse community.

From the art side, I’d love to show them RedLine Contemporary Art Center – a favorite of mine! I might take them to the DAM, Clifford-Stills Museum, or the MCA for a more traditional experience. Or we might get funky and go to The Night Owl’s Bar or Novo Ita for a more immersive experience – or find an immersive pop-up that is happening that week!

I live between Denver and Boulder, so we’d probably wander around Boulder for a day – maybe enjoying the Saturday Farmer’s Market, stopping for tea at the Tea House, or wandering through the shops on Pearl Street. Boulder also has some really great hiking trails along the Flat Irons, too.

And of course we’d spend plenty of time outside! I’d take them into the mountains for a day or two, maybe near Vail, Breckenridge/Dillon, Twin Lakes, or Steamboat. We’d take some hikes, soak in some hot springs, go to the open space dog parks, find some views, and sit together in wonder at the magical land that is Colorado.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’m so, so grateful for all the support I’ve gotten from my mentors and community, but for now I’ll focus on two:

First, I want to shout out to my friend and business advisor, TJ Slattery with Crowsnest Consulting. When I was suddenly let go from my prior firm – before my practice was quite ready to stand on its own two legs – TJ stepped in without hesitation and with full commitment to help me orient and organize myself toward a stable foundation positioned for growth. In truth, I felt like a real mess in the beginning. Without his guidance and, maybe more importantly, his faith in me and my work, I do not think my business would be where it is today nor would I have gotten here as quickly. Thank you, TJ.

I also want to shout out my (anti)-networking group, The Dames. This community of women is so powerful and inspiring. I joined a few years ago after breaking a 6-figure income my first year in the financial industry. I’ve developed meaningful friendships, cultivated strategic partnerships and collaborations, and soaked up relevant and progressive professional and personal development. I’ve also been incredibly inspired and motivated by the other female founders and executives who are crushing their businesses and who are further along than me. Just to be surrounded by those role models has helped me expand my vision of what’s possible in my life and business, and that is truly invaluable. It is a real community, and I am so proud to be a member. Thank you Meghann Conter and all my fellow Dames.

Website: https://www.beckmannfinancial.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alliebeckmann/

Image Credits
@audrianaluna_photo
Jorge Gonzales

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