The Heart of Advice Spotlight features industry professionals who are helping redefine success in financial planning and advisory.

Chamie Townsend, CFP®, is the Founder and CEO of Elevated Wealth Advisory Group, where she helps professionals, business owners, executives, and families align their financial decisions with the life they want to build. Drawing on a background in mathematics, engineering, and risk management, she combines financial planning, investment management, and accountability coaching to help clients navigate complexity with confidence.

1) What initially inspired you to pursue your career, and what do you find most rewarding about being a woman in your profession?

I did not grow up knowing financial planning was even a career option. My background is actually in applied mathematics, computer engineering, and financial engineering. Early in my career, I worked in risk management for banks and utilities, analyzing complex financial scenarios and helping organizations make informed decisions under uncertainty.

Over time, I realized I was far more energized by helping people than by spreadsheets alone. I wanted to take the analytical skills I had developed and use them to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. Financial planning gave me the opportunity to combine both. Every day, I get to solve problems, create strategies, and most importantly, help people gain confidence about their future.

As a woman in this profession, what I find most rewarding is being able to serve as both a guide and an example. I love helping clients, especially women, realize they are capable of making informed financial decisions and creating a life aligned with their values, goals, and purpose. Watching someone move from anxiety and uncertainty to clarity and confidence never gets old.

2) What do you see as instrumental in terms of your success as a woman in your field, and how do you see it (or something else) shaping your future?

The biggest factor in my success has been the willingness to stay true to who I am, even when my path looked different from everyone else’s. Throughout my career, there were many times I felt like I did not fit the traditional mold. I was the math and engineering student, the career changer, the risk analyst, the woman building her own firm in an industry where not many people looked like me.

What helped me navigate those challenges was a combination of discipline, resilience, and a strong support system. My parents taught me early on to focus on using my gifts, serving others, and trusting that success would follow. That lesson has guided me through every major decision, including leaving a large firm after nearly twelve years to launch my own independent practice.

Looking ahead, I believe authenticity will continue to shape my future. Clients are looking for more than investment performance. They are seeking guidance, partnership, and someone who can help them navigate life’s transitions with confidence. My goal is to continue helping people align their time, wellness, wealth, and wisdom so they can live more intentional and fulfilling lives.

3) Looking ahead, what do you see as the most exciting opportunities for women entering the profession today?

I believe the profession is undergoing a significant shift, and that creates incredible opportunities for women. Financial planning is becoming less about products and performance reports and more about helping people navigate life. Clients want advisors who listen, understand their values, and help them connect their financial decisions to what matters most.

Women often bring strengths that are especially valuable in this environment, including empathy, communication, relationship building, and the ability to see the bigger picture. As more clients seek comprehensive advice rather than transactional solutions, those qualities become even more important.

Technology is also creating opportunities. Advisors can serve clients virtually, build personal brands, create educational content, and reach communities that may have previously lacked access to financial guidance. Women entering the profession today have more ways than ever to build a business that reflects their values and strengths.

Most importantly, the industry needs diverse perspectives. Every client deserves to see someone who understands their experiences, challenges, and aspirations. That creates space for women to lead, innovate, and make a lasting impact.

4) What actions can young professionals take to position themselves for success and make the most of these opportunities?

First, stay curious and commit to being a lifelong learner. The technical side of financial planning is important, but so is understanding people. Learn about psychology, communication, leadership, and personal development alongside investments, taxes, and retirement planning.

Second, find mentors and peers who will challenge and encourage you. Success rarely happens in isolation. Some of the biggest breakthroughs in my career happened because I was willing to learn from people who had already traveled the road before me.

Third, develop discipline. Talent is helpful, but consistency is what creates long-term success. Time blocking, following through on commitments, and continuously improving your craft will separate you from the crowd.

Finally, do not underestimate the power of building genuine relationships. People want to work with professionals they trust. Focus on serving others, solving problems, and adding value. Opportunities often come from the relationships you cultivate over time rather than the connections you try to force overnight.

5) To the young women in this industry who may be facing obstacles to their success, what is the one piece of advice you would give them to help them overcome challenges?

Do not let someone else’s perception of your potential define what is possible for your future.

There will be moments when people underestimate you, question your experience, or assume you cannot achieve something because your path looks different from theirs. There were times in my own career when doors did not open as quickly as I had hoped, and I had to work harder to earn trust and opportunities.

What I learned is that confidence is built through action. You do not have to have everything figured out before you take the next step. Keep learning, keep growing, and keep showing up. Small, consistent actions compound over time.

Most importantly, remember that your unique background is a strength, not a weakness. The experiences, perspectives, and challenges that make you different are often the very things that allow you to serve others in a meaningful way. Stay focused on your purpose, trust the process, and do not quit before the breakthrough comes.

Read more perspectives from industry leaders in our Heart of Advice Spotlight Jen Dawson blog post.

Securities offered through Registered Representatives of Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a broker-dealer, member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Cambridge Investment Research, Inc, a Registered Investment Adviser. Elevated Wealth Advisory Group, LLC and Cambridge are not affiliated.

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