A SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION CHAMPIONING OUR LOCAL WOMEN IN BUSINESS. PHOTOGRAPY BY JESSICA WHITLEY.

Synovus Securities Inc.
Financial Advisor
5429 Bowman Road, Suite 110, Macon
478-738-2356
limamcguire@synovus.com
synovus.com

WHAT IS YOUR MISSION?
To help guide clients in making informed investment decisions and understanding the options available to them, no matter where they are in their financial journey.

How has your business shifted because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
Like many businesses, we are meeting with clients by phone or through Zoom when needed. It won’t take the place of a face-to-face meeting permanently, but it has helped us stay as connected as possible to our clients.

WHAT IS A CHALLENGING ASPECT OF BEING A WOMAN IN BUSINESS?
Just learning to be confident in what you bring to the table. According to Barron’s magazine, only 15 percent of financial advisors are women, but I think the industry as a whole is starting to see how women have a positive impact and how we can help relate to our clients’ needs and concerns.

How can women better support each other?
By listening and sharing our stories together. We often share the same struggles and concerns in our careers. I think there is value in learning about each other in that way.

HOW CAN MEN BETTER SUPPORT WOMEN BUSINESS LEADERS?
By helping to create a business culture that promotes a healthy work-life balance. I feel very fortunate to work in that type of culture at Synovus, because when women feel supported, there is no limit to how far we can go.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT IN OUR COMMUNITY?
I think this is really an exciting time for Middle Georgia because of the focus that has been placed on education. I have always believed that education is an economic no-brainer that impacts everyone and every business in a positive way. It is why I am so passionate about helping clients understand their retirement goals and 401k options. The more they know, the more successful they will be at meeting their financial goals.

How do you define success?
To me, success is about doing purposeful work that impacts others in a positive way.

You might be surprised that:One-third of employees who have access to a 401k through their employer don’t participate in their plan. Employees don’t always realize how a very small amount of money can go a long way over time when investing. Our goal is to help educate them on how they can make a plan by showing them how it works.

What is the most gratifying part of your job?
To help a client understand investing and saving for their goals. There is that moment when you know you have really helped them understand how to make a plan, and that you have been able to guide them in a way that they may not have been otherwise.

I admire women who: Came before me. Every generation of women has paved the way for the next. We have to remember that things were not always the way they are now and that even though we have more progress to make, the women before me have done a lot! I have worked with a lot of women in the financial industry that started their careers in the 1980s.I am fascinated by women of that time period as I have listened and learned from their stories and I know they are happy to see the progress that has been made.

What was the best business advice you ever received?
Take the time to really understand your clients’ needs and always lead with empathy. Finances are personal for everyone, no matter where they are in their financial journey.

I hope more women will:Be more confident with investing. Women are often intimidated by investing because they don’t understand it. There are a lot of complex strategies in this industry, but the fundamentals are the same. Just learning the basics can go a long way and can help alleviate the stress that many women and couples feel when making investment decisions.