St. Louis, MO  (KTRS)  Today is designated as National Women’s Equality Day.

This holiday  commemorates the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote. This holiday has a special meaning for two local business women.

Managing Directors and Partners Barbara C. Archer and Carol R. Rogers reflect on their careers in financial services, as well as the progress toward gender equality in a notoriously male-dominated industry.

“The industry has come a long way since I first entered this field more than 40 years ago,” said Ms. Rogers. “Both Barbara and I were anomalies when we founded our own wealth management practices 30 years ago, and while it’s now more common to see female professionals in this field, there’s still a significant gap between men and women in finance.”

Many women, including Ms. Archer and Ms. Rogers, are helping pave the way for greater gender equality in the finance industry for upcoming generations. They’re not alone; according to a 2017 study by CTI Research, 70 percent of CEOs in the finance industry are now taking more active steps to increasing gender diversity.

“I hope that my career path can serve not only as an example to young women who are interested in pursuing this field, but will encourage others to consider this profession,” said Ms. Archer. “I have found this work both challenging and rewarding, and my advice would be to not get discouraged.”