Okanagan College alum Kayla Caruana was the youngest Certified Financial Planner (CFP) in Canada when she received her designation in January 2019, just 18 months after completing her program at the Okanagan School of Business.

She credits her OC professors for the training and encouragement that led her to explore the CFP designation.

But Caruana was just getting started. Following the completion of her Bachelor of Business Administration from OC, during her last semester of studies, she went on to found her own financial planning business.

Now, Caruana has partnered with her mom, Karen Erickson, to run a financial planning practice for the 55+ demographic focused on estate planning, Karen & Kayla 鈥� IG Private Wealth Management.

鈥淚 knew I wanted to have my own financial planning practice once I finished my degree because I was already working in that industry as an assistant to pay my way through school,鈥� said Caruana.

鈥淚 am an entrepreneur. I started my business the same year I finished my degree, practicing the skills I learned in class.

鈥淭he partnership OC has with FP Canada and encouragement from my professors helped me in taking the next steps to accreditation.鈥�

The School of Business at OC is affiliated with professional regulatory bodies such as FP Canada. As students complete their training at OC, up to 80 per cent of their OC courses can apply towards their financial planning certification.

As a woman in the financial planning industry, Caruana is passionate about encouraging more women to consider finance as a career.

鈥淔inancial services can be a tough industry for women because you are a minority in the industry,鈥� she acknowledged.

鈥淏ut from my experience, the ability to empathize and build relationships gives women an advantage.

鈥淢y advice is to lean into those skills. Focusing on the relationship side will take you far in this industry.

鈥淔or me, giving back builds connection. And the way I can give back is by sharing financial knowledge.

鈥淗elping our favourite people, seniors, with financial literacy, confidence and the skills to have an impact in their lives.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 what fills me with happiness.鈥�

Caruana gives back to the community through her advocacy work on title protection in her industry with the Financial Advisors Association of Canada (Advocis) as well as her work with the Lake Country Rotary Club.

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