16 Sep Spotlight on Jessica Carlsen-Buszka
Jessica Carlsen-Buszka
Branch Manager | Financial Advisor
Bison Wealth Planners | Raymond James
Quick 10!
#1 Briefly tell us about your business.
I am a financial advisor and branch manager at Bison Wealth Planners, Raymond James, located in Ann Arbor and Chelsea, MI. I specialize in helping legacy-minded individuals turn their life’s work and values into lasting impacts. My approach blends compassionate financial guidance with strategic charitable giving and tax mitigation, working to ensure that each family’s legacy reflects their heart and their wisdom.
#2 What is the most rewarding part of being a financial advisor?
The most rewarding part of being a financial advisor is how every day, I get to build meaningful relationships, uncover unique challenges, and craft personalized solutions that make a real difference. My clients inspire me to keep learning and growing for them and their families. You can’t ask for more in a career.
#3 What is the most challenging part?
The most challenging part of being a FA is knowing the growth of my knowledge and my business is long-term and ever-evolving. I want to be patient, but patience is a virtue I am working on.
#4 Knowing what you know now, what piece of career advice would you give your younger self?
One piece of career advice is to jump in. You have more skills than you even know.
#5 What is one idea to further move the needle in attracting, retaining and/or advancing more women in financial advising?
One idea to attract more women to the industry is to find some way to combat “imposter syndrome”. We are smart, we are capable and we need to believe in ourselves. To retain would be to take more female advisors under our wings. Both men and women should take the time to teach and mentor more often.
#6 What’s one of your superpowers that has nothing to do with wealth management?
A superpower of mine that has nothing to do with financial advising is that I am very thoughtful. It does transcend into financial advising but it plays out so much in my personal relationships.
#7 What’s one of your non-negotiable self-care practices?
Non-negotiable self-care practice is to spend one day after work doing something you enjoy. I go horseback riding on Mondays to clear my mind and do something selfishly just for me.
#8 Who is a woman who has had an important impact on your life or career?
A woman (women) who had an important impact on my life/career would be my grandmothers. They encouraged me to be who I truly wanted to be. They saw me for who I was and always told me how proud they were. That encouraged me more than anything and made me want to strive to be a woman I can be proud of after they have passed on.
#9 What are three of your all-time favorite books?
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix
Nice Girls Still Don’t Get the Corner Office by Lois P. Frankel
#10 If your life were a movie, what would the title be?
‘What If It’s Better Than You Ever Imagined?’