From Numbers to Impact: Shaping the Financial Industry for Women

Jen Dawson, CFP^® of Hemington Wealth Management

Jen Dawson, CFP^®, Hemington Wealth Management owner and managing director, was first introduced to the wealth management industry when her previous career trajectory wasn’t quite adding up. As a mathematics doctorate candidate, Dawson found her love of numbers wasn’t fulfilling her need to make a meaningful impact in helping people. “I was miserable doing creative mathematics in a room by myself,” she recalls. After a recruiter placed her at a small financial firm, Dawson went on to create a 20+-year career dedicated to helping people, specifically women, have better relationships with money.

Both balancing successful careers and family life, Dawson joined Eileen O’Connor as an engine of growth for Hemington in 2017 and subsequently became an owner in 2023. As an owner and wealth manager, Dawson guides clients to financial clarity and focuses on the firm’s expansion in the greater Chicago area. Named in honor of O’Connor’s father’s realized dream of one day owning a beach house, Hemington has built its brand on specializing in the unique advanced planning needs of high-earning women.

Established in the Washington, D.C., area in 2013, Hemington is one of the fastest-growing RIA firms in the country, serving over 200 clients and managing $1 billion in assets. In addition to the Fee-Only firm's focus on serving breadwinner women and lawyers, Hemington provides high-net-worth individuals and families with a broad range of people-first financial planning services, including investment management, retirement planning, tax planning, and more.

A Blend of Science and Real-World Applications

Hemington’s commitment to addressing the financial needs of women was solidified when O’Connor co-authored a landmark women of wealth study conducted by the Family Wealth Advisor Council, “Women of Wealth: Why Does the Financial Services Industry Still Not Hear Them?” The report underscored the distinct financial journeys of women, punctuated by life stages such as divorce, losing a spouse, and balancing a career with raising children. In response to these insights, Hemington was founded to address this unmet market need. Tailored to women investors and breadwinners, the firm uses established strategies and data, such as the Nobel Prize-winning modern portfolio theory, rather than relying on the media or current events. “This approach helps ensure our investment management is both scientifically grounded and sensitive to the complexities and emotions inherent to money conversations,” says Dawson.

As a female breadwinner herself, Dawson was drawn to Hemington’s thought leadership surrounding topics on women’s finance and its advanced financial planning, which was both sophisticated and easy to understand. A 10-time winner of the Five Star Professional Wealth Manager award and a Forbes/SHOOK Best-in-State Top Women Wealth Advisor, Dawson has enhanced Hemington’s reputation through various speaking engagements, expert spotlights and contributions, and targeted marketing.

Dawson’s experience as a wealth manager and high earner has also given her unique insights into the challenges of busy professionals such as lawyers. Her specialization in guiding attorneys through often-overlooked financial matters has significantly contributed to the firm’s growth and influence in the Chicago legal community.

Managing Sustainable Growth

As Hemington expands its footprint with offices in Falls Church, Virginia, and Chicago and receives numerous industry accolades, Dawson is focused on sustainable growth and ensuring hiring keeps pace with the firm’s rising demand. “We’ve grown organically in a very intentional manner,” she notes. “Our approach and client experience, shaped by and for breadwinner women, truly sets us apart.”

The firm is also strategically cultivating a culture of excellence that attracts top talent and strives to prevent burnout. Hemington offers various work benefits, including mentorship programs, travel opportunities, and five-year sabbaticals. “We think a lot about how we can provide more value, such as flexibility, autonomy, and transparency, to our employees,” says Dawson.

Cultivating the Next Generation of Breadwinner Women

As a prominent speaker and writer on women of wealth and personal finance, Dawson champions women and girls, helping empower them through financial education and advocacy about women’s issues. “I love helping women and girls be the best versions of themselves,” Dawson shares. She organizes regular skill-building workshops and networking events for women and previously served as board president for Girls on the Run Chicago, an after-school program that supports more than 4,000 girls each year, teaching essential life lessons while training for a 5k.

Since joining NAPFA in 2019, Dawson has lent her voice and created a space for women’s perspectives on its Leadership Development Committee and Women's Initiative's Mentorship Group, which she co-founded. “I’ve loved serving as a volunteer, and networking with other exceptional advisors has been extremely valuable,” she says. A lifelong learner, Dawson stays current on financial planning, market dynamics, and introspective topics through resources like BlackRock’s Student of the Market advisor hub and podcasts such as Kelly Corrigan Wonders, Armchair Expert, and We Can Do Hard Things.

Serving executive, C-suite, and breadwinner women has been a significant driver of growth for Hemington and a source of personal fulfillment for Dawson—and she’s committed to instilling her values to the wealth management arena and practices. “I’ve always loved numbers but needed to be helping people too,” she says. “I’ll forever be grateful for my introduction to the industry and being able to join forces with such a fearless and visionary leader as Eileen.”

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