Episode 266: Where Competition Meets EQ: Jennifer des Groseilliers, Partner and Chief Experience at WestPoint Financial Group

As a former Division 1 basketball captain, Jennifer learned leadership and resilience, skills she took with her as she pursued her law degree and eventually, her career in financial planning. Starting out as an advisor to others, Jen eventually formed, ran and sold her very successful practice. She is now the Chief Experience Officer and Partner at WestPoint Financial group, one of the largest advisory firms in the midwest. Jennifer loves to solve problems and she loves getting to know the people she works with, mostly so that she can help them succeed. In this podcast, Jennifer emphasizes the importance of emotional intelligence and managing your emotions at work. She talks about how vital patience and resilience are to being a good employee. But Jennifer’s ultimate superpower? Her competitive nature. She says her athletic background has helped her deal with the complexity of her career. On a personal note, Jennifer has had challenges with her health that led her to making self-care a priority. She balances pushing herself and meeting her goals with getting plenty of sleep and exercise. She doesn’t really believe in work/life balance but rather finding a perfect imbalance. This podcast is a wealth of insight and inspiration we’ve just touched on here, so join us as Jennifer shares her wisdom with us in this podcast. Highlights: [03:35] Jennifer’s professional timeline [07:28] What she’s learned at work to be a better mom [08:24] Lessons learned [11:51] What to do when you get knocked down [13:27] Her super power: competitiveness [15:19] Division 1 background in basketball [18:18] Great advice about being an introvert [19:50] Importance of community [22:31] The key to gaining clarity about career [24:23] Being goal oriented [26:15] What she wants her kids to know [28:53] Jennifer’s daily habits [30:11] Taking risks [31:37] Forming a personal cabinet [33:46] Modern communication and relationships [35:50] Overcoming fears and limiting beliefs [38:42] A typical day in Jennifer’s life [41:51] Finding mentors and sponsors [45:24] Looking back and moving forward [48:04] Lightning Round Questions Quotes: “I always think, what else can we do better?” – Jennifer des Groseilliers “Community develops over time because you have common interests and common activities you want to do together.” – Jennifer des Groseilliers “I have discovered for myself there is no work-life balance. There’s just perfect imbalance at any given time.” – Jennifer des Groseilliers Lightning Round Questions: What book has greatly influenced you? - “Fast. Feast. Repeat.” by Gin Stephens What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying? - "Left foot, right foot, breathe, repeat." Pat Summitt What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself? - Competitive What is one change you've implemented that made your life better? - Intermittent fasting. What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage? - "No Roots" by Alice Merton About Jennifer des Groseilliers: Jennifer des Groseilliers has achieved many of her life goals, yet she has found her greatest success in helping others. A lawyer, award-winning financial service provider, wife, mother of three, and former Division 1 basketball captain, Jen is most proud of knowing that she has motivated and inspired others to succeed. After practicing law for three years, Jen was drawn to financial planning as a way to make a positive impact on people’s lives. In 2001, she joined Ameriprise and discovered that her legal training provided her with keen insights into financial markets, tax ramifications of financial decisions, and financial planning strategies. She quickly distinguished herself as a top financial advisor. The coaching and motivational skills she discovered as an athlete translated to business, and soon she was helping other advisors achieve similar success. Fast-forward to today, Jennifer is now a Partner at WestPoint Financial Group (WPFG). She leads the Investment Department, Compliance, Practice Development and Financial Planning. Jen is also the owner of Comprehensive Financial Concepts (CFC), which is a Property and Casualty specialty company located in the greater Chicagoland area. Her experience as CEO & General Agent of Mass Mutual Illinois Agency, helped propel her into her current role when three independent financial services firms operating as general agencies of MassMutual announced they merged to into WestPoint Financial Group. This created one of the largest insurance and wealth management firms in the Midwest. The firm’s strength and differentiator lie in the diverse backgrounds, experience and specializations of its 400+ financial service representatives and an unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional client service. Relentless in pursuing her vision of being an inspiring leader, Jen seeks those who share in her core values: integrity, intelligence, work ethic, and inclusivity. Her top priority is to foster an environment where her team have the support, guidance, and tools necessary to succeed. In doing so, she has built a culture that values diversity, excellence and collaboration. Jen’s capabilities as both a financial advisor and leader have won her the accolades of clients, company representatives, and industry experts. She is a cum laude graduate of the New England School of Law and received her Bachelor of Arts from State University of New York Buffalo. Jennifer also holds Series 7, 24, 66, 4 and 51 FINRA licenses. Jen and her spouse live in Glenview, Illinois with their three children. She enjoys hot yoga, biking, cooking and making memories with her family. Links: LinkedIn URL: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferadesgroseilliers/