Women in Finance – series of blogs, episode 12

Rebecca Eastwood, Healthcare Adviser at Secondsight

In this latest instalment of Women in Finance, we had the privilege of speaking with Rebecca Eastwood, a Healthcare Adviser at Secondsight, the Employee Benefits division of Foster Denovo. In this twelfth episode, Rebecca shares her journey at Foster Denovo, from her early days to current role, offering valuable advice to anyone looking to start or grow their career within the industry.

Rebecca offers an insightful look into the beginnings of her career and her role at Foster Denovo.

“I began in the financial industry somewhat by chance. After taking three sciences at A-Level, my original goal was to study Pharmacy. However, when I didn’t achieve the necessary grades, I decided to enter the workforce. My first job was as a Business Administrator at Life Office, where I quickly developed into the position of Office Manager. After eleven years, I was made redundant and subsequently joined a financial services company in London.

A few years later, after getting married and starting a family, I decided to move closer to home in Tunbridge Wells. I worked for a couple of financial advisers there, but when my son started secondary school, I was ready to return to London.

That’s when I joined Foster Denovo as a Personal Assistant and Practice Manager for one of the top advisers. My role involved supporting the adviser and managing a team of support staff. Whilst I enjoyed this, an opportunity within the company arose to support a Private Medical Specialist. It was this role that, with the support of our executive team, lead to my transition into the Healthcare team at Secondsight.

In my new role, I pursued and completed the necessary exams to become a Healthcare Adviser. I had already obtained several insurance qualifications from previous employment, and with Foster Denovo’s support, I completed the final steps to be signed off as an adviser.

As a Healthcare Adviser, I engage with clients daily, whether in person, over Teams, or by phone. My clients range from small to medium-sized enterprises through to individual clients. I also handle renewals, market reviews, and new arrangements for corporate clients too. Working with both corporations and individuals often leads to new business opportunities through referrals.

What I love about my job is the opportunity to meet clients, understand their needs, and help them achieve their goals.

Rebecca shares her advice on entering the industry and her thoughts on the positive changes for women in finance:

“I have worked in the finance industry for many years, and I believe it’s an excellent field for anyone to enter. It’s a career where your success is directly proportional to the effort you put in. As a single parent, it’s particularly rewarding to know that my career has allowed us to live comfortably.

My son is currently studying for his exams to become a Financial Adviser. Initially, he was uncertain about pursuing this career, but after researching the industry, he truly understood its potential and opportunities.”

“I do believe there is a positive change happening within the industry. I have been actively involved with the Insurance Institute Council in Tunbridge Wells, where we always encourage people to enter the industry. Currently, it seems quite balanced in terms of gender, with a notable presence of both young men and women. In fact, on our Council, we’ve recently welcomed three new members, and the majority are women.

Foster Denovo is exceptional at promoting women within the finance industry. Female advisers in our company are very supportive of each other and often collaborate to grow their businesses. One of the standout aspects of our company is having a female COO, which is quite rare in this industry and I feels sets a significant example.

Whilst there is always improvements which can be made, I do believe the industry has evolved positively for women.