Leading Through Service and Connection

Janelle Woods, CFP®, MBA, has built her NAPFA involvement around consistent service and collaboration. As chair of the Midwest Region Board, she supports regional leadership and works alongside fellow volunteers to keep members engaged and connected. Her role allows her to contribute to the organization while building relationships with planners across the region and learning from their shared experiences. 

One NAPFA project Janelle is especially proud of comes from her time as co-chair of the Women’s Initiative. During that period, she helped create a mentorship program that has now been in place for several years. “Creating an opportunity for women who are new to the profession to benefit from a one-on-one relationship with a seasoned female advisor has been incredibly satisfying,” she says. “It has been especially meaningful to see the program continue over time.”

A Path to Financial Planning

Janelle’s career in financial planning began unexpectedly. After graduating from college in 2002, she answered a newspaper ad for a paraplanner role. “I had always enjoyed math and had participated in my college investment club, so I felt confident I could do the job,” she recalls. “At the time, I had no idea how far this profession would take me or how much I would enjoy it.”

She first joined NAPFA in the mid-2000s but later stepped away due to a change in her firm’s fee status. Janelle rejoined around 2018 and quickly found renewed value in the community. “Having a network of incredible financial planners to lean on for complex client planning questions has been invaluable,” she says. “I also take advantage of as much continuing education as possible, as NAPFA’s offerings tend to be significantly more advanced than those of other organizations.”

Serving Clients with Discipline and Precision

At CooksonPeirce, where Janelle is regional managing director, the firm manages all client assets in-house using a proprietary investment selection methodology that predates the firm’s founding. “We offer customized portfolios of individual stocks and bonds,” she explains. “Our quantitative process is based on time-tested investing factors, including relative strength and momentum.”

Technology supports that work. “Holistiplan has been a game-changer when tax planning is involved,” Janelle notes. “I’ve also adopted Zoom’s AI meeting summary tool, which has saved me a great deal of time with meeting follow-up.”

Why Volunteering Matters 

For Janelle, volunteering has been central to her professional growth. “The best way to learn about an organization, get to know the people in it, and make a difference is to volunteer,” she shares. “I’ve learned so much and developed many professional relationships through my involvement.” 

Connect with Janelle on LinkedIn to learn more about her work, leadership, and involvement with the NAPFA community: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janelle-woods-cfp%C2%AE-mba-5484b016/