Christy Rutherford, a former U.S. Coast Guard Commander, has dedicated over a decade to a significant goal: creating a clear, successful pathway for high-ranking military officers to transition into well-paid and impactful civilian positions.
Her first attempt ten years ago, a conference aimed at helping veterans navigate the civilian job market, failed. However, with the natural resolve of an officer, Rutherford didn’t see this failure as an end but as an opportunity for strategic reflection.
This early setback spurred her to launch three more businesses. Each one is focused on solving the core challenge of linking a veteran’s years of leadership experience with their ability to find financially rewarding and meaningful employment after leaving the military.
The years that followed were marked by trials, reinvention, and immense perseverance.
Reflecting on that period, Rutherford told Black Business, “Over the past 10 years, I’ve failed again and again and again. How long do you have?”
Yet, these failures were not defeats; they were instrumental lessons that progressively sharpened his vision.
Rutherford’s consistent, step-by-step effort aligned with the famous definition of success by Earl Nightingale: “Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal.”
This year, that enduring vision has been realized. Rutherford has teamed up with Jacqueline “JaQ” Alexander (Campbell), a 30-year veteran of the financial industry, to launch the Wealth Management Accelerator (WMA).
The WMA is a 90-day program designed to help veterans and mid-career professionals transition into wealth management, one of America’s fastest-growing sectors.
Campbell, who is widely respected for her expertise in investment strategy, wealth transfer, and creating multi-generational financial legacies, has directly observed the industry’s evolution. She characterizes veterans as “built-in trusted advisors.”
“Code of conduct, loyalty, and dependability; these are exactly the qualities wealthy families want in a financial advisor,” Campbell explains.
“Veterans are one of the most underutilized resources in this country,” Rutherford stated. “They know how to lead. They know how to follow. They know how to solve problems under pressure. Those qualities translate directly into finance.”
Rutherford and Campbell have partnered to build a strong, all-encompassing program for veterans.
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This system includes preparation for Series 65 licensing, executive-level leadership and mindset development, coaching on applying military skills to civilian careers, foundational knowledge and practical insights into the wealth industry, and entry into a growing community of financial sector leaders.
Most importantly, veterans with no financial experience are welcome to participate.
Veterans are already successful in demanding jobs because they have key skills like discipline, focus, resilience, honesty, and strong leadership experience gained in tough situations. Veterans today are at a critical crossroads, facing both significant challenges and major opportunities.
While sectors such as technology, consulting, government contracting, and middle management are experiencing instability due to widespread layoffs and AI automation, the field of wealth management is undergoing a massive boom.
The financial advisory industry is facing a massive talent shortage, driven by two key factors. First, demand for financial advice is surging due to the largest U.S. intergenerational wealth transfer, with over $124 trillion changing hands. Second, nearly 100,000 advisors are expected to retire in the next ten years. As a result, financial firms are locked in an intense and competitive race to recruit qualified and trustworthy advisors.
