Legna Gonzalez, Power Financial Credit Union

Legna Gonzalez’ career in finance has brought her closer to the consumer with each new job. Recently, she was named Power Financial Credit Union’s managing director of investments, and was appointed program manager of CUSO Financial Services L.P., an entity owned by Power Financial Credit Union that provides investment services to its members. She works from the credit union’s Pembroke Pines office.

In her dual role, she brings a new vision, experience and energy to the job, she says. As a manager she helps develop a dynamic and successful investment program to serve members and, as a financial representative, helps members reach their financial objectives.

Resume

Experience: DLJ/Credit Suisse First Boston as a sales assistant for a team of brokers; vice president at hedge fund, Fairfield Greenwich Group; HSBC Securities, to work with the investment strategy group.

Education: Florida International University: B.A. in Economics; Master of Science in Finance.

On the job strategies

Goals: Create a blueprint for the investment program at Power Financial Credit Union and make it as successful as the best programs in our tier; promote a team environment to support our One Team, One Goal culture; and a personal goal — to improve front talk with prospective clients.

Industry wisdom: If ever confronted with a question you don’t know the answer to, don’t be afraid to say you will research it and get back to him/her later.

Professional development

Grow: I started in a brokerage firm as an assistant to a team of brokers, then transitioned to a hedge fund, a private bank and now a credit union. In each of my previous experiences my sense of helping individuals to reach their financial goals was enhanced and I realized along the way that a sector of the population (lower high net worth than that of a typical client of a brokerage/private bank) was underserved.

Advice to young professionals: Take initiative, be proactive; there’s no such thing as a free lunch.

LEGNA GONZALEZ