When society thinks of financial advisers it generally thinks of a large glass room overlooking Wall Street with a table filled of middle-aged men in dark suits. However, we at Ladies DC know that society's picture is not necessarily reflective of what's really going on in the world of money and business. Women are beginning to take the financial field by storm, starting with Alana Rudkovsky.

Before joining First Command Financial Services in 2010, Alana graduated from Virginia Tech’s Certified Financial Planning Program with a Bachelor of Science in Finance.  She holds series 6, 63 and 65 securities licenses in addition to state, life and health insurance licenses. “The financial world is actively seeking to hire more women,” Rudkovsky said, “[Women] are more empathetic, better listeners, and less likely to talk down to a client compared to our male counterparts.” At First Command Alana recommends carefully selected investment products that support clients’ goals for retirement planning, education funding, asset management and more.   She helps clients develop cost-effective insurance strategies to manage risks in order to protect their financial well-being.

A member of Ladies DC, Alana was recently featured as a distinguished speaker on our Financial Panel last month, sharing money management insight to help other members become financially independent, well-informed women. Alana continues to work with Ladies America Founder, Lindsey Mask, to educate women and empower them to take charge of their financial future.

Not only does Alana understand the ABCs of financial planning concepts, she also has exceptional wit and humor to go with. So much so, that you'll catch her under the spotlight with a mic in hand at the DV Improv. “Being on stage and trying to be funny is terrifying... [But] I believe that anytime you find something that forces you to break out of your comfort zone you become better for it.”

No question Alana is spot on.  There is nothing more intimidating than stepping out of your comfort zone; to be the woman who overcomes a client's skepticism, who entertains a room full of strangers, and who has the courage to believe in her own unique abilities.

Has this inspired you to seek some financial assistance?  Fabulous! Read more about Alana or click in to find a First Command Financial Advisor near you!

Women Helping Men.  This is Jamecia Muckelvene's motto.  In January 2010 Jamecia received devastating news so many of us hope we never have to hear:  Her father had cancer.  After months of testing it was later discovered that Jamecia's father, Rudy, was diagnosed with prostate cancer.  And not just any kind, but prostate cancer in its most malignant form: Sarcomatoid Carcinoma.

Immediately Jamecia got to work.  In the Fall of 2010 she began working with her father and her mother, Pearline, to establish a non-profit would come to be called Warriors fighting for HIS cure (WF4HC) designed to help families dealing with unimaginable medical bills, difficulties finding specialty doctors, and frustration obtaining research on prostate cancer.  All of the seemingly insurmountable challenges the Muckelvene family was dealing with.

On December 17, 2010 Warriors Fighting for HIS Cure was incorporated by Rudy.  Three days later he lost his battle to cancer. 

As CEO of WF4HC, Jamecia has provided strategic leadership within the areas of publishing, business and web development, marketing, sponsorships, and fundraising. She is also responsible for developing projects to bring prostate cancer awareness to families and men and has attended and spoken at several concerts, conferences, and events.  Most recently, Jamecia and WF4HC paired with Washington Redskin's player, Brandon Banks, to launch an ad campaign which you can view here and here.

WF4HC’s big goal in 2012 is to get the White House lit up BLUE for Prostate Cancer Awareness month in September. The month will also include a “Bring your Bikes to DC” event and a benefit concert in Rudy’s name.  WF4HC will also be a presence at a variety of health fairs across the metro DC area this coming spring.

Prostate cancer is second only to skin cancer as the most common type of cancer to affect men in the United States; 1 in 6 will be diagnosed this year.  WF4HC encourages you to learn more about the disease and for us ladies—to make sure the men in our lives are getting checked!

Find out how you can be a Warrior by e-mailing warriors@warriorsfightingforhiscure.org. Learn more at http://www.warriorsfightingforhiscure.com/ 

The blog is A Lacey Perspective.  The goal? To make DC a more fashionable place.  The woman behind it all is Lacey Maffettone.  Taking a line out of Lacey's playbook: “If this blog is not on your must-read list, go ahead and add it to your Google Reader now… All set? Good.” Now the fun can begin.

A Lacey Perspective was created in June 2010. She or the world of Beltway fashion bloggers could never have predicted what happened in the months to follow.  After building her personal Google Reader with local “Fashingtonians”, Lacey reached out to the author of So Much to Smile About, Liz Fassbender. “Liz seemed to really have her finger on the pulse of online fashion media in DC,” Maffettone said, “So I messaged her to ask if she was aware of a fashion blogger listserv.” The response? No...But let's do it! One Google Group and a handful of blogger friends later Capital Area Fashion and Beauty Bloggers (CapFABB) was born.

What began as a dialogue for members to share their creative thoughts turned into a full-blown 400 plus member network...In just one year!  All the members strive to put emphasis on local DC boutiques, spas and venues; not only so that the DC love will spread to readers, but to show Washington DC that fashion and style is out there—and it's being provided by local businesses.  It's also important to note that these hundreds of bloggers are not (totally) spending their days Carrie Bradshaw style.  They have full-time jobs and professional lives like all of us in this crazy city.  From Capitol Hill to K Street, CapFABB members are spending their energies building exciting, successful careers.

CapFABB has also become a place for bloggers not only to connect but also to collaborate with. Business ventures have been created, partnerships have formed among stylists, and photographers have paired with their favorite bloggers.  From the New York Times to the Washingtonian, Lacey and CapFABB are certainly making their mark as influential voices in the DC area, inspiring all of us to get in touch with our inner fashionista.

It's amazing what just two women, a tweet, and some serious initiative can accomplish. We're proud to call Lacey a Ladies DC member and are thrilled about the opportunities CapFABB will continue to open for its bloggers.  After everything that these ladies have accomplished in 2011, it seems hard to believe 2012 will hold any boundaries.

Follow CapFABB on Twitter and Facebook

Check out A Lacey Perspective on Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr

Love means a lot of things for a lot of different people. And one day every year we all come together to celebrate it in our own ways. Whether it's a romantic evening with your special someone or a “Mix me a Double, I'm Single” party with girlfriends, make sure that tonight you take time to appreciate and love the most important person out there. YOU.

Driven, professional women are always pegged as never putting themselves first. Not self-promoting enough, not giving themselves enough credit. Not appreciating everything they have to offer in a competitive, polarizing world like Washington, DC. I guarantee any woman reading this has gone through similar emotions post-real world entry. And yes, we need to come together and support one another, be women who help women, but before any of that can happen we must learn to love ourselves first.

To provide a little inspiration and assistance, here are a few things you can do to treat yourself this Valentine’s Day:

• Get your health and spa on, who doesn’t love a good massage!?
• Try out that new yoga class down the street, or go on that run you’ve been postponing…It’s always worth it in the end!
• Enjoy some champagne and spirits with friends
• Start a journal and write write write!  Get it all down and out of your system.  Maybe jump on the Ladies DC train and start a blog?  
• Call your parents and friends you miss back home, nothing replaces the feeling of connectivity more than talking with family
• Sport the bright red lips. You know you want to. 
• Wear a green mask—in front of everyone if you want
• Get dirty…with paint! Express yourself with the arts.  Whether it’s a song or a canvas—create!
• Volunteer.  There are fewer things in this world that will make you feel better.  There’s nothing like the selfish goodness that comes from helping others.
• Just lay!  Do nothing and do it for yourself 

So, as you explore the city tonight or choose to stay in, remember that you are your own woman of the week. Have a pink specialty cocktail or a chocolate truffle (or 1 or 2 or 3) and love on the goals you've reached, boundaries you pushed and professional advancements you continue to make. After all, you deserve it.

Happy Valentine's Day, Ladies DC!