Experience and dedication are invaluable in finance, and Ethel J Davis embodies these qualities with unwavering commitment. With an impressive 35-year track record at renowned firms, including American Century, Fidelity Investments, Charles Schwab, and Paragon Capital Management LLC, Ethel stands as a financial maven who has consistently delivered excellence, genuinely cares about each client, and makes it her mission to go above and beyond reasonable expectations.

What sets Ethel apart isn’t just her impressive titles but her heart, passion, and dedication. She doesn’t view her work as mere numbers; instead, she leverages her extensive investment experience to connect with her clients on a deeper level. She understands their unique goals, objectives, time horizons, and their emotional states of mind. Ethel is a combination of a wealth advisor, a spiritual and empowerment coach, and a trusted professional who is not judgmental and has a special love for people. Her approach goes beyond financial advice; it’s about extracting their stories, filtering information, and crafting customized solutions that nurture their dreams and honor their heritage.

Ethel J Davis journey in the financial industry was marked by pivotal moments and mentors who shaped her path. Mr. James Stowers, Sr., of Twentieth Century Investors (American Century), played a crucial role in giving her a “big” break. His accessibility and willingness to engage with employees left a lasting impression. Ethel wasn’t just content with her role; she sought knowledge, questioned the lack of diversity in wealth management, and sought advice to impact the industry significantly. Ms. Theresa Bishop, Vice President and Branch Manager of Fidelity Investments, was the professional who gave Ethel her next break in the investment arena. She afforded Ethel many opportunities, from formal training sessions at Fidelity’s corporate headquarters in Boston.

A lunch meeting with a female executive changed Ethel’s life forever by a lesson she learned in leadership. On a scorching summer day, dressed in high heels, the executive’s brisk walk felt like a Nascar Daytona 500 race to Ethel. For every step she took, Ethel had to take two. Even in high heels on a scorching summer day, the executive’s brisk pace tested Ethel’s temperament. Ethel rose to the challenge, pushing herself beyond her comfort level. Ethel pushed past her limitations and beat the woman to the restaurant door to show her there were no limitations, for she was built Ford tough. The tenured executive asked, “Ethel, did you think I was walking fast?” Ethel wanted to answer with a “hell, yes.” The executive stated, “I knew if you walked behind me, then you were a follower. If you remained at my side, my vision would be the only one you would see. However, if you passed me at my brisk pace, you had your vision.”

They have provided life lessons, shared personal and professional insights, and are always available to support her through the entrepreneurial maze. As an African-American woman, Ethel is grateful and humbled by the number of predecessors who have allowed her to step up on their backs and forge forward. She reminisced on times when women and minorities could not even vote, have the opportunity to attend college or pursue self-employment as a viable option to assist with wealth-building solutions.

Ethel J Davis dedication to customer service and productivity has earned her accolades and recognition from industry luminaries such as Mr. James Stowers, Mr. Ned Johnson III, and Mr. Charles R. Schwab. These congratulatory letters adorn her “wall of fame” as a constant reminder of her accomplishments and impact in her field.

In a male-dominated industry, Ethel’s journey has been marked by resilience, grit, and a commitment to walking straight and using her voice regardless of gender. She aspires to be a game-changer, a natural-born leader who paves the way for others. After the mentors and femtors have provided life lessons, shared their personal and professional insights, and are always available to support her in becoming the best version of me. She credits Michael Dayton, Patrick T. Callaway, Cleo Brager, and Karen Herman. They have provided life lessons, shared their personal and professional insights, and are always available to support her through becoming an entrepreneur.

Journey from Journalism to Finance

Ethel J Davis journey towards entrepreneurship and birthing VZD Capital Management, LLC took root at an early age when she started writing and reveling in storytelling. From a young age, she aspired to be an African-American version of the renowned journalist Barbara Walters. Her parents, who adopted her when she was just five days old, supported her creative pursuits, allowing her to explore her talents and dreams.

Ethel educational journey took her from Allen County Community College, the University of Kansas, National University, and Webster University. She received a Lucille Bluford scholarship to attend KU and pursue a degree in Journalism. Her writing skills led her to work in the field, including writing obituaries. However, her career path eventually turned toward the world of investments.

As a bounce-back professional, Ethel believes her “setbacks are setups, her tests become her testimonials, and her mess becomes her message. While she carried that philosophy in her heart, the most challenging moment, marked by a “business divorce,” prompted Ethel to take a leap of faith and establish VZD Capital Management, LLC in 2012.  While many people had encouraged her entrepreneurial spirit along her corporate journey, the fear of letting go of a stable income held her back. As a single woman with no other source of income, she initially allowed fear to hinder her dreams of becoming a purpose-driven entrepreneur.

This pivotal moment in Ethel’s life marked the beginning of her journey as the founder of VZD Capital Management, LLC, where she would make a significant impact by prioritizing the financial well-being of her clients and communities. She swore to God, the Regulatory Commissioners, her clients and supporters, and most importantly to herself to remain humble and give grace, mercy, and forgiveness to those who might not have the same beliefs.

Supporting Underserved Communities Through Finance

VZD Capital Management, LLC, located in Lenexa, KS, is a Registered Investment Advisory firm with a unique and inspiring origin story. Ethel founded the company after facing a professional setback that led her to question her career and purpose. With encouragement from her immediate tribe, plus the Kansas City Business Journal of Women Who Mean Business, she took the bold step of starting her own business despite the initial nervousness.  She firmly believes fear should not deter anyone from pursuing her best life. She realized that fear was a hustler attempting to rob her of her joy, passion, and purpose-driven career.

In the finance and investment industry, Ethel observed a lack of representation of women, minorities, and many other underserved communities. This observation motivated her to create a firm where underserved communities would feel welcome and comfortable seeking financial advice from VZD Capital Management, LLC. She understands that knowledge is power but emphasizes that its true potential is unlocked when applied to one’s unique situation.

VZD Capital Management, LLC offers various services, including fee-based, discretionary investment anagement, executive coaching, customized seminars and workshops, and empowerment speaking and consulting. Ethel’s journey in establishing the firm was not without its challenges, which she compares to the child birthing process.

Ethel J Davis expresses deep humility and gratitude for the clients who chose to work with her again, highlighting investors’ trust and confidence in their advisors, regardless of their account balances. She firmly believes such trust should never be taken for granted, abused, or overlooked.

Personalized Approach to Fee-Based, Customized Investment Management

Every client holds immense value for Ethel and her team at VZD Capital Management, LLC. She is dedicated to exceeding reasonable expectations and emphasizes a personalized approach to financial planning. While the firm requires a minimum investment of $250,000, they take the time to understand each client’s unique economic history, current situation, and future goals.

Ethel draws a clear distinction from her previous experiences at other firms where the focus was primarily on the amount of money under management. At VZD Capital Management, LLC, they genuinely care about their clients, going the extra mile with handwritten birthday cards, visits during illness, and participation in family celebrations and funerals.  Ethel is committed to maintaining a personalized, client-centric approach and refuses to grow to a size where clients become mere numbers.  She wants to keep the client-to-portfolio manager ratio low so clients can directly access the decision-maker. Due to her broad base experience, she has worked with well-respected, elite portfolio managers who hire business development professionals to communicate with clients versus those who make the day-to-day decisions regarding monitoring and rebalancing their portfolios.

One of the firm’s standout features is the customization of portfolios. Rather than offering predetermined solutions or model portfolios, VZD Capital Management, LLC customizes portfolios to each client’s standard of living, longevity based on their family’s history, emotional and economic risk level, and understanding of how behavioral finance impacts financial well-being and overall health. Ethel often calls clients based on volatility factors, mental and emotional stress, and overall well-being to ensure they know she is thinking about them more deeply.

Self-Worth versus Net Worth – Compensation

Ethel is also passionate about her compensation structure, aligning the firm’s success with the client’s. VZD is a fiduciary firm where clients come first versus the firm’s compensation composite. Unlike some Registered Investment Advisors who sell commissioned-based products, utilize third-party money managers, or recommend annuities for every client regardless of their tax implications. VZD believes in earning the appropriate compensation by doing what suits the client. VZD Capital Management, LLC operates on a high standard of transparency, ethics, and moral compass to ensure the company’s operation protects the client’s privacy and minimizes cyber security risks.

Ethel’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is evident through the Executive Mentoring program she founded.  This program provides opportunities for minority individuals to explore finance and gain exposure to the profession. Ethel recognizes the lack of diversity in the investment industry and believes in reaching back to offer opportunities to underserved communities. The first candidate was Nikisha L. Johnson, who remained active in the program for over five years. Presently, Nikisha holds the title of Senior Vice President, overseeing the execution and implementation of new processes and systems. Since the exception date, Ethel recently brought Nathan Salary, the second candidate, into the mentoring program. Nathan brings extensive knowledge to the firm’s digital space and voice-over work for the firm. He will assist the team with transforming mindsets that keep consumers hostage to paychecks, unfilling jobs, and negative beliefs passed down from generation to generation. The team will develop programs to remove doubt and change the trajectory of a scarcity mindset to a wealthy mindset.

Finding interested individuals for the Executive Mentoring Program has been challenging due to the dedication, commitment, and drive it takes to succeed. Ethel remains optimistic that the program will continue to evolve and grow by implementing a formal recruitment component.  The bottom line is to achieve a high level of diversity and inclusion in the financial arena – one person at a time. Ethel is passionate about helping individuals. Extract their doubts, overcome fear, remove self-doubt, and step unapologetically into their purpose without any chains holding them back.

Ethel views her employees as partners, values their dedication, and considers them family members. Every partner is looked upon as an entrepreneur, too, for she wants them to view VZD Capital Management, LLC as their firm.

She highlights the personal touches that differentiate her firm from the larger ones, such as visiting clients in the hospital, offering prayers if requested, and embracing difference with no judgment.

Dedication to Clients

Ethel expresses her sincere gratitude for the recognition as a 5-Star Wealth Manager by the Five Star Professional. She emphasizes that this award is not taken lightly, as it requires nomination by an external source. It is bestowed upon candidates who meet rigorous criteria, allowing them to join an elite group of advisors.

Ethel’s success is rooted in her authenticity and unwavering commitment to serving others.  Her small, minority-owned, and woman-owned Registered Investment Advisory firm is dedicated to serving every client, regardless of their account balances. She provides clients professional access to educational resources and makes herself readily available.  Ethel views her clients as partners and values their dedication, considering them extended family members.