When you talk with Farah Alam, Plancorp's Investment Research Analyst, the first thing you notice is her curiosity. It’s the thread running through every chapter of her story—from her early years in India surrounded by science, to discovering a career in finance almost by accident, to now helping build portfolios designed to empower clients to live their best lives.
Her path into finance wasn’t linear. In fact, she laughs a little when she reflects on it: “I was absolutely certain I was going to be a doctor.”
Growing up with a scientist father and a family deeply engaged in global issues, she was immersed early in big ideas, problem‑solving, and the joy of learning.
But one high school biology lab changed everything. As a lifelong vegetarian with a deep love for animals, dissection was a line she couldn’t cross. She walked out of the lab that day and chose a new path—one that eventually led her through chemistry, mathematics, research projects, and ultimately to a young investment banking consulting firm.
It was there, surrounded by new problems to solve and global conversations to participate in, that Farah realized something important: she loved this work. And she was good at it.
A Scientist at Heart, a Problem Solver by Nature
Farah didn’t enter finance with the typical toolkit. Her background was in chemistry and research, not balance sheets and valuation models. But what she did have—rigor, focus, and an instinct for asking the right questions—quickly set her apart.
“I loved doing new things every day,” she says. “The work was intellectually rewarding, but also meaningful. We were helping real businesses raise real capital. That stayed with me.”
That sense of purpose deepened when she moved to the U.S. for business school at Washington University in St. Louis, where she threw herself into the world of quantitative analysis, portfolio construction, and the energy infrastructure space, teams she still regards highly today.
To Farah, great work has always meant working alongside great people. That’s ultimately what brought her to Plancorp.
“When I changed jobs, culture was the most important thing to me,” she says. “I can find intellectually stimulating work in a lot of places. But I wanted a team I genuinely liked, and people who cared about helping clients live their best lives.”
Explaining Finance in Human Terms
When friends ask what she does, Farah keeps it simple: “We’re the catalysts,” she says. “We help people put the pieces of their financial puzzle together so they can live the life they want.”
Her day‑to‑day is rooted in research and portfolio construction, but what energizes her most is the personalization of Plancorp’s work.
“People have emotions around their money,” she says. “Their goals change as their lives change. Helping them build portfolios they can stick with—that’s the part I love.”
Being the Only Woman in the Room
Farah’s entry into finance was not just a career pivot. It was an immersion into a space where she often stood alone.
“I’ve been an outlier in a lot of situations,” she reflects. “Coming to a new country, being introverted, being a woman in finance—it wasn’t easy.”
Early in her career, she frequently found herself interviewing C-suite executives— “80% of the time it’s all men”—as the lone female analyst in the room. While these rooms were intimidating to begin with, she learned quickly that preparation could be its own kind of confidence.
“Research helped me build connection,” she says. “Understanding who I was speaking to, what they cared about, where they came from—that made the room feel less intimidating.”
Still, confidence wasn’t instantaneous. It grew slowly, built on years of solving problems, implementing processes, taking ownership of complex projects, and being trusted with increasingly challenging work.
A turning point came when a leader at a previous firm recognized her persistence.
“He never put me in a box,” she says. “He saw what I was capable of, and he pushed me to lead. That made a huge difference.”
It took four or five years, she says, before she felt secure enough to ask for her first promotion.
“Confidence builds through doing. Through pushing yourself. Through seeing that you can do it.”
Advice for Women Who Feel Intimidated by Money
For women who feel unsure about investing, Farah says “personal finance is a life skill. It’s like learning to drive. You don’t have to love it, but you do have to learn it.”
Her practical advice?
- Start small—workshops, short courses, even YouTube.
- Learn enough to ask good questions.
- Build comfort through repetition.
- And if you choose to outsource, that’s great—as long as you understand the basics first.
Confidence, she says, is often a bigger barrier than knowledge, and with InspireHer, we couldn’t agree more. We’ve seen first-hand that the gender gap in finance is about confidence, not skills.
“If you didn’t see your mother handling finances, you might not feel like it’s in your wheelhouse. But it absolutely is. The world has changed. This is a rite‑of‑passage skill.”
Her approach with her own daughter mirrored this belief: jars labeled “spend,” “save,” and “donate,” with earned money to distribute each month is an exercise in intentionality with money that she believes must start early.
The Money Lesson She Wishes Women Heard Sooner
Farah’s answer is simple: Know where your money is going.
“Tracking your spending, seeing it over a month or a year, comparing it to your goals—it’s foundational,” she says. “Small habits, done consistently, build financial confidence.”
She smiles when she describes the discipline she built for herself as a student: treating a credit card like a debit card, paying off student loans within five years, refusing to buy a home without a 20% down payment saved. “Intentionality” appears again and again in her vocabulary.
Why Stories Like Farah’s Fuel InspireHer
InspireHer exists to help women gain the clarity, confidence, and community they need to make empowered financial decisions. Farah’s story embodies all three.
Her journey shows that confidence isn’t innate—it’s built. That finance isn’t reserved for a certain type of person. It’s a life skill anyone can learn. And that women’s voices, perspectives, and lived experiences enrich the financial world immeasurably.
Most importantly, Farah reminds us that belonging doesn’t come from fitting a mold. It comes from showing up, staying curious, and trusting that you are capable of more than you realize.
Ready to join the InspireHer movement and elevate your financial confidence. Subscribe now for women-led financial content, insights, and information about our events!
Our team is thrilled to host our first InspireHer event of 2026 on February 26 at the Plancorp headquarters. Join Farah and the other women of Plancorp for a progressive dinner and impactful teaching on investing – both financially and in yourself. RSVP here.
