The science of security — with Bronwyn Martin

Ever since she was a little girl in Australia, Bronwyn Martin knew she loved science and wanted to make it her life’s work. But she wasn’t interested in becoming a physician or a nurse — so she turned her sights to research.

Martin is CEO of Martin’s Consulting Group, a financial advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services with offices in Kennett Square, Pa., and Havre de Grace, Md. But before entering the financial services field, she spent a number of years as a biochemist and researcher.

Martin’s family moved from Australia to the U.S. when she was a teenager so her father could study at a university. Life in the U.S. wasn’t easy for a teen from overseas. 

“I was beaten up a few times because I have an accent,” she recalled. “It was just the four of us who came over to the U.S. — my parents, my brother and I. Life as a teenager was hell. We had no friends or family when we came over here. It was definitely a culture shock.”

After high school, Martin earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s degree in biochemistry from Boston University. She went on to receive a doctorate in biochemistry from Boston University School of Medicine. She did postdoctoral research at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the National Institute of Mental Health.

The subjects of her research included the effects of silica on the lungs of coal miners, how the beta amyloid protein is cut out of the precursor protein and the effects of Prozac on cellular metabolism.

But Martin said she was burned out after years of scientific research and needed a change.

“It can be hard to find grant money to fund your research, let alone pay your rent,” she said. “I needed to make a change.”

She had considered getting into the business side of science, hoping to work on mergers and acquisitions of biotechnology companies, but that didn’t work out. “I thought, ‘I have all these school loans I need to pay off. Maybe I should figure out how to better handle my money.’ Even though I had full scholarships for all my degrees in science, I still had to take out loans for a living. When you’re doing PhD work, it’s 24/7, and there’s really no time to work at a job.”

Getting the call

Martin began working on an MBA and eventually received a call from American Express in 2000 inviting her to work with them. She began her advisory career with American Express, and when the company spun off its financial advisory business in 2005, becoming Ameriprise Financial, she became an independent advisory with Ameriprise.

In her practice, Martin serves a clientele she describes as “the millionaires next door.”

“They are blue-collar and middle-income families and their children, people who are putting away money and planning for the future.”

“Most of my clients started to save before I ever met with them,” she continued. “But then when we meet, we talk about their goals. And we frame their goals in terms of how long they think they will take to achieve those goals and what they think it will cost. Then I add in the inflation factor and where they are currently in reaching that goal.

“We discuss a lot of long-term stuff. People forget that financial planning also includes having a cash reserve for paying for emergencies or making sure they have enough life insurance. I also make sure they have disability insurance. I need to remind people that their best asset is their ability to get up and go to work every day. So we need to protect against the risk of being out of work for an extended period of time due to illness.”

An analytical mind

Martin said her science background is an asset to her financial services career, as it makes her more analytical and inspires her to ask clients more in-depth questions. 

Her future plans for her practice include bringing another associate on board and setting them up in an office in New York state, which would expand Martin’s advisory practice to three states.

“2024 was my best year ever, and my practice has been going upward ever since I started,” she said. “I was recognized for being a top producer my first year in business and have been a Million Dollar Round Table Top of the Table member the past five years.”

In addition to her plans to expand her practice, Martin will devote 2025 to serving as president of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors-Pennsylvania. She took office in January. 

She said she was attracted to NAIFA membership “because I have a passion for advocacy.”

“I go to Harrisburg and I go to Washington every year to talk to legislators as someone who not only represents our industry but as someone who chose to become an American citizen,” she said. “Talking to our elected representatives makes a difference, and I don’t think a lot of Americans appreciate that.”

During her year as NAIFA-Pennsylvania president, Martin said she wants to hold more continuing education programs and more legislative events. She also wants to encourage more members to attend the association’s political advocacy events in Harrisburg and Washington. 

“I want to have more people be on the Hill, because that’s what I’m passionate about. And I think if other people experience that, then they’ll be there every year. So we might want to provide some incentives to some of the new members or new younger members, to maybe pay for their hotel or train costs down to D.C. or something like that. Because I think once you do it, you think, ‘Wow, that was amazing!’”

Scuba diving and soccer

Outside of work, Martin is passionate about scuba diving, fundraising for the Alzheimer’s Association and Manchester United Soccer.

She has gone on dives to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, to Chuuk Lagoon and Palau in the Pacific Ocean, and to the Cayman Islands, to name a few places. “I like to live aboard yachts in the areas that not many divers go to, to go out there and stay out there,” she said.

Her interest in fundraising for the Alzheimer’s Association stems from her days as a researcher, when the association funded some of her scientific work. She is part of a team called Run to Remember that participates in the Philadelphia Marathon each year.

As for Manchester United, Martin is such a fan that she actually owns a piece of the team. 

“I literally own a piece of the franchise because it’s the only publicly traded sports team in the world. I bought it when it was an IPO, which is not advice I give to my clients. I never tell clients to buy an IPO, but I bought this. I’ve been an owner for more than 10 years now.”

Martin’s advice to women who want to succeed in financial services can be summed up in one word — “perseverance.”

“I came up with a quote for myself many years ago: ‘Successful people get things done. Others make excuses.’ Sometimes I remind myself that you’re only going to be successful because you get it done.”

Susan Rupe is managing editor for InsuranceNewsNet. She formerly served as communications director for an insurance agents' association and was an award-winning newspaper reporter and editor. Contact her at [email protected].