Member Spotlights: Celebrating 40 Years of Exceptional Advisors
Read this month’s Member Spotlight, as well as previous spotlights, and learn more about the community of success-minder advisors like you; committed to life-long learning, adherence to ethical standards, and the advancement of the financial advice industry.
This Month's 40th Anniversary Spotlight
Betsy Piper Bach CIMA®, JD, CFP, CTFA
President, ASAE Business Services
Member since 1989
What inspired you to join the Investments & Wealth Institute initially?:
As one of IMCA’s early members, I joined at a time when the investment consulting industry was still in its early stages. As a CFP who had recently taken on leadership of the investment consulting department at a regional brokerage firm, I was eager to build expertise quickly and connect with peers in the field. One of our brokers recommended joining IMCA, one of two organizations available, the other being the Institute for Certified Investment Management Consultants.
How has the Institute shaped your career over the years?
The knowledge I gained through the Institute’s programs, combined with insights from colleagues across the industry, proved instrumental in shaping my professional path. This foundation equipped me to serve high-net-worth individuals, families, and institutions, and ultimately guided my career toward leadership roles within trust companies, institutional retirement plans, and family offices.
As the Institute celebrates 40 years, what are your hopes for its future?
Much like the founders of IMCA anticipated the growing importance of investment consulting in serving clients, the Institute has continually evolved to meet the industry’s changing needs. From opening its doors to independent advisers and providing the education and sense of community they needed when wirehouses were the primary focus, to introducing the CPWA program as the profession required a broader range of skills, and later launching the RMA designation to address the increasing demand for retirement planning expertise—the Institute has consistently stayed ahead of the curve. My hope for the future is that we continue this tradition of foresight: anticipating and addressing educational needs before our clients even realize them.
What do you like to do for fun?
Bike the trails and countryside.
What is something not many people know about you?
I enjoy playing the piano.
Can you share one of your favorite memories from an Institute event or program?:
Oh my gosh, I have so many memories from the Institute's events, including speeches from Nobel laureates and leading economists, my fondest memory is a less formal moment. During a Spring conference, we cheered on Director Evelyn Brust—one of Sean Walter's predecessors—as she and other Executive Board members participated in a memorable 'rodeo' event riding horses inside the rodeo arena in front of all conference attendees. It was at that moment I realized that if I ever joined the board, some new ground rules might need to be established!
What is the best vacation you've taken?
Backroads Bike Tours are a great combination of exercise and entertainment. Biking through the Champagne region of Italy with my daughter during vandage, stopping and clipping the grapes from the vines while speaking to the field workers in very poor French, followed by elegant dinners and wine, is the perfect vacation memory.
Past Spotlights
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