Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) entrepreneurs have been making bold moves in the financial services industry today. Despite barriers like underrepresentation and lingering stereotypes, their success stories are rooted in values like resilience, education, and a strong sense of family and community.

As we honor AAPI Heritage Month, let’s highlight why so many AAPI professionals are finding meaning and success in the world of financial services — and how they’re building legacies that go far beyond income.

What Drives AAPI Entrepreneurs Toward Financial Services

• A commitment to education and self-improvement
  Many AAPI entrepreneurs see financial services as a path to create both economic opportunity and impact in underserved communities.
•  A personal connection to the mission
  Many AAPI entrepreneurs are becoming the financial educators they didn’t have growing up.
• A desire to uplift family and community
  Multigenerational thinking drives many AAPI professionals to build businesses that support not only clients, but extended families and communities.

Many AAPI entrepreneurs are becoming the financial educators they didn’t have growing up.

Common Challenges Along the Way

• Underrepresentation in leadership roles
  AAPI professionals remain underrepresented in executive roles in financial services, despite high participation at entry levels.
• Cultural discomfort around sales and self-promotion
  Some AAPI entrepreneurs struggle with the perception that promoting themselves or selling financial products feels “pushy.”
• Access to mentorship and capital
  First-generation business owners may not have inherited business knowledge or professional networks.

AAPI professionals remain underrepresented in executive roles in financial services, despite high participation at entry levels.

The Legacy They’re Building

By pushing through those barriers, AAPI entrepreneurs are:

• Bringing financial education into homes, schools, and places of worship.
• Creating wealth-building opportunities for diverse communities.
• Changing the face of insurance in a historically homogenous industry.

Their presence sends a clear message: Representation in financial services matters — and it makes a difference.