Episode 056
Jessica Porter
How do you go from feeling like an outsider to leading multi-million dollar financial deals? Join Alice Tang as she speaks with Jessica Porter, partner at BPG Wealth Management and co-founder of The 401k Girls. Jessica reveals the internal struggle of entering a new industry from a blue-collar background and how she overcame the “perfectionist trap” to secure a $5 million retirement plan. Learn why Jessica believes your personal struggles can actually be your greatest professional benefit and how to build the confidence to “stack” successes one step at a time.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
"Don't wait until you're completely ready. Take that leap. And chances are you are actually probably a lot more ready than you thought that you were in the first place."
0:00 Jessica Porter: I feel like there’s a lot of people in the industry that grew up in the industry. Their parents had the business. They’ve been surrounded by it. I sort of had that feeling of I didn’t grow up with this. I didn’t have investment accounts. I didn’t participate in a 401k. Who am I to be a person to tell people what to do when I feel like maybe I’m not doing the right things? But over time and with experience, it made me realize that it’s actually such a benefit to be able to help my clients because I’ve gone through these things, because I didn’t know what so much of this meant, that I can explain it to them in a way that I could have understood.
0:46 Alice Tang: Welcome [music] to Women’s Million Dollar Conversations with Alice Tang, where we share stories from successful business women who [music] have saved, earned, or sold over a million dollars and discuss how they built their success [music] and insights to help you achieve your goals. Now, let’s join the conversation. Good morning. I’m Alice Tang, the host of Women’s Million Dollar Conversation. Today I’m sitting down with a woman who holds a special place in my heart and she is Jessica Porter.
1:24 Alice Tang: Welcome Jessica.
1:25 Jessica Porter: Thank you for having me Miss Alice Tang.
1:28 Alice Tang: Welcome Jessica. Would you share with us a little bit about you and your background so that our audience is able to open their mind for all the things you’re going to share with us which is insight to get to the million dollars?
1:42 Jessica Porter: Absolutely. I am a financial adviser. I’m a partner at BPG Wealth Management. We’re a local firm just outside of Portland. I have been with the team for about 11 and a half years. I am also co-founder of the 401k girls. That is a financial education platform that a colleague and I launched this year. With all the experience we have in the industry, we realized that education is a really fun part of what we get to do. And so we wanted to be able to try and get that out to the masses.
2:13 Alice Tang: That is so needed and awesome thing for both of you to do. I know we talk about, you know, guests that we interview like yourself either save a million, earned a million or sold a million and in our preparation conversation we both decided that selling a million would be the route to go since we have very limited time. So would you tell us about that million and your journey there?
2:39 Jessica Porter: So it was very interesting when I was thinking about it. I was one of the questions asked was how long did it take and it was in 2022. I’ve been in the industry since 2014. So 8 years. And that was really interesting to me because it really does take a long time to enter a new industry to really learn what you’re doing and then to be confident enough to do something like that. So it was 2022. It was a 401k plan and it was a meeting that I did by myself which was very nerve-wracking for me. It was a referral from a recordkeeping business partner. The plan was looking for a new advisor and this recordkeeping partner referred me and a couple of others. And so we did it was a virtual interview and they’re based off the east coast people from everywhere. So not an in-person connection all through a screen which is always a little bit difficult. and we had the meeting. I walked through my pitch, so to speak, and it was one of the meetings that I actually walked away from feeling like that actually didn’t go the way I wanted it to. I didn’t walk away feeling really confident. I didn’t have that feeling of that went great. This is a no-brainer. We’re going to work together. And I have to say a few days later when they reached out I was very surprised when they said we would like to work with you. We want you to be our adviser. And it was a great experience for me to realize I was maybe being a little too harsh or too analytical. And that sometimes the meetings that go really well are not a given and sometimes the meetings that feel more like a struggle, you can still get something out of that. It was a great experience for me.
4:31 Alice Tang: What I have taken out from this conversation is a few times of goosebumps because I truly feel for you. You help me to relive that story one more time. But the other part of me was saying we’re here to talk about money that money is really how can we emotionally feel we can and we have given it all. And that’s the moment where I had the goosebumps saying that you’ve given it all and the course is not in your hands anymore. You gave your best pitch ever and they like it.
5:11 Jessica Porter: They did and it worked and I was so pleasantly surprised.
5:16 Alice Tang: Yes. I think you were too humble to brag. So allow me because in our preparation call is not a million, it’s five. Is that true?
5:26 Jessica Porter: It was. That’s true. Yes. Yes, that’s right. It was a $5 million plan at the time. Yep.
5:32 Alice Tang: Now, it has taken eight years. You mentioned it takes a long time and I know there are many times that you’re almost at the million. And what are some bias and hurdles maybe inside you inner or in the industry or in the environment that you’re working in ? And I know it’s a dominatingly male industry as you have coached me up to say. So tell us.
5:58 Jessica Porter: I think for me it’s a few things. Internally it I truly felt like it took me that long to feel very confident about who I am and what I’m doing. I come from a completely different industry. Entering into financial services in 2014 was just drinking from a fire hose. I spent the first five years learning, getting licensed, getting designations , and I didn’t feel like I was in a position to be telling people what to do from a place of confidence. And it’s moments like that when you realize I can do it, which means I can do it again because I’ve already done it. So I think the internal part of it was something that I had to work through that, you know, imposttor syndrome. Who am I to tell these people something with authority? And then of course 11 years ago when I entered the industry I was younger as you mentioned as predominantly male. So being a younger female in the industry and also internally feeling like I didn’t have authority and know what I was doing was very difficult felt like it was hard for me to be taken seriously by a lot of people as a young woman and working really hard to get as much knowledge as I possibly can so that I can sit at the table and know exactly what they know and and sort of work against those biases has been very important.
7:22 Alice Tang: Thank you. Thank you. I had chills one more time when when you share about that. Now you also have shared with us that you have grown up from a brute collar family and the financial industry was something you didn’t know much about. How has your background shaped the approach you are taking right now to help clients who come seek advice from you?
7:49 Jessica Porter: I think in the beginning it was something I really felt that worked against me. I feel like there’s a lot of people in the industry that grew up in the industry. Their parents had the business. They’ve been surrounded by it. It was kind of a a given. And for me again, I sort of had that feeling of I didn’t grow up with this. I didn’t have investment accounts. I didn’t participate in a 401k. I have credit card debt. Who am I to be a person to tell people what to do when I feel like maybe I’m not doing the right things? But over time and with experience, I think it it made me realize that it’s actually such a benefit to be able to help my clients because I’ve gone through these things because I didn’t know what so much of this meant that I can explain it to them in a way that I could have understood , in a way that people in the industry don’t know . to be able to put these things in a layman’s term so people actually understand what it is that we’re doing and feel confident about it. To be able to work with people and say, “Hey, I’ve gotten myself out of credit card debt. I paid off my student loans. I can help you with this because I walked the walk, too .” So, I think I’ve come to realize that it’s actually become such a boon for me to be able to help my clients because I’ve been able to go through this and I can help them a way that somebody who grew up with it might not be able to understand in the same way.
9:24 Alice Tang: Yeah. The process of us getting through something is the medicine for others who is seeking help. So, you beautifully has demonstrated that. Change topic a little bit . you and one of your colleague Haley Porter has spearhead and founded the 401k girls you mentioned is for the education of people. So tell us more about that.
9:51 Jessica Porter: We launched the 401k girls at the beginning of this year. It’s been something we’ve been working on for a while. I have had the privilege since I entered the industry, working with the team of working on 401k plans , consulting with businesses to implement , being able to manage them on an ongoing basis , and being able to provide education, meeting with employees, providing one-on-one, really helping them understand how this can change their future. And Haley Porter, my colleague, joined working with me about three years ago on that. And we realized that two women consulting on retirement plans is unique in our industry. It’s not something that you see very often. We also have the same last name and everybody thinks we’re sisters, which is fun. We are not related, but it’s a fun thing to play with. And so we said, how can we package this up? How can we brand this into something that’s maybe not necessarily really outside of what we’re already doing as far as the consultation, as far as the education that we’re doing, but how can we make it feel more interesting? It’s always difficult to go in these rooms with these employees and try and make 401k exciting. And so we thought, how can we do this, but on a bigger scale ? how can we put together something that’s more digestible, that can reach more people , and that actually provides real information? And so, we’ve launched it. It’s still again less than a year old. And at this point, it’s a social media education platform. We’re on Instagram and LinkedIn. And the idea once again is just to get little snippets of information out there that can help people. And when we do this, and I’ll get a DM from somebody that says, “I increased my 401k by 1% because I saw this .” That’s exactly why we’re doing this and what we’re trying to do.
11:45 Alice Tang: Wow. Pair up education and small bite size. I think those two are powerful things I just heard. You probably have 500 pages of things that people should do in their life. But if you give the book to me, even I’m in your same industry as I forget it. I can’t handle this. It’s too much. I’m overwhelmed. But small bite size like how to pay off debt or can you fund a Roth IRA little things right the government shut down is the economy going to shut down all these little tips I think is not only give knowledge but the comfort that these are palatable because a lot other people’s who use your advice can do it Jessica then I’m not relate to you I’m your audience I think I in and just like what you’re doing right now, you are role modeling to many people who can relate to you. Yes, they can get to that million.
12:47 Alice Tang: Now, this is a good time to just change a little conversation, but still about the million. What opportunity did reaching the million dollar mark open for you?
12:59 Jessica Porter: I think for me it was one of those things where I especially because I walked out of it not feeling extremely confident and then it was a positive outcome. I think it was such a confidence builder for me. And again, it’s one of the things where once you’ve done it, it comes easier to do it again. I relate it to my running journey. When I started running a mile, felt impossible. And then when I did it, I knew that my body could do it because I had already done it once. So the second time was easier. The third time was easier. And so that’s what it feels like when you reach this goal, when you hit this accomplishment. I’ve already done it. I already know that I can do it because I’ve done it. So, the second time gets easier. The next time gets better. So, it was such a good confidence builder for me to be able to stack on top of that.
13:51 Alice Tang: As you are sending the elevator back, what is one piece of advice that you would give to the next generation woman [clears throat] who is climbing to their first million dollar mountain?
14:04 Jessica Porter: Yeah, I would say it’s okay to not be 100% ready. And I think that was one of the things that held me back quite a bit. I like to say that I’m a recovering perfectionist because I’ve realized I I sort of have a saying. I think the way I originally heard it was 80% is good enough. I actually don’t like 80%. I want an A. So I say 90% is good enough. that feels better to me. But if you’re 90% there, just go for it. And again, I think that held me back because I was waiting. Am I completely ready for this? Do I have all my docks in a row? Am I ready to take this leap? And you’re kind of never ready. And so you just do it before you’re ready. And then you learn along the way. And that actually has been a part of our 401k girls journey, which was let’s just launch it. I’m not great at social media. I don’t necessarily know everything that I’m doing. But we’ve been able to hire people that have helped guide us through. And it’s just about getting started. And once you get started, you can get better at it. But don’t wait until you’re completely ready. Take that leap. And chances are you are actually probably a lot more ready than you thought that you were in the first place.
15:24 Alice Tang: Yes. Yes. Keep figuring it out, right? One step at a time. That’s exactly how, you know, success would bring to entrepreneurs like yourself. No entrepreneur know exactly the end game. They may visualize it but you know there are things happen like there is no internet. Imagine today we [laughter] can’t have this interview which is true.
15:46 Jessica Porter: Yesterday yesterday it happened.
15:48 Alice Tang: Yeah. So deal with it as it come. What’s your money legacy?
15:52 Jessica Porter: My money legacy so I do not have any biological children but I do have a stepdaughter. She’ll be 20 years old actually in a couple weeks, but I’ve known her since she was eight. And the legacy for me is to be able to give her things and let her experience life in a way that I wasn’t able to. And I had an amazing family and amazing parents, but they just weren’t in a position to be able to do the things that we can do for her . and she’s in college right now and she gets to enjoy that experience without having to work like I did. And that feels like such a privilege to be able to give her to have these experiences to live these years without doing that. And to be able for her to get to go on vacations with us that I never got to do. Creating these memories with my family that I get to do because of financial freedom is so important . really working towards creating generational wealth to be the first one to start that. Neither my husband or I came from that. And so anything that we get to lead to her comes from us. And so modeling to her what that looks like and then being able to create that for her future is so incredible and important to me to be in a position to get to do that.
17:21 Alice Tang: We’re talking about role modeling here. Thank you so much. The last question we ask all our guests is what are you grateful for?
17:30 Jessica Porter: Oh, it’s such a big question, Alice. There are so many things in my life that I’m so grateful for. I think I would start I’ve told this story a lot. Obviously, you know how I came to work in the industry , but it was by accident. And there’s a lot of women I speak to in the industry that sort of joined it by accident or kind of fell into it. I had moved to Portland in 2014. Backgrounds in the automotive industry, really didn’t know what I wanted to do. And by happen stance, interviewed at a company that ended up being a client of BPGs. And the first I ever heard about this team and my original position was a phone call from Alice Tang . and I had not applied for the position. I didn’t know anything. I never ever would have applied for this position if I had come across it because I wouldn’t have felt like I could have done it. And Miss Alice Tang called me and said, “Hey, we got your resume. We want to interview you .” And that was 11 and a half years ago. And that is something that has completely changed the trajectory of my life, my family, my legacy. And I am so grateful for that phone call that you got my resume and you said, “Let’s take a chance on this woman who has no experience in our industry .” And then you took me under your wing and I you’ve been my mentor and I’m so grateful. I cannot believe where my life is 11 years later and I am so incredibly grateful for it.
19:07 Alice Tang: Thank you for sharing that and I’m reliving that. The audience should also know I’m very thankful for another company who has interviewed you. They se interview they look at 700 not 70 not seven 700 resumes and got it down to four and they hire two they feel that who can work in that office at the time and I got the other two. The power of asking is, “We need to hire someone. Can you help me ?” Oh, we just finished interviewing people and there are two who’s really good, but we just don’t have room for four. And you are the first call that we make with an accent, right? Who’s this?
19:55 Jessica Porter: [laughter] Yes. Amazing how things work out. How I always say the best things in life come to you. And this truly found me.
20:06 Alice Tang: Yes. I’m super grateful for the journey. You mentioned I’m your work mom, but I think now is the reverse. She is my workm. I had the shoulder to cry. Every time I see her in person, I hug her and said I cannot help but say, “I love you. I love you. [laughter] I love you.”
20:24 Jessica Porter: I know. I’m My mom is far away down in Texas and I’m so happy to have an Oregon mom here.
20:30 Alice Tang: Yeah. So, [laughter] made me want to cry. That’s all for today. Before the next tea drop falls from my eyes, I’m super grateful for Jessica Porter, not only specifically putting away time in this interview, but also for the work that she is doing in the community. Watch her for 1K girls. Thank you everyone.
20:54 Jessica Porter: Thank you, Alice.
21:02 Jessica Porter: [music]
Jessica Porter is a dedicated Financial Advisor focused on providing accessible education and detailed planning, particularly for individuals who grew up without prior exposure to the financial industry. Growing up as one of three children to a plumber and a homemaker, she did not know what a financial advisor was until she immersed herself in the industry.
Ms. Porter now leverages her understanding of the powerful role advisors play to help her clients gain a handle on their finances, strategically plan for their futures, and avoid common financial mistakes.
Working as part of a full-service team, her practice offers multiple levels of financial planning, ensuring she can assist clients across the spectrum—from young professionals just getting started to seasoned executives preparing for retirement. While her team covers many areas of the financial industry, Ms. Porter’s core focus remains on education, candid guidance, and providing detailed planning.
In 2025, Jessica and Hayley Porter co-founded The 401(k) Girls, with the goal of making financial education approachable, relatable, and fun for all.