In a few words, what does being a “Trailblazer” mean to you, and how did your path into wealth management begin?
My father is in personal finance so I grew up in a home where we talked freely about money- I remember looking at stock prices in the newspaper at my kitchen table when I was maybe 5 or 6. My dads parents divorced when he was young and he witnessed the challenge his mother experienced as she picked up the mantle of financial responsibility unexpectedly. Borne out of that, my parents raised me to value financial independence and preparation which allows me to be uniquely equipped to help families now do the same thing.
I have had the absolute pleasure of being surrounded by mentors – women and men- who invested in me, encouraged me, and who saw the fact that I was a woman in this role as a strength, an advantage. I acknowledge how special that is.
I have also been incredibly fortunate to have made some of my closest friends working with our team- we have navigated so much together. Becoming mothers, battling illnesses, losing loved ones, accomplishing goals, facing fears, growing as women, failing and fighting, achieving and apologizing. there is so much courage and humility and sacrifice and service here.
When you first entered the industry, what did the landscape look like for women, and what early lessons still shape how you lead today?
One of my dearest friends and business partners, Elizabeth- we both joined our team as interns, became financial advisors directly out of college, and were entrusted to lead at an early age. I’ve been able to watch her go first in so many life journeys- marriage, becoming a mother, fighting cancer. Being able to see her bravery and faith first hand has led to so much of my own courage and conviction. Now, four kids later, I can see my ability to encourage women at that stage now, give them the same confidence that was given to me. We can be beautiful, present mothers while also being incredible stewards of our clients financial lives and mentors to others inside our organization. Our depth of life experience enriches our wisdom, makes us better at the rest of it.
What challenges have you faced along the way, and what mindset or skills helped you push through and keep going?
I spent twenty years at Merrill and I will forever be grateful for my time there. With the changing landscape and the unique circumstances our business needed to continue to live out our purpose- we made the previously unthinkable leap into independence in late 2025 with our big, complex, dynamic team. And on the other side of that- I can sincerely say that my perspective on it all has changed forever. How I define success has forever changed- having conviction and courage didn’t happen without fear and loss but it is what has made the biggest positive impact for our clients and our people, it is what has made me the proudest. All of our joy even through the difficulties- knowing we’re doing something important together, that we are all a crucial part of something much bigger than ourselves. I have a deeper appreciation for people’s individual choices and their right to make them. I have so much respect for those who have gone before us and encouragement for those who will come behind.
We had a mantra that we held onto especially during the most difficult steps in our transition- ‘I will be joyful, resilient, faithful’. Intentionally defining how I want to describe myself years from now has helped to give me a reference point when I’m challenged.
Looking ahead, what excites you most about the future of women in wealth management, and what advice would you give to the next generation of trailblazers?
Women have such an important role to play in wealth management now and into the future. We see things through our own unique lens of finance and family, work and home and, through that, we can help the families we serve identify their goals, work together in their own families to make decisions that align with where they are trying to go, to disagree and compromise. The impact we can make in our clients lives is extraordinary, all while being role models for the girls and boys in our own families by living a life of purpose and passion.
More About Brittany L. Hartnett, CFP®, CRPC™, SE-AWMA™: Brittany Harnett is a Principal Partner and Senior Wealth Management Advisor at OpenArc Corporate Advisory. She brings more than a decade of experience in wealth management, having previously served at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where she was a key member of the Global Corporate and Institutional Advisory Services team.
Brittany applies a goals-based approach to financial planning, helping clients define their priorities, optimize resources, and implement strategies tailored to their risk tolerance, time horizon, liquidity needs, and long-term objectives. She has particular experience supporting corporate executives in managing concentrated stock positions and navigating complex compensation structures.
She holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) designation, the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ (CRPC™) designation, and is a Sports & Entertainment Accredited Wealth Management Advisor™ (SE-AWMA™). Brittany graduated summa cum laude from Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Tennessee, with a double major in Finance and Economics.
Brittany resides in historic Druid Hills, a neighborhood in Midtown Atlanta, with her husband Matthew and their four children: Kennedy, James, Sienna, and Brooklyn. The family attends Decatur City Church, and her children are enrolled at The Paideia School. She serves on the Board of Directors for City of Refuge and actively supports organizations including Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and the Atlanta Children’s Shelter.
