For more than a decade, former U.S. Coast Guard Commander Christy Rutherford has carried a vision many considered too ambitious: creating a clear, proven pathway for senior military leaders to transition into high-earning, deeply fulfilling civilian careers.
Ten years ago, Rutherford attempted to host a conference to help veterans navigate the civilian job market. She failed. But in true officer fashion, she didn’t retreat. She recalibrated.
That early setback sparked three new business ideas. Each is rooted in solving the same mission-critical problem: bridging the gap between a veteran’s leadership experience and their ability to secure meaningful, lucrative roles after service.
Years of trial, reinvention, and perseverance followed. Rutherford reflects with humor, “Over the past 10 years, I've failed again and again and again. How long do you have?”
But those failures weren’t losses; they were lessons. They sharpened the vision.
As Earl Nightingale famously said, “Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal.”
Rutherford continued to realize that ideal—step by step.
Today, that vision is a reality.
A New Pathway for Veterans: The Wealth Management Accelerator
This year, Rutherford partnered with 30-year financial industry powerhouse Jacqueline “JaQ” Alexander (Campbell) to launch the Wealth Management Accelerator (WMA) – a 90-day program that helps veterans and mid-career professionals transition into one of the fastest-growing industries in America: wealth management.
Campbell, widely respected for her leadership in investment strategy, wealth transfer, and building multi-generational financial legacies, has seen the shift firsthand.
She describes veterans as “built-in trusted advisors.”
“Code of conduct, loyalty, and dependability; these are exactly the qualities wealthy families want in a financial advisor,” Campbell explains.
Together, Rutherford and Campbell designed a comprehensive system that blends:
• Series 65 licensing preparation
• Executive leadership and mindset training
• Career translation coaching for civilian roles
• Wealth industry fundamentals and real-world insights
• Access to an expanding network of financial leaders
And the best part? Veterans do not need prior finance experience.
They only need the same qualities that made them exceptional in the military: discipline, mission focus, resilience, integrity, and the ability to lead under pressure.
Why Finance, and Why Now?
The timing could not be more urgent or more advantageous for veterans.
While industries like tech, consulting, government contracting, and middle management have been disrupted by layoffs and AI automation, wealth management is experiencing explosive growth.
The U.S. is currently undergoing one of the largest wealth transfers in history, with over $124 trillion shifting between generations. At the same time, nearly 100,000 financial advisors are expected to retire within the next decade.
This rare convergence has created a massive talent shortage. Financial firms aren’t quietly hiring. They are actively recruiting. They are competing for qualified, trustworthy advisors.
“Veterans are one of the most underutilized resources in this country,” Rutherford says. “They know how to lead. They know how to follow. They know how to solve problems under pressure. Those qualities translate directly into finance.”
This is why early-career compensation for roles like Wealth Advisor, Investment Analyst, Portfolio Strategist, and Registered Investment Advisor often starts at $85K to $150K+, even for those transitioning into the industry.
Veterans are not just a good fit—they’re a perfect fit.
The Veteran Advantage in Wealth Management
Rutherford, who served nearly 16 years in the Coast Guard, witnessed firsthand how quickly performance transformed when expectations were elevated and guidance was clear.
She built a reputation for shaping high-performing teams in crisis management, turning struggling personnel into top performers. During her tenure, she helped more than 200 service members get promoted.
“People rise to the level of expectation,” she says. “Veterans already have greatness in them. Our job as leaders is to activate it.”
When Rutherford resigned from active duty, she brought that same leadership methodology into the civilian world.
The results were extraordinary.
Over the past eight years, she has helped professionals:
• Generate $421 million in salary raises and business revenue
• Double the salaries of 28 clients
• Triple the salaries of 18 clients
• Help 12 leaders secure seven-figure compensation packages
These are not incremental wins—they are full career transformations. Now, Rutherford is uniting her military-tested strategies with her elite civilian coaching system inside the Wealth Management Accelerator.
“It’s the best of both worlds,” she says.
“The leadership development veterans know, paired with the financial industry access and licensing needed to excel.”
A New Chapter for Those Who Served
For veterans wondering “What’s next?”, the Wealth Management Accelerator offers more than a path to a job. It offers a new mission. A mission that pays well. A mission that builds legacy. A mission that uses the skills they’ve spent decades refining.
Rutherford describes it plainly: “If you can lead in the military, you can lead in finance. If you can manage a mission, you can manage money. Veterans need careers that match their capabilities, and wealth management is one of the few where that match is crystal clear.”
The Wealth Management Accelerator is built for:
• Senior enlisted leaders
• Officers
• Warrant officers
• Midcareer transitioning veterans
• Retiring service members
• Anyone seeking a meaningful, high-earning next chapter
“This isn’t about starting over,” Rutherford says. “It’s about advancing.”
Applications Are Now Open
To learn more or apply for the next cohort of the Wealth Management Accelerator, visit:
WealthManagementAccelerator.com