Operational Excellence & Team Efficiency

Bethany Kent | A 2025 Woman of the Year

As a Client Service Associate in Clearstead’s Norfolk, VA office, Bethany Kent ensures everything runs smoothly behind the scenes, including communications between clients and team members, fiduciary tasks, and managing account administration. A key focus of hers is on operational functions for her team being efficient and accurate so clients can trust that everything is handled correctly.

“My favorite thing about Clearstead is the people I work with,” Bethany said, “It’s the best professional team I’ve ever been part of and being surrounded by people at that level pushes me to perform at my best.”

In her role, Bethany provides support to many of the firm’s private clients in the Mid-Atlantic area. This work includes responding to clients and colleagues, handling money movement and raising cash, administrative tasks with accounts, and updating client information, among others. When needed, Bethany also helps with larger initiatives, including those related to improving client services or custodial transfers.

Supporting client relationships and managing fiduciary responsibilities can be large tasks, but Bethany manages her day with effective prioritizing, multitasking, and improving processes so operations are streamlined and successful. “I’ve realized I’m most energized when I’m working on initiatives where strategy, operations, and client relationships all come together,” she said.

Bethany joined Clearstead through the acquisition of Wilbanks Smith and Thomas LLC in 2024 and is grateful to be part of a larger firm that continues to support both clients and employees.

“I enjoy challenging myself and learning new things,” Bethany mentioned, “I’d like to keep growing in ways where I can contribute to bigger initiatives and support additional improvements on the firm’s operations.”

Bethany has over eight years of experience working in the wealth management industry and spends time outside of the office volunteering at her children’s school and through their extracurriculars. Beyond these activities, she also enjoys spending time with her family, going to the beach, and outside walking or in her yard.

Through her commitment to operational excellence, challenging herself, and continuous improvement in how she and her teammates work, Bethany embodies the pioneering mindset that Clearstead values, and is one of the many reasons she is an EmpowHER Woman of the Year.