JULIA BENSON CFP® CIM®, Wealth Advisor, ScotiaMcLeod, Calgary, Alberta
JULIA BENSON
"Carving my own path:
My personal journey to embrace diversity and conquer self-doubt"
Julia Benson (CFP® , CIM® ), a Wealth Advisor at ScotiaMcLeod, has navigated a diverse career journey, from her early days in Shanghai to new beginnings in Calgary. Her path, marked by resilience and dedication to both family and career, reflects her unwavering commitment to personal and professional growth.
Initially pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Julia soon realized her true passion for finance and client relations. “Like many parents, my dad wanted me to study computer science, believing it was the future,” she explains. “But being business-minded, I switched my major once I entered university— something that I believe is the best decision I’ve ever made.”
After graduating, Julia initially planned to pursue an MBA but decided to gain practical experience first, which led her to Shanghai. There, she worked as a banking industry trainer, navigating a rapidly growing market and bridging gaps between foreign clients and the Chinese banking system. She says, “It was a transformative time in the industry for me. Being in the area just before the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, there was a huge demand for bilingual banking professionals.”
During this time, Julia also started a family, welcoming two children. “The high cost of international schooling prompted a major life change,” she shares. “I decided to relocate to Canada, where the education system is more affordable and well-structured for our family.”
Their move to a small farm in Saskatchewan came with its challenges. Farming turned out to be less stable than expected, and adjusting to the unpredictable prairie weather was tough. Still, Julia embraced the experience. “It gave me a deep understanding of the struggles my clients face today. When I speak with my farmer clients, we relate on a personal level—I understand their concerns.”
With the belief that “everything happens for a reason,” Julia and her family eventually returned to the banking industry. “As a new immigrant, none of my prior experience, seniority or professional status carried over to Canada,” she says. “We moved to Grande Prairie, Alberta, where I applied for every entry-level job I could find.”
Julia’s determination paid off when she was offered a Junior Advisor role at a Canadian Credit Union. Within three years, she became the Senior Advisor at her branch. “I remember every night the janitors would come around at 9:00 PM, and I was always the only one there. I stayed focused on my work because I had so much to learn. Driven by a desire to excel and prove myself, I was always excited and never felt tired.”
This role paved the way for her next move to a Canadian Financial Institution as a Financial Planner, where she further honed her skills and eventually relocated to Calgary.
“After our move, I got an amazing position with Scotiabank. It was a different bank, a different culture, and a different clientele. Since I was unable to keep my clients from Grand Prairie due to the distance, I had to start over again– this time with more confidence, skills, and knowledge.”
“The first year in Calgary was nerve-wracking,” she says. “Despite the different challenges along the way, I made it.”
Embracing Growth and Conquering Self-Doubt
The COVID-19 pandemic offered Julia time for deep self-reflection. “I realized I can’t stop growing in this industry. It’s just not in my nature to be content with standing still,” she explains. Inspired by Warren Buffett’s advice to invest in oneself, Julia is determined to pursue an MBA in the near future—an ambition she has long held but never pursued after university.
“I want to be a leader – not necessarily in terms of a title, but in terms of influence,” she begins. “I want to be a positive influence for those who are minorities, females, or come from backgrounds where there are traditional limits. I want to break that glass ceiling, not only in the bank but most importantly, in our minds and everyone’s minds.”
Julia’s commitment to growth is evident in her mentoring efforts. She has been actively guiding junior Financial Planners and new Advisors, offering informal coaching and encouragement. “Sometimes, when you have self-doubt, you need a voice to tell you that you’ve got this, and I want to be that voice.”
Having struggled herself with feelings of inadequacy or pondering the question of “Am I too old to make a change?” or “Am I taking too big of a risk?”, Julia has made it her mission to never let self-doubt stop her.
“So what if there’s nobody else doing this? So what if I’m one of the few in this environment?” She says, “I’m going to make my own story and show others who doubt themselves that it’s possible. Even if I don’t achieve exactly what I hoped for or what others think I should, I will never regret trying.”
Values, Ethics, and Trust
Having recently transitioned into the Wealth Advisor role with ScotiaMcLeod, Julia says, “I’ve always been entrepreneurial and hold myself to a high standard. Now, as I’m building my own empire, I thrive on making new connections, providing next-level service, and earning the trust of clients and stakeholders. It’s incredibly rewarding to build relationships based on integrity, professionalism, and results—that’s what excites and motivates me every day.”
For Julia, trust is the foundation of lasting success. She explains, “Success isn’t just about numbers—it’s about the relationships I build and the confidence my clients have in me. My role bridges between the client and the bank, and trust goes both ways. Clients rely on me to provide honest, strategic advice, and the bank trusts me to uphold its values while always putting clients’ best interests first.”
She adds, “Trust is earned through consistency, transparency, and always doing what’s best for the people I work with. It’s about providing advice that is not only financially sound but also aligns with their personal values and goals. When people see that I genuinely have their best interests at heart, that’s when true relationships are built. If we don’t work together, that’s okay—trust is the foundation of everything I do, and it’s essential for both of us to feel comfortable and understood in our relationship.”
From Personal Struggles to Professional Insight
Believing that everything happens for a reason, Julia feels that much of her unique experience in life has helped shape her into the Wealth Advisor she is today. Her journey has been marked by significant challenges, including the illness of a close family member and her father’s deteriorating health in China. These experiences have given her a deep sense of what really matters, especially when it comes to preparation, resilience, and empathy—values she carries with her in both life and financial planning.
“I’m grateful for my past, even with all the challenges, because it’s made me stronger and more empathetic,” she reflects. “When people are navigating caregiving or life-changing situations, I truly understand the emotional weight they’re carrying. It’s about more than just numbers; it’s about offering support and helping them feel ready for whatever comes next.”
Now, as Julia continues to build her practice, she is more focused than ever on providing exceptional service and building real, lasting connections with those she serves. She’s dedicated to helping people overcome obstacles and take on whatever comes next with confidence. To Julia, successful wealth management comes from understanding people, building trust, and empowering others to make meaningful, lasting changes in their lives. Her journey serves as a reminder to anyone feeling discouraged that there’s always room to push through and find hope for the future.
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Julia Benson, CFP® , CIM®
Wealth Advisor
Scotia Wealth Management™ | ScotiaMcLeod®,
a division of Scotia Capital Inc.
Suite 1700–225 6th Avenue SW
Calgary, Alberta T2P 1N2
P:1.403.213.7547
M: 1.587.890.0756