Jason Parker, CFA, is Vice President, Fixed Income for iA Financial Group and a vehement advocate of diversity and mental health in capital markets. One of the factors that drew him to his current position at iA Financial Group is their supportive culture. Jason is trailblazer in speaking out about the mental and emotional aspects of careers in the financial industry. 

What originally drew you to fixed income?

I find the fixed income component of the market to be intellectually comprehensive. The many factors that influence the functioning of the fixed income markets feed my intellectual curiosity.

You’ve spoken to CFA Society Toronto about managing workplace stress and anxiety. What led to you to advocate for mental health in the industry?

Several years ago, I discovered that my kids had special needs, and in order to be able to better help them, I pursued my research more formally with education. I completed a master’s degree in developmental psychology, focusing on special needs. Through that process, I came to realize that 1) I myself have special needs surrounding mental health, and 2) quite a number of people in the capital markets also exhibit characteristics of special needs in areas including anxiety, obsessive tendencies, and compulsiveness. When I started to talk about those issues more openly, people started to approach me. A lot of people were willing to talk about their kids and the issues that their kids face. Over time, more people are talking about themselves and the issues that they personally face.

So many people face these challenges and yet don’t speak out. What motivated you to speak out publicly?

As my career evolved in the capital markets, I took on leadership positions. I wanted to be the best leader that I could and be more vocal, make myself vulnerable to people, and let them know about the issues that I was facing. My goal was to help others feel more comfortable working in the capital markets, recognizing that they had issues as well.

What are some key things that managers in capital markets can do to promote workplace mental health and wellness?

First and foremost is to be aware of what your company policies are. The investment industry is a very demanding environment. Often, a lot of the “old school” reasoning and methods of management aren’t consistent with what modern employees are experiencing in their personal lives.

Human resources departments have developed policies and procedures. Many people, especially in middle management, aren’t necessarily familiar with those policies, and therefore the potential solutions that they’re recommending to their employees are no longer appropriate or consistent with what their company wants to achieve. Any company—especially in the capital markets, where we’re reliant on the intellectual acumen and mental well-being of our employees—must cater to the needs of their employees.

What volunteer work are you most proud of?

When I was at BMO, I was appointed Head of the Diversity and Inclusion Council. If you study diversity from an intellectual perspective, you find that adding a greater variety of voices into the mix helps you make the most effective decisions.

So as a psychotherapist, I saw things from the other side. What I saw was a lot of people in capital markets struggling with personal things at home: stress, addiction, anxiety, and depression. What would you suggest to somebody who is struggling with mental health challenges, either in themselves or their families, and is working in capital markets and having trouble balancing work and personal challenges?

I agree wholeheartedly with you on that point. A lot of the people I interact with are facing these kinds of things. I would suggest going back to human resources and the mechanisms that are in place. Pretty much every large corporation has some sort of employee assistance program, which is completely anonymous and there to help support people.

I’ve used them—more than once. Services available to you range from therapy to legal resources, if you’re dealing with a family situation. The employee assistance program offers services that can help relieve some of the issues that are causing additional stress in your work environment.

What is something most people don’t know about you that you would like to share?

I am very passionate about music. In addition to pursuing a doctorate in behavioural finance, I am also pursuing a bachelor’s degree in music performance in guitar. The reason I share this is that to work in the capital markets, you don’t have to be a singularly focused individual. You can have a variety of interests and incorporate them into your life. You need an outlet. Be passionate about something outside of work and pursue that in whatever way you see fit. For me, I love education. I’m an overeducated individual, and I like that formal structure to pull me along.

Whom do you most admire?

My kids. They have faced their own set of challenges throughout life, and to see them turn into the most amazing, polite, respectful, compassionate individuals and what they have done—it is really quite heartening to me just to watch them. I have nothing but the utmost respect for them. Having said that, I also greatly admire my father as well. He suffered an infant stroke shortly after birth and grew up his whole life with partial paralysis on the right side of his body. And if you can imagine somebody in the 1940s going to school, having to wear a leg brace, and the derision that he would face from his classmates… He even underwent experimental surgery in which they removed his lowest rib and fused that with his forearm to try to make his arm a little bit more functional.

Any day where I think that I’m going to complain about something, I think about my dad and everything that he went through. He always has a smile, always has a joke. He only has kind things to say to people. He wouldn’t let his physical challenges impede him from being the best person that he could be.

What’s your best advice to someone who’s starting out in the business right now?

One of the reasons I was able to maintain success in my career as long as I have is that I have constantly educated myself. One of the misconceptions, particularly coming out of the business schools, is that you have a degree, you learn stuff, then that’s it, you go on and you do your job. With rapid advancements in technology, the playing field is changing a lot faster than it used to, and the industry is evolving rapidly. Continued education is paramount for ongoing success.

In terms of your career development, you must recognize that finance is a particularly aggressive industry. There is a lot of hard work and dedication. Having said that, the culture of the business is changing and trying to soften a little bit to be more cognizant of things like mental health and the demands of family life. You can’t work somebody 70 hours a week for an extended period of time. Be aware of what your rights are, but also be aware of the evolving culture of the business. 

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.