By EMMA DELK

CANONSBURG, Pa. — Niki Mullinix believes women differentiate themselves in the male-dominated finance field by creating a safe space for clients to be heard.

The owner and founder of Astyr Wealth finds that women in financial services have the unique ability to allow clients to feel safe to voice their concerns and dreams along with expressing themselves and asking questions.

“I love the relationships I build with my clients by getting to know them personally so that I can help them professionally as their advocate during different stages and life events,” the Belmont County native said. “I think women have an advantage in our industry, and they need to persevere and connect with other women, mentors and teams to provide support as they navigate their professional journey.”

As the owner and operator of the all-female financial planning practice based in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, Mullinix strives to be a trusted advocate her clients can rely on.

“When they entrust their financial well-being to me and my team, they can have peace of mind and confidence in their future,” Mullinix noted.

Astyr Wealth, founded in 1999, has a client base and network that has grown up and down the Ohio River over the past 25 years.

Perseverance and passion are two traits Mullinix believes were critical to growing her practice. Though she “lives by many mottos,” a strong belief for Mullinix has always been, “Perseverance and persistence pay off always, in all ways.”

Mullinix had to stay true to this motto while starting organically as a financial adviser. Her career began with a simple interest in educating herself on financial services. Mullinix soon learned that others did not have the same time or opportunity as she did to learn and research how to make objective financial decisions.

“Once I made the commitment and pursued my passion for learning, I experienced success because I realized I could make an impact in every client’s life to ensure they were prepared and planning for all the possibilities,” Mullinix noted.

The path to becoming a financial adviser did not come without some initial road bumps. Mullinix noted “a couple of moves” in the early stages of her career made her question if financial advising was her calling.

In hindsight, decisions that may have appeared to be blunders at the time instead were invaluable learning experiences for her.

Mullinix equates getting started as a financial planner organically to beginning a new business. Just as any business owner needs the right employees to help support its growth, Mullinix needed the right people to learn from and help her weather challenges.

One of these people for Mullinix was her current broker-dealer, Lincoln Financial Advisors, whom she has been with for the past 20 years.

“With my broker-dealer, I could finally be that objective voice of reason, create customized financial plans, guide them through our unique planning process and have confidence in the advice and recommendations I provided,” Mullinix said. “I have been with them every step of the way to see their plans come to fruition over the years.”

A business has to recoup after losses. In the same way as a financial adviser, Mullinix embraces and learns from changes or disruptions, striving to “become stronger and better for it.”

Trusting the process is another key to success for Mullinix, along with knowing that her path “is not going to be a straight line.”

“I learned what I wanted to emulate and what I didn’t want to emulate from everyone I met in the industry,” she added.

As a child, Mullinix began learning what she wanted to emulate in her career. Her first brush with the financial industry was on an airplane, sitting next to a businessman in a pin-striped suit reading the stock pages of the Wall Street Journal.

“I saw him and thought, “Wow, he must be so smart and successful,” Mullinix recalled. “That piqued my interest to want to make good financial decisions for myself, but I never dreamed I would be where I am today.”

Where Mullinix is today is loving her job that ensures clients are “prepared and ready for life and all the possibilities.”

Though she does business in the Ohio Valley, Mullinix’s life outside the office is no longer based in the immediate area. Mullinix lives in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, with her husband Kevin Perris, a pair of twin 12-year-olds, Kenzie and Kylee, and an 11-year-old Kennedy, who she jokes is a “bonus” after the twins.

Also residing in the Mullinix household is their toy poodle, Nacho. Mullinix’s mother, Lynda Duncan, is right around the corner as well.

Though she has left the Ohio Valley, Mullinix noted her heart “will always be there.” She is “honored and humbled” to serve, guide or support any women’s organizations in the Ohio Valley and Pennsylvania areas.

Mullinix serves on the Endurance Foundation board of The Bible Chapel and is a former board member of CASA Washington, which she still volunteers for.

She is a Leadership Wheeling and Leadership Washington alumnae.

Mullinix is also involved with the Inspired Women Pittsburgh South Chapter, Relay for Life/American Cancer Society, the Junior League of Wheeling, the Pittsburgh South Hills Alumnae Chapter of Delta Gamma and Dress for Success in Washington, Pennsylvania.

She also stays active at her local alma mater Wheeling University by providing an annual scholarship to a student recognized for excellence in business and finance.

For over 10 years, Mullinix has also sponsored the Oglebay Women’s Golf Association’s annual golf outing. Most recently, she served on the YWCA of Wheeling Smart 529 Scholarship Advisory Board.

Lending her time, talent and treasure to the Ohio Valley comes naturally for Mullinix, as she loves the area.

“I love the Ohio Valley because it is truly a friendly, safe and quaint place to call home with the amenities of a big city but with a small-town vibe,” Mullinix said.