COMPANY HISTORY
OUR TEAM
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In the early 1990s it became clear to us that ordinary people were going to need help managing their substantial savings, as 401(k) plan assets began to replace pensions as a source of retirement income.
I’ve always had an interest in financial planning. Initially my research and studies were put to use in my own personal investments, around the time our first son was born.
Upon graduation from Cornell University, I was recruited by a large brokerage firm. After months of sales training and minimal help in understanding even the basics of investing, I quickly learned that the brokerage firm model was not for me.
After years in Public Accounting and Corporate Finance, followed by being a business owner, my interests turned towards helping individuals and families address many of the same issues I experienced as an individual investor. These included developing and implementing the best long-term investment strategy.
I have always been passionate about financial planning. After graduating from Le Moyne College, I worked for a large financial services firm, where I soon realized commission-based brokerage investing wasn’t aligned with my beliefs.
After spending over 25 years in local bank-related investment management and trust departments I am delighted to join the professionals at Rockbridge, where the focus is advising clients on wealth management and financial well-being – with proper retirement and estate planning goals in mind.
Having established our initial investment advisory business in 1991, it’s become important to ensure what we’ve built since then will endure. Dedicated to applying the academic principles of investment management to individual and institutional clients, RJR Associates and Rockbridge Investment Management share a heritage and commitment to a common investment philosophy.
Growing up with two accountants as parents, I always knew I wanted a career in finance. When I graduated from Elmira College, I worked in operations and support for an investment firm.
After graduating from Cornell University, I worked in finance in New York City at Bank of America and Bridgewater Associates. After several years away from home, I knew I wanted to end up in Central New York and wanted my work to involve helping individuals and families.
After graduating from law school, I got a job at a large firm working with ultra-affluent families. The work was interesting and challenging, but I soon realized that the values and culture of a large firm were not for me.
I’m a Mechanical Engineer by education and I came to Rockbridge after working for General Electric for 11 years. At GE I managed a team of 14 engineers that developed custom inspection technologies for the Aerospace, Oil & Gas, Automotive and Power Generation industries.
While earning my bachelor’s degree in accounting from SUNY Geneseo, I was able to land an internship position at Rockbridge. From there, I developed a real passion for what Rockbridge brings to their clients’ lives.
Growing up, everyone predicted I would be a secretary (it must have been all those term papers I typed for everyone). From my first position at Bond, Schoeneck & King as a legal secretary, I always wanted to learn as many new computer software programs as I could.
As former manager of the investor relations area of a large Northeast farm cooperative, I realized how important it was for individuals to have someone they could feel comfortable with and continually work with to help them make investing for their future as simple and painless as possible.
I previously worked at a private software company specializing in college athletics located on the Syracuse University Campus. During the course of my time there I was able to implement administration measures to manage the office and interact with various professionals.
My 25 years in Human Resources and benefits administration made me very sensitive to issues related to retirement planning. My passion was in benefits administration in health and retirement plans.
I have worked in the investment field for over 35 years with a number of companies as well as my own independent financial advisory firm. In my experience, the traditional financial services industry is failing to serve investors properly. My mission has been to do what I can to correct that.