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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 15 M AY 5 , 2 0 2 0 F O C U S W E A LT H M A N A G M E N T / R E T I R E M E N T about by COVID-19. "It's times of crises like this where I think any financial advisor earns their keep." Equally important is the investment side of the equation, headed at Spinnaker by Jessamyn Norton. e firm's chief investment officer since 2011, she says that working with so many women is in stark contrast to her previous life as an equity analyst picking stocks for Fidelity Investments and other big institutions. At Fidelity when Norton covered companies from emerging-market countries with strong male-domi- nated cultures, "I was often the only girl in the room and I was fine with that." Today in Spinnaker's inclu- sive environment, "that feels at home now." Much newer to Portland after opening an office last year, Boston Financial Management has a three- person team there headed by industry veteran Abby Psyhogeos. e Falmouth native joined Boston Financial in July 2018, opening a Portland office on Commercial Street the following year. Looking back at the start of her career a month before the 1987 market crash, Psyhogeos says her technology background saved her, and doesn't see the current market jitters as a deterrent to women entering the profession. "When you have a crash or volatility like we're hav- ing right now," she says, "it can be an opportunity." Katie Exchange, a 2013 University of Maine graduate who works closely with Psyhogeos, is equally enthusiastic less than two years after joining the firm. A licensed CFP and associate wealth manager, she's being groomed as Psyhogeos' successor after falling in love with a profession she ended up in by chance. "I love the people aspect of this business," Exchange says. "You really get to know your clients, and you become almost like a partner for them in reaching their goals." F.L. Putnam Investment Management Co.'s Ellen Flaherty has a similar observation after 30 years with the firm, where as chief operating and chief compliance officer she oversees daily opera- tions and regulatory issues, saying: "One of the things I like about what we do to this day is that our clients do well and we do well. Our interests are always aligned." ough run by a man, President and CEO Tom Manning, 50% of F.L. Putnam's employees are female — Maine has a higher percentage—and serve on its board of directors. Flaherty, the second-highest rank- ing person at F.L. Putnam and one of three female board members, leads an eight-person operations team, of whom five are women. Newer to the firm is Meghan Civiello, a chartered financial analyst and investment advisor who joined the Portland office last year. After 12 years of institutional equity research and strategy, Civiello says F.L. Putnam is her first P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY At At Spinnaker Trust Spinnaker Trust, President and CEO , President and CEO Amanda Rand Amanda Rand leads a team of 33 leads a team of 33 employees, 24 of whom are women. She employees, 24 of whom are women. She succeeded founder succeeded founder Dick Curran Dick Curran in 2018 in 2018 and is currently working out of her home and is currently working out of her home in Falmouth. in Falmouth. C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E » CAREER INSIGHTS FROM THE PROS " Identify a mentor that will invest in you. I have been the beneficiary of amazing mentors over the years and it has helped me exponentially." — Amanda Rand Spinnaker Trust " There are open seats at the table — we need great women to fill them." — Ellen Flaherty F.L. Putnam " Earn the trust of others whether it be a client, colleague or external associate. People always want to do business and seek advice from those that they trust." — Abby Psyhogeos Boston Financial Management " Small firms offer opportunities for growth and ownership." — Susan Veligor Cornerstone Financial Planning " Make as many connections as possible. This is very much a networking-based industry, where connecting with the right people can open doors." — Katie Brann Golden Pond Wealth Management

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