How I Got Here

I went to the College of St. Rose in Albany and graduated from its dual-degree program with a bachelor's degree in business administration and an MBA. In my last year at St. Rose I did an internship with Ayco in ISG - Asset Management.

I chose Ayco because I had heard good things about it from my professors. While at Ayco, I was able to observe the functions of the different groups within ISG and determine where I would fit in well. When I graduated, I was offered a position with the Markets Coverage Group.

As an intern, I was surprised at the level of responsibility interns were given on a daily basis. I had a lot of the same responsibilities as those who had begun full-time positions at the same time I began as an intern, while also having the opportunity to do special projects. These projects provided a real opportunity for me to make a difference in how my team did things. I was very fortunate to have learned with a company that cares about providing interns with quality experiences.

What I Do

I work in Ayco's Investment Services Group on the investment professionals' team with specific responsibility for the Special Investments Desk. In this role I facilitate the funding of alternative investments.

I am responsible for ensuring timely account opening and funding. Since I am coordinating with associates in all of our regional offices, I have to be available when they need me so we can coordinate our efforts to send documents to clients and follow up on executing their investments.

Since my job is very reactive, it is always different! While I may be helping to move people in the same direction, often the way to get there is very different, so it's always a new puzzle to figure out how to get from point A to point B.

A Typical Day

I generally like to get an early start on the day, getting in around 7:30 a.m. This allows me to take a few minutes to read some of the day's headlines and make sure everything is in order for a smooth day. My day really starts to pick up about 8:30 a.m., and then increasingly as my colleagues across the country begin their work day and the phone calls really begin to pour in.

Lunch is usually something quick grabbed from the café and eaten at my desk so I can continue to be available. Often while eating at my desk I will take a moment to read some recent market research or listen to new product-launch calls. The balance of the afternoons are spent reacting to phone calls or other requests that come through. A fast turnaround is crucial, as many funds have a very brief opening window.

After the close of the normal business day, the phone calls slow down and I catch up on other responsibilities. Generally I will wrap up around 6 p.m., but on very busy days it can be later.

My Colleagues

My team has a lot of energy, and definitely a very strong team mentality. Our culture is very much about togetherness and problem-solving as a team. We are always trying to tap each other as resources. Beyond working together, we are friends. Honestly, my work friends are some of my closest friends in life – not just because we spend so much time together, but because we have so much in common. I find generally that the people I work with are the kind of people I would have chosen to work with, if the choice were mine.

Commitment To Clients

We are so focused on giving our clients the best possible service; it is the centerpiece of everything we do. The way we look at it is: If we don't please our clients, if we don't provide them with a superior level of service, we have nothing, because our clients are the life of our practice, and it should be our primary goal to provide the service they deserve.