Our People

Chief Executive Officer & Chief Economist

Michelle Knight

Michelle Knight serves as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Economist of RWA Wealth Partners, LLC.  Previously, she was the President and Chief Economist for Ropes Wealth Advisors, the family office division of RWA Wealth Partners.  Michelle is responsible for day-to-day management of the firm and executing its long-term strategic plan, as well as being responsible for apprising clients of the firm of global economic and market activity. She is a frequent contributor to Financial Advisor magazine and Private Asset Management magazine, and has been quoted in Bloomberg, Thomson Reuters, the Boston Business Journal, Forbes, and The Boston Globe.

In the past, Michelle served as Chief Investment Officer for Ropes Wealth Advisors and Chief Economist for Ropes & Gray LLP. She was Chief Economist and Managing Director of Fixed Income for Silver Bridge Advisors (now Boston Private Wealth) and was Head of Fixed Income at Atlantic Trust. (now CIBC Wealth).  Before joining Atlantic Trust, she was an Analyst and Assistant Portfolio Manager at J.P. Morgan Investment Management in New York.

Michelle earned an MBA, an MSF, and a BA from Boston College, where she graduated summa cum laude and held the distinction of Presidential Scholar. In 2009, the Boston Business Journal¹ named her one of its 40 under 40 in recognition of her accomplishments as a corporate and civic leader.

Michelle is a Boston College Trustee and Investment Committee Chair for the Endowment; Boston Latin School Chair of the Investment Committee for the Endowment; Dedham Country Day School Trustee, Chair of the Investment Committee for the Endowment and member of the Finance Council; Rosie’s Place Trustee, Treasurer and Investment Committee member; Trustee and Treasurer/Chair of the Finance Council of the Leventhal Map & Education Center of the Boston Public Library; and Investment Committee member for the Endowment of the Archdiocese of Boston. She is a volunteer and member of the Boston Economic Club, the Boston College Alumni Association and Council for Women, the Boston Children’s Hospital League, and the Catholic Schools Foundation Inner-City Scholarship Fund.

Michelle teaches religious education at Holy Name Church in West Roxbury and is a parent volunteer with the Guild of St. Irene at St. Sebastian’s School in Needham and the Parent Association of Dedham Country Day School.  Michelle resides in West Roxbury, MA, with her family including three sons who are the joy of her life. 

_{¹ The 40 Under 40 list is compiled by the Boston Business Journal. Annually, the Boston Business Journal seeks nominations to recognize 40 of Boston’s best and brightest young professionals. Nominees are evaluated based on their achievements, innovations and leadership skills in their fields as well as their civic involvement and accomplishments. It is not known how many nominees were considered in 2009. Winners in any particular year cannot win the 40 Under 40 recognition again. No fees were paid by any individual or third party in order for an individual to be nominated or selected for this recognition. The results of the list should not be interpreted as reflecting the approval or disapproval of the advisor’s services by clients, and the recognition is not intended to be indicative of or a promise of future performance.}

Chief Compliance Officer

Kristin Fazio

Kristin Fazio serves as chief compliance officer and principal of RWA Wealth Partners. As a key member of the firm’s leadership team, Kristin provides thoughtful advice around strategic decisions, risk management, business efficiencies, and business development, and she is responsible for leading and overseeing the firm’s compliance program. She works closely with functional leaders with the goal of providing the highest level of fiduciary care and service to our clients.

Prior to her role at RWA Wealth Partners, Kristin was the chief compliance officer of Ropes Wealth Advisors since the firm opened its doors in 2015, where she was responsible for designing, implementing, managing, and monitoring the firm’s compliance program; integrating industry best practices; and leading in-house compliance education efforts across the firm. She was a vital contributor to the firm’s strategic initiatives and a member of the Investment Policy Committee and Business Oversight Committee. Before joining Ropes Wealth Advisors, Kristin served as the chief compliance officer for Silver Bridge Capital Management LLC and the director of risk management for Silver Bridge Advisors LLC (collectively “Silver Bridge”). Prior to joining Silver Bridge, Kristin was a senior consultant at Navigant Consulting, Inc.

Kristin graduated cum laude from the Wallace E. Carroll School of Management at Boston College with a B.S. in economics and business administration.

Kristin resides in Marblehead, MA, with her husband and five children. Outside of work, she serves as coordinator, Uber driver, and cheerleader for her kids as they navigate their adolescent years. During the winter, she cherishes spending weekends in the White Mountains with her family.

Chief Investment Officer

Joseph E. Powers

Joseph (JP) Powers serves as Chief Investment Officer for RWA Wealth Partners, where he is responsible for implementing and overseeing overall investment strategy. In this role, he leads the Investment Team in making asset allocation decisions and directing investment and manager selection on behalf of all clients. JP also works directly with clients apprising them of global economic and market activity and its implications for their specific and customized investment strategies.  JP leverages his analytical abilities to drive key elements of the firm’s investment technology platform, including researching and implementing new systems and software to continually improve the efficiency of the investment trading platform and enhance the client experience of performance reporting.

JP chairs the Investment Policy Committee and is also a member of the Executive Leadership Team.

Previously, JP was Chief Investment Officer for Ropes Wealth Advisors after having served as Portfolio Manager and Director.  Prior to joining RWA, JP was Director of Fixed Income for Silver Bridge Advisors (now Boston Private Wealth). As Director of Fixed Income, JP focused on fixed income portfolio construction, research, and trading in both the taxable and tax-exempt fixed income sectors. Before joining the fixed income team, JP spent several years supporting the company’s equity research efforts as an analyst for the technology, telecommunications and consumer staples sectors while overseeing the firm’s equity trading desk. JP began his career with State Street Corporation.

JP earned an MBA from Boston University’s Questrom School of Business, and a BS in Business Administration from the University of New Hampshire. JP was the winner of the Sandra A.F. Harper award from the BU Questrom program, which honors the student who best exemplifies community contribution and leadership within the graduating class.

JP resides in Dover, MA, with his wife and young son, and he enjoys sports, travel, and spending time with his family and friends. He divides his time between Boston and New Hampshire whenever possible.

Head of Family Office

Nicole E. LaChapelle

Nicole LaChapelle serves as RWA’s Head of Family Office and brings over 15 years of client service experience and expertise to this role, working together with her team of client service officers, specialists, and administrators to design and deliver the solutions that will best position clients to achieve their goals as they navigate their personal financial journey. Nicole is a member of RWA’s Business Oversight Committee and is a key contributor to the firm’s business development and strategic planning initiatives. Nicole also continues to lead several of the firm’s long-standing client relationships, seeking to deliver an exceptional client experience along the way.

Prior to her current role, Nicole was the Client Service Director for RWA. Before joining RWA, Nicole spent more than 10 years with Ropes & Gray LLP, initially as an estate settlement administrator and subsequently as Manager of Client Services. She began her career with MFS Investment Management as a retirement plan specialist.

Nicole earned an MBA from Boston University’s Questrom School of Business. Her undergraduate degree in business administration, with a minor in economics, was also awarded by Boston University. She received her paralegal certificate from Northeastern University in 2008.

In 2017, Nicole was the recipient of Ropes & Gray’s prestigious ACE award (Acclaiming and Celebrating Excellence) for her tremendous individual contributions and leadership to the Private Client Group and RWA.

Nicole serves on the Board of Advisors for the South Boston Neighborhood House (“The Ollie”), and enjoys spending time with her family and friends, as well as traveling as often as her schedule permits.

Senior Director of Family Office Financial Planning

Francis J. Sennott

Francis (“Frank”) Sennott serves as Senior Director of Family Office Financial Planning for RWA Family Office, where he counsels wealthy families, corporate executives, professionals, and closely held business owners on personal financial matters. In his role, Frank designs and implements financial plans, coordinates relationships with clients’ advisors, including attorneys, accountants, lenders and insurance brokers, develops investment objectives for clients’ qualified and nonqualified investment portfolios, and develops and presents financial planning seminars to corporate clients.

Before joining RWA, Frank served as a Financial Planner for Ropes & Gray LLP for over thirteen years. Before his many years of service with Ropes & Gray LLP, Frank accumulated over 15 years of experience in areas including financial planning, estate and insurance planning, personal income tax, and the design and implementation of executive benefits. Frank provided these and other services to a wide variety of clients through service in senior positions with Westport Worldwide, The Brown Company, KPMG Peat Marwick, George Beram & Company, and the Weston Financial Group, among other organizations.

Frank earned his MBA and BS from Boston College and a JD from George Washington University. He is a member of the Shaw Society at Boston College and serves on its Legacy Giving Committee. Frank is an adjunct faculty member at Northeastern University where he teaches a course on financial planning in the graduate tax program. He is a past contributor to Benefits Quarterly magazine, Benefits and Compensation International magazine, and the American Society of CLU and ChFC’s Business and Compensation News and Views newsletter.

Frank resides in Westwood with his wife and is a proud father to a son and daughter in their twenties. He is a long-time season-ticket holder for the Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots, and Boston College football teams.

Chief Fiduciary Officer

Brenda S. Diana

Brenda Diana is the Chief Fiduciary Officer of RWA, providing expert fiduciary services and estate planning to clients as part of RWA’s offering of trust and estate administration. Brenda serves as trustee for numerous trusts, as executor for estates of varying size and complexity, and has extensive experience working with working with high net worth individuals and multiple generations of families with accumulated wealth.

In addition, Brenda, together with Martin Hall, are partners of Hall and Diana LLP, a boutique law firm specializing in domestic and international estate, tax, and charitable planning, estate settlement, and fiduciary administration.

Prior to joining RWA in 2023, Brenda was co-leader of Ropes & Gray LLP’s private client group, having joined the private client group in 1988 and becoming a partner of the firm in 1996. She served as trustee for numerous trusts, concentrating on representing fiduciaries in the settlement of estates and preparing estate plans for individuals. Her practice included working with high net worth individuals, multiple generations of families with accumulated wealth, entrepreneurs, private and public company executives and shareholders, and professional public personalities. Her practice involved the administration of client estates and trusts, including post-mortem tax planning and rendering advice regarding fiduciary responsibilities. As executor for estates of varying size and complexity, Brenda helped clients through diverse personal transitions and provided advice on risk management, fiduciary investments and efficient tax alternatives to avoid potential issues or disputes. Her expertise includes the coordination of the proper disposition of individual and family assets including art, antiques, real estate and other valuables and works with well-known auction houses and advisors when appropriate. Brenda advised clients on various charitable and philanthropic endeavors and worked closely with financial planners and philanthropic advisors to develop comprehensive plans to meet the unique needs of her clients. For many years, Brenda was a member of Ropes & Gray’s Hiring Committee and Associates Liaison Committee.

Passionate about pro bono work and community service, Brenda serves as chair of the board of directors at Project Citizenship, a nonprofit focused on providing free legal services to immigrants, and sits on the advisory board of directors for My Life My Choice, an organization dedicated to ending the commercial sexual exploitation of children. Brenda resides with her family in Wellesley.

Managing Director of Legal Services

Martin Hall

Martin Hall serves as Managing Director of Legal Services for RWA. In this role, Martin oversees fiduciary services provided to clients as part of RWA’s offering of trust and estate administration. Martin is also a founding partner of Hall & Diana LLC, a boutique trust and estates law firm in Boston.

Prior to joining RWA, Martin was with Ropes & Gray LLP for 37 years, serving as a partner of the firm from 1994 to 2023 and as the Chair of its Private Client Group from 2006 to 2023. He was instrumental in setting up RWA as a registered investment adviser in 2014.

Martin’s legal practice is concentrated in the areas of wealth management, estate planning, trust and estate administration, and charitable giving. He is a member of the American Bar Association (Tax Section) and was Chair of the Tax Section’s Estate and Gift Taxes Committee from 2008 until 2010. He is also a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) and was the Chair of ACTEC’s Charitable Planning and Exempt Organizations Committee from 2010 until 2013 and the President of the ACTEC Foundation from 2014 until 2017. Martin was the Chair of the New England Estate Planning Conference (organized by Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education) from 2007 through 2012, and a founding member of the Professional Advisors Committee to The Boston Foundation, serving as the Committee’s initial Chair from 2000-2008. In 2020, The Planned Giving Group of New England awarded Martin the David M. Donaldson Distinguished Service Award for his “outstanding service and leadership in the field of charitable gift planning”.

Martin is a co-author of The Harvard Manual on the Tax Aspects of Charitable Giving (9th ed. 2011) and of Practical Guide to Estate Planning (CCH 2022). He is a frequent speaker at national and local charitable giving and estate planning programs and has been quoted on various charitable tax matters in The Wall Street Journal.

Martin holds law degrees from Cambridge University and Boston University School of Law. He was a visiting fellow and lecturer in law at the University of Chicago Law School in 1982-83.

Martin, his wife, Sarita, and their daughters, Sofia and Olivia, live in Boston.

Head of Family Office Fiduciary Services

Jacqueline L. Rahn

Jacqueline (“Jacqui”) Rahn is Head of Family Office Fiduciary Services for RWA. In this role, Jacqui is responsible for providing subject matter expertise on fiduciary and trust administration matters. Jacqui partners with both internal and external trustees, estate planning attorneys, and other tax and investment professionals to tailor creative trust solutions to complex matters.

Before moving into to her current role, Jacqui served as Fiduciary Services Director and as a Senior Client Officer for RWA. Previously, she was a trust administrator for Ropes & Gray LLP. Prior to joining Ropes, Jacqui worked as an attorney for five years.

Jacqui earned a JD from Boston University School of Law and a BS in finance and economics from the University of Delaware.

Jacqui lives in Norfolk with her husband and their two young children.

Director of Family Office Operations

Michael F. Richardi

Michael (“Mike”) Richardi serves as RWA’s Director of Family Office Operations. In this role, Mike integrates client service and back-office operations to provide a comprehensive end client experience related to all financial services offerings. He works closely with the various asset custodians and internal teams, keeping processes and offerings up to date. Mike also brings extensive experience in complex estate settlements to RWA, specializing in the management of estate and ongoing trust relationships for clients. Mike works closely and cooperatively with clients, families, and the fiduciary partners, always striving to deliver exceptional service throughout the estate settlement process. He is dedicated to providing a smooth transition and efficient execution of financial estate plans from the funding and management of estate and trust accounts through final settlement.

Mike joined RWA in 2020 after spending four years with Ropes & Gray’s Estate Settlement group. Prior to joining Ropes & Gray, Mike practiced as an attorney, focusing on civil litigation and real estate transactions.

Mike remains a lawyer in good standing in Massachusetts, having earned a JD summa cum laude from Suffolk University Law School, and a BA cum laude in English from Villanova University. While at Suffolk, he served as a content editor for the Journal of High Technology Law. Mike currently resides in Boston and enjoys a balance of skiing in the winter and boating in the summer.

Director of Family Office Financial Planning

Winfield C. Grimm

Winfield (“Win”) Grimm serves as Director of Family Office Financial Planning for RWA Family Office. In this role, Win is responsible for designing and implementing financial plans for our individual and family clients, and he works closely with other members of the Family Office Financial Planning team. Win is a key firm resource on our chosen financial planning software, eMoney, and uses this technology to maximize our clients’ connectivity to their wealth and retirement goals. Win also partners with RWA’s investment and client service professionals, trustees, and clients’ external advisors to ensure that various aspects of their wealth management plans are implemented.

Prior to joining RWA in 2015, Win was as an Assistant Financial Analyst at AIG and as a Finance Co-op at L-3 Communications. At AIG he researched and analyzed small insurance companies for AIG to reinsure, as well as reviewed process records using statistical analysis to locate errors. At L-3 he worked in accounts payable, maintained airfare, tax and freight spreadsheets and performed inventory matching on a daily basis.

Win earned an MBA from Boston University’s Questrom School of Business and BS in Business Administration from Northeastern University. Originally from Martha’s Vineyard, Win currently resides in Boston, though goes back to the island as often as he can. He enjoys playing pickup basketball, estate sales, and paddle boarding.

Portfolio Manager & Director

Daniel L. Almeida

Daniel Almeida serves as a Portfolio Manager and Director at RWA Family Office and is a member of the firm’s Investment Team and Investment Policy Committee. In his role, he meets with current and potential clients to discuss investment philosophy and process; develops and implements each of his client’s investment objectives; and establishes ongoing portfolio recommendations based on market environment, tax considerations, and individual client objectives. Daniel performs equity security analysis on behalf of clients especially as it relates to concentrated positions and is a key contributor to the individual fixed income management process from portfolio construction to execution. Daniel plays a key role in helping the firm meet its best execution requirements, as well as with RWA’s asset allocation and manager search and selection efforts.

Prior to joining RWA, he was an equity trader for Boston Private Wealth and member of the firm’s Best Execution Committee. In this role, he was responsible for trading all client accounts invested in the firm’s proprietary equity strategies, while focusing on portfolio drift and specific client requirements. Daniel began his career at Boston Private Bank & Trust as a client service associate.

Daniel graduated magna cum laude from Johnson & Wales University, where he was a member of the Silver Key Honor Society, with a BS in Business Management and Business Administration. Daniel earned CFA Level I and is a CFA Level II Candidate.

An avid hockey player and former college goalie, Daniel plays in a number of competitive men’s hockey leagues. Daniel resides in Foxboro with his wife and four children, and enjoys sports, travel, the outdoors, and quality time with his family and friends.

Portfolio Manager & Director

Shruti Bansal

Shruti Bansal serves as a Portfolio Manager and Director at RWA Family Office and is a member of the firm’s Investment Team. In her role, she meets with current and potential clients to discuss RWA’s investment philosophy and process. For each client, she helps establish and implement an appropriate investment objective, typically customized within the broader wealth management architecture of the client. Shruti is actively involved in equity security analysis on behalf of clients and manager due diligence across all asset classes. She plays an integral role in RWA’s asset allocation and manager search and selection effort, and is a member of the Investment Policy Committee.

Shruti brings over 20 years of experience in investment and portfolio management, where she has worked closely with high net-worth clients to provide proactive and unbiased investment advice grounded in intensive and independent research. Her research background covers all asset classes, especially hedge funds, private equity, venture capital, private real estate, and other alternative strategies. Shruti has held various positions at multi-family registered investment advisers, single family offices, pensions, foundations, and insurance companies and has been responsible for thought leadership as well as investment policy and capital allocation decisions.

Shruti earned her BS in Economics from Montclair State University. She is a CFA^®1 charter holder and is a member of the CFA Institute and CFA Society Boston. Shruti was born and raised in India and moved to the United States after high school to attend undergraduate college. Shruti volunteers as an Investment Committee member of Rosie’s Place, the first women’s shelter in the U.S., which opened in 1974.

She lives with her husband and two children in Newton, where she is actively involved in the school PTO board. She is busy writing a recipe book which she hopes to publish one day. Apart from creating recipes, she loves growing her own fruits and vegetables in the summer and enjoys hiking and spending time with her family and friends.

_{¹ Chartered Financial Analyst^® or CFA^® designation is a professional certification offered by the CFA Institute. In order to earn the CFA^® designation, candidates must complete a series of three exams, possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution or have equivalent education or work experience as well as 4 years of qualified, professional work experience. CFA® charterholders are also obligated to adhere to a strict Code of Ethics and Standards governing their professional conduct. More information about the CFA^® designation is available at CFA Program (cfainstitute.org).}

Portfolio Manager & Director

Jeremy Lehrer

Jeremy Lehrer serves as a Portfolio Manager and Director at RWA and is a member of the firm’s Investment Team. In his role, Jeremy meets with current and potential clients to discuss investment philosophy and process; develops and implements each of his client’s investment objectives; and establishes ongoing portfolio recommendations based on market environment, tax considerations, and individual client objectives. Jeremy’s breadth of experience in financial services helps shape his commitment to providing exceptional client service. 

Previously at Matthews Asia, Jeremy helped investment advisors like RWA better understand investment opportunities in Asian and Emerging Markets. At Charles Schwab, he helped investors understand research resources for their separately managed account platform. As an emerging market debt intern at a Japanese bank in the late nineties, Jeremy observed (but did not directly cause) the Asian Financial Crisis. 

Jeremy graduated with a BA in Asian Studies and Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and holds a Masters of Pacific International Affairs from the School of International Relations and Pacific Studies at the University of California, San Diego. He has earned the right to use the Chartered Financial Analyst^®, Certified Private Wealth Advisor ^® and Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst ^® designations.

Jeremy lives with his wife in San Francisco and Sonoma, CA, and enjoys world travel (53 countries and counting), audiobooks, and the occasional glass of wine. 

The fact that an employee holds a particular designation or credential does not guarantee that a specific investment-related result will be achieved; nor does such protect against loss of investment principal. For more information on credentials please refer to the Professional Credentials page on this website.

Portfolio Manager & Director

Jennifer K. Loveless

Jennifer Loveless, CFP^®1, serves as a Portfolio Manager and Director at RWA Family Office and is a member of the firm’s Investment Team with a specialty in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investing. In her role, Jennifer meets with current and potential clients to establish and implement investment and financial planning strategies based on their unique goals. Using her expertise to analyze each client’s financial picture through a holistic framework, Jennifer can better assess their specific needs and successfully plan for their near- and long-term time horizon. Jennifer is also a member of the Investment Policy Committee and contributes to RWA’s asset allocation and manager search and selection process.

As an ESG specialist, Jennifer coordinates directly with the CIO to conduct research and due diligence on third party managers for the firm’s ESG platform. She also is a key contributor to RWA’s ESG thought leadership and education pieces.

Prior to joining RWA, Jennifer was a Wealth Advisor for Boston Private Wealth and its predecessors, Banyan Partners and Silver Bridge Advisors. In this role, she was responsible for investment management and ongoing financial planning for her clients. Jennifer began her career as an Operations Analyst at Brown Brothers Harriman.

Jennifer graduated with a BS in Business Administration from Boston University and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^® professional. She is a Board Member of The Harvard Kent Leadership & Scholarship Partnership, Inc., an organization whose mission is to sponsor and fund programs at the Harvard-Kent Elementary School in Charlestown, MA that enhance the educational opportunities and experiences for children who attend this school.

In her free time, Jennifer is a dedicated volunteer with Year Up, Inc., Junior Achievement, and the MSPCA. She resides in Charlestown and enjoys hiking with her dog, Louie, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

_{¹ CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^® or CFP^® certification is granted by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (“CFP Board”). Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree (or higher) from an accredited college or university and three years of full-time personal financial planning experience. To receive CFP^® certification, candidates must complete a CFP Board Registered Program or hold an accepted designation , degree or license; pass the CFP^® Certification Examination; and agree to be bound by CFP Board’s Standards of Professional Conduct. In addition, a CFP^® professional must complete 30 hours of continuing education every two years. More information about CFP^® certification is available at https://www.cfp.net.}

Portfolio Manager & Director

Michael J. Stevens

Michael Stevens serves as a Portfolio Manager and Director at RWA Family Office and is a member of the firm’s Investment Team. In this role, he meets with current and potential clients to discuss investment philosophy and process; develops and implements each of his client’s investment objectives; and establishes ongoing portfolio recommendations based on market environment, tax considerations, and individual client objectives. Michael performs equity security analysis on behalf of clients and is a key contributor to the trading and analysis of individual equity securities and options, especially as it relates to concentrated client positions. Additionally, he oversees all aspects of trading and our third-party brokerage relationships to help ensure best execution for our clients. Michael plays an integral role in RWA’s asset allocation and manager search and selection effort, and is a member of the Investment Policy Committee.

Prior to joining RWA, Michael was an investment analyst at Foster Dykema Cabot & Co., Inc., a high-net-worth registered investment adviser and multi-family office in Boston. He was responsible for all trading and supported the firm’s research efforts in equity, fixed income, and liquid alternatives. Prior to that, Michael was employed by Silver Bridge Capital Management LLC as Head Trader and a key contributor to the firm’s investment team, with focus on U.S. Large Cap equity and liquid alternative investment strategies. Michael also served on the Asset Allocation Committee at Silver Bridge Capital Management. Michael began his career at Fidelity Investments, within the Pricing and Cash Management Services group, providing operational support and accounting to institutional investment advisers.

Michael earned a BS in Finance from Syracuse University. He is a member of the Inner-City Scholarship Fund Professional’s Team, notably organizing visits for Greater Boston high school students to RWA to discuss career paths and college planning. Born and raised in Milton, Michael lives there with his wife and three daughters, and coaches youth soccer and basketball for the town. Michael also serves on the board of St. Mary of the Hills Church in Milton. Michael is an Eagle Scout, enjoys music and being outdoors, especially boating and skiing, and most importantly, spending time with his family and friends.

Portfolio Manager & Director

Terrence C. Tedeschi

Terrence C. Tedeschi serves as a Portfolio Manager and Director at RWA Family Office and is a member of the firm’s Investment Team. In his role, he meets with current and potential clients to discuss investment philosophy and process; develops and implements his clients’ investment objectives; and establishes ongoing portfolio recommendations based on market environment, tax considerations, and individual client objectives. Terrence performs equity security analysis on behalf of our clients and is a key contributor to the trading and analysis of individual equity securities, especially as it relates to concentrated client positions. As a key member of the Investment Policy Committee, Terrence plays an integral role in RWA’s asset allocation and manager search and selection effort, and he is responsible for all aspects of performance analysis for RWA’s key investment strategies.

Previously, Terrence was an equity trader and member of the Asset Allocation Committee for Boston Private Wealth, a subsidiary of Boston Bank & Trust. In his role, he was responsible for the trading of all client accounts invested within the firm’s proprietary equity strategies with the responsibility to minimize portfolio drift and ensure adherence with any specific client restrictions or requests. Terrence began his career at US Bank as a portfolio administrator within the Corporate Trust Services division.

Terrence earned a BS in Finance from Bentley University, where he was a member of the golf team, and an MBA from The Carroll School of Management at Boston College. Terrence currently resides south of Boston with his wife and three children. Terrence enjoys all sports, travel, music, and spending time with his family and friends.

Chief of Data Analytics

Sophia S. Flaxen

Sophia Flaxen serves as Chief of Data Analytics at RWA Family Office and RWA Wealth Partners, where she is responsible for managing the operational and business needs for the organization. In this capacity she manages key technology vendor relationships, financial reporting, business analysis, finances and budgeting, and overall business operations. Sophia also works with and supervises a team of operations administrators and specialists responsible for establishing new accounts, processing cash and asset transfer requests, reconciling account positions and cash, assessing fees, and administering various other client service requests. Sophia is also a member of the Business Oversight Committee of RWA.

Prior to joining RWA, Sophia spent almost 20 years working at Ropes & Gray LLP in trust administration and technology strategy. She previously led the Trust Services area for the Private Client Group, managing a team of trust administrators and assistants. Sophia headed up the group’s conversion to SEI in 2006 and to a new performance measurement platform in 2013. More recently, she was responsible for vendor management, client reporting and business analysis for the department.

Sophia earned a BA (Hons) from Oxford University and completed law school in England at Middlesex University (Common Professional Examination) and Nottingham Trent University (Legal Practice Course). Sophia has served as a board member and Secretary of SEI’s BSP Client Advisory Group and is an active contributor to the SEI Boston User Group. Sophia resides in Melrose with her husband and three children, and enjoys spending time with her family and friends (here and in the U.K.) and escaping occasionally to a ski house in Vermont.

Business Planning Director

Sharon J. Phelan

Sharon Phelan, CFP^®1 serves as the Business Planning Director of RWA Family Office and focuses on innovative services and strategic initiatives that support the RWA team as we strive to deliver an integrated client experience. Sharon possesses considerable organizational abilities and applies these talents to drive key elements of our technology platform, including researching and implementing new technology enhancements in an effort to continually improve the accuracy and efficiency of our operations and client servicing.

Before joining RWA, Sharon worked as a trust client service assistant and then as a financial paraplanner for Ropes & Gray LLP. Sharon previously worked at Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch with some of the industry’s largest financial advising teams, gaining extensive knowledge in investments, portfolio management, and personal, high-touch client servicing.

Sharon earned a BA from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^® professional, a member of the Financial Planning Association of Massachusetts, and earned her certificate in Financial Planning from Boston University’s Center for Professional Education.

Sharon lives in South Carolina and spends as much free-time as possible in Maine, and is a dedicated volunteer and supporter of Boston CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) for foster children in the Greater Boston area.

_{¹ CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® or CFP® certification is granted by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (“CFP Board”). Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree (or higher) from an accredited college or university and three years of full-time personal financial planning experience. To receive CFP® certification, candidates must complete a CFP Board Registered Program or hold an accepted designation, degree or license; pass the CFP® Certification Examination; and agree to be bound by CFP Board’s Standards of Professional Conduct. In addition, a CFP® professional must complete 30 hours of continuing education every two years. More information about CFP® certification is available at https://www.cfp.net.}

Associate Compliance Director

Irene E. Brennan

Irene Brennan serves as Associate Compliance Director and leverages over 20 years of experience with investment advisers to support all aspects of the firm’s compliance program. Irene works closely with the Chief Compliance Officer to conduct annual compliance risk assessments and plays a key role in managing the firm’s compliance testing regime. Irene is also responsible for staying abreast of current regulations and industry best practices, in order to recommend ongoing enhancements to RWA’s compliance policies and procedures.

Prior to RWA, Irene was the Compliance Manager at Middleton & Company Inc. for 10 years, where she was responsible developing, implementing, and maintaining all day-to-day aspects of Middleton’s compliance program. Prior to Middleton, Irene assisted registered investment advisers and hedge funds with their regulatory requirements and corporate responsibilities as a paralegal at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Nicholson Graham LLP, Hill and Barlow, and Edwards & Angell, LLC.

Irene graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a BA degree and completed the Legal Assistant Program at Georgetown University. She is a member of the New England Broker Dealer Investment Adviser Association (“NEBDIAA”). Irene resides in Westwood with her husband and two children, and enjoys gardening, hiking with her dog, and spending time with family and friends locally as well as in Nova Scotia.

Portfolio Trading Senior Officer

James J. Danna

James (“Jim”) Danna serves as Portfolio Trading Senior Officer for RWA Family Office. In his role, he is responsible for the creation, execution, and oversight of client investment portfolios in conjunction with the Portfolio Managers, preparing and inputting trades with brokers and custodians. Working closely with the Client Officers and Portfolio Managers, Jim plays a critical role in managing cash flows for the clients of RWA. He also coordinates and monitors the trading and implementation process of the separate account managers that RWA has engaged. Jim is a member of the firm’s Investment Team and the Investment Policy Committee, contributing key reporting elements for Investment Policy Committee.

Prior to RWA, Jim was with Ropes & Gray since October 1990, spending the first decade of his tenure in the firm’s Finance Department, where he held the positions of Billing Clerk, Senior Billing Clerk, Staff Accountant, and Senior Accounting Representative. He joined the Private Client Group in 2001 where he held positions of Control Specialist and Trust Distributions Specialist before becoming one of the firm’s Portfolio Traders in 2009.

Jim earned a BS in Business Administration from Stonehill College in 1990.  A resident of Walpole, MA, Jim enjoys spending time with family and friends and is well known around the office as our resident foodie.

Business Operations Specialist

Linda M. Darsney

Linda Darsney serves as a Business Operations Specialist at RWA Family Office. In her role, she is responsible for providing operational support related to the firm’s investment and business functions. She is particularly responsible for the calculation and assessment of fees for all of RWA clients, as well as critical account maintenance and audits. Linda also supports the monitoring of the omnibus custody account RWA maintains with our key vendor and qualified custodian, SEI Private Trust Company, as well as critical securities processing functions.

Prior to joining RWA, Linda worked as a Trust Client Services Assistant for Ropes & Gray, providing support for the Private Client Group. She also gained extensive experience working in both the public and private sector, where she served in the positions of Securities Accountant, Staff Accountant and Senior Accountant.

Linda earned a BS degree in Accounting from Boston College. She resides in Rowley, Mass with her husband and two children, including one recent college graduate, and her beloved dogs.

Client Administrator

Jillian DeMelo

Jillian DeMelo is a Client Administrator at RWA Family Office. Jillian provides critical administrative and operational support to our successful individual, family, endowment, and foundation clients. She partners with RWA investment, financial planning, and client service professionals, as well as with trustees and clients’ external advisors, to ensure that all aspects of their wealth management plan needs are implemented and supported. Jillian is dedicated to providing clients with the highest level of client service.

Prior to joining RWA, Jillian worked as National Settlement Coordinator at Manning Gross & Massenburg, LLP, where she was responsible for settlement management that included preparation of settlement documents, retrieval of supporting settlements documents, and payment of funds, as well as an annual audit of open claims.

Jillian earned a degree in Business Administration at Temple University and studied abroad in Rome, Italy. Jillian is currently working on obtaining dual citizenship in Italy. She enjoys reading, traveling, and great food and coffee.

Co-Head of Family Office Tax Services and Senior Tax Accountant

Meredith Doucette

As Co-Head of Family Office Tax Services and Senior Tax Accountant of RWA Tax Solutions, Meredith Doucette is responsible for the preparation and timely filing of federal and state individual and fiduciary income tax returns, charitable returns, and tax estimates of the highest complexity. In addition, Meredith prepares and timely files other related tax returns, including non-profit, employment, and gift returns; prepares tax estimates and tax information documents; and performs complex calculations of various tax scenarios to assist and work with both clients and their fiduciaries on strategic tax planning.

Meredith joined RWA Tax Solutions in 2023. Prior to joining, Meredith spent nearly 8 years as a Tax Advisor at Loring, Wolcott & Coolidge where she assisted clients with their individual, fiduciary and not-for-profit tax needs. She began her career at Grant Thornton as a tax team member in their private wealth services group.

Meredith earned both a Master of Science in Accounting and a Master of Business Administration at Northeastern University. She is a Certified Public Accountant¹ and a member of the Massachusetts Society of CPAs. Her undergraduate degree in psychology was awarded by Wheaton College (MA).

Meredith resides in Newton with her husband and enjoys baking, gardening and jigsaw puzzling. She is a dedicated volunteer and supporter of Cake4Kids, a non-profit organization that provides free custom homemade birthday cakes to at-risk and underserved youth.

_{¹ CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT (“CPA”) is a designation is granted by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (“AICPA”). To earn the CPA designation, candidates must have a bachelor’s degree, meet minimum experience levels, and pass the Uniform CPA Examination. Additionally, CPAs must meet annual continuing education requirements and adhere to a rigorous Code of Professional Conduct. CPAs are licensed and regulated by their state boards of accountancy.}

Senior Client Officer

Svetlana Finn (Lana)

Lana Finn is a Senior Client Officer at RWA Family Office. Lana has over 10 years of experience in wealth management, where her career has focused on serving the needs of successful individuals, families, endowments, and foundations. Lana works with clients to help manage the planning and administrative aspects of their wealth and is dedicated to the highest level of client service. Lana partners with RWA investment and financial planning professionals, trustees, and clients’ external advisors to ensure that a comprehensive and customized wealth plan is established and implemented.

Before joining RWA, Lana spent 10 years with Grimes & Company, Inc. Prior to Grimes, Lana worked at Northwestern Mutual, specializing in life, disability, and long-term care insurance.

Lana earned a BS degree from the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She majored in Finance & Operations Management with a minor in Economics.

Lana resides in Bellingham with her husband and two children. Always outdoors, Lana loves to spend her time hiking, snowboarding, and gardening.

Client Service Administrator

Hermia Ivy Fong Lo

Ivy Lo is a Client Service Administrator at RWA Family Office. With extensive experience in wealth management, Ivy’s career has focused on serving the needs of successful individuals, families, endowments, and foundations. Working with clients to help manage the planning and administrative aspects of their wealth, she is dedicated to the highest level of client service. Ivy partners with RWA investment and financial planning professionals, trustees, and clients’ external advisors to ensure that a comprehensive and customized wealth plan is established and implemented.

Previously, Ivy administered trusts in various assistant roles at Ropes & Gray LLP, including as a Trust Administrator within the Private Client Group. Prior to joining Ropes & Gray, Ivy worked for Investor’s Bank & Trust serving clients consisting of Wealth Management Firms and Corporations with Trust and Estate Accounts. Ivy started her career as an associate at State Street Global Advisors in the Shareholder Services Group, where she performed financial and analytical operations for portfolio managers, as well as reporting trading activity to investment managers and clients.

Ivy earned a BA from Eastern Nazarene College. She completed trust school at Cannon Financial Institute and is currently pursuing a Certified Trust and Financial Advisor’s certification.

Ivy resides in Braintree with her husband and two children, and enjoys spending time with her family and running.

Senior Client Officer

Shannon W. Groppi

Shannon Groppi is a Senior Client Officer at RWA Family Office. Shannon has over 20 years of experience in wealth management, where her career has focused on serving the needs of successful individuals, families, endowments, and foundations. Shannon works with clients to help manage the planning and administrative aspects of their wealth and is dedicated to the highest level of client service. Shannon partners with RWA investment and financial planning professionals, trustees, and clients’ external advisors to ensure that a comprehensive and customized wealth plan is established and implemented.

Before joining RWA, Shannon spent three years at Ropes & Gray LLP in the Private Client Group as a Senior Trust Client Service Administrator. Prior to joining Ropes & Gray, Shannon was a client service and operations professional at UBS, Silver Bridge Advisors LLC, and Atlantic Trust Company where she held various roles within each firm.

Shannon earned a BS from Bridgewater State College in 1996.

Shannon resides in Wakefield with her husband and three young daughters, and enjoys spending time with her family and friends.

Client Administrator

Rajaa Habib

As a Client Administrator at RWA Family Office, Rajaa Habib provides critical administrative support to our team of Client Officers. In this role, Rajaa is responsible for responding to client requests, initiating financial or account related transactions, onboarding new clients, maintaining client records, and managing short-term projects. With substantial experience in financial services and business development, Rajaa is dedicated to providing clients with the highest level of service.

Prior to joining RWA, Rajaa has held several positions in the banking and investment management fields. In her most recent role as executive assistant to the president of South Shore Investment Services, Rajaa served as a trusted liaison with advisors and clients. At both Citizens Bank and PNC Bank, Rajaa leveraged her international background and interpersonal skills to lead business sales in a highly competitive environment. Before emigrating to the United States, Rajaa spent over 17 years in various management, marketing, sales and consulting roles in Morocco and Europe, including France, Cyprus, Sweden and Italy.

A Moroccan native, Rajaa holds an MBA in Luxury Management from EDC Paris, France, and earned her Bachelor’s degree in corporate finance and audit from an elite business school in Morocco (ISCAE).

Rajaa is fluent in multiple languages: English, French and several Arabic dialects. She is passionate about NASCAR, cooking, and trying new food with her joyful, full of life daughter!

Client Officer

Julie E. Hanscom

Julie Hanscom is a Client Officer at RWA Family Office. Julie has over fifteen years of experience in wealth management, where her career has focused on serving the needs of successful individuals, families, endowments, and foundations. Julie partners with RWA’s investment and financial planning professionals, trustees, and clients’ external advisors and accountants to ensure that each client’s comprehensive and customized wealth plan is established and implemented.

Prior to joining RWA, Julie spent twelve years at Ropes & Gray LLP in a variety of positions, including Document Control Assistant, Trust Client Services Assistant, and Trust Client Services Coordinator, where she handled the administration of insurance trusts and retirement plans. Julie transitioned to RWA as a Client Specialist, continuing her work with these accounts in addition to assisting clients with specialty areas of administration.

Julie is a dedicated volunteer for Mass General’s blood drives that are conducted six times a year at Ropes & Gray, where she is responsible for scheduling and managing donors, and fielding questions regarding donor eligibility.

Julie earned an Associate’s degree from Bay Path Junior College. Julie resides in Easton and enjoys spending time with her family and friends. Julie also enjoys traveling, gardening, and cooking.

Senior Client Officer

Valerie A. Katz

Valerie Katz is a Senior Client Officer at RWA Family Office. Val has over 35 years of experience in wealth management, where her career has focused on serving the needs of successful individuals, families, endowments, and foundations. Val works with clients to help manage the planning and administrative aspects of their wealth and is dedicated to the highest level of client service. Val partners with RWA investment and financial planning professionals, trustees, and clients’ external advisors to ensure that a comprehensive and customized wealth plan is established and implemented.

Before joining RWA, Val spent 30 years at Ropes & Gray LLP in Trust Administration and Trust Operations. Val held positions of Senior Trust Client Service Administrator and Portfolio Trader.

Val is a graduate of Cannon Trust School and enjoys ballroom dance classes in her spare time.

Senior Client Officer

Sarah A. Kritikos

Sarah Kritikos is a Senior Client Officer at RWA Family Office. Sarah works with clients to help manage the planning and administrative aspects of their wealth and is dedicated to the highest level of client service. Sarah partners with RWA investment and financial planning professionals, trustees, and clients’ external advisors to ensure that a comprehensive and customized wealth plan is established and implemented.

Prior to joining RWA, Sarah was a Fiduciary Legal Administrator with the Private Client Group at Ropes & Gray and previously worked as an associate attorney for a trusts and estates firm. Sarah earned her BA from Stonehill College and her JD and LLM in Taxation from Suffolk University Law School.

Sarah lives in Revere with her husband and two cats (Batman and Thor). In her free time, Sarah volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts and enjoys reading novels for her book club.

Operations Administrator

Grace Lee

Grace Lee serves as an Operations Administrator for RWA Family Office. She is responsible for providing operational and administrative support to individuals, families, and institutions as part of our dedicated team delivering wealth management and client services. In this role, she processes various client account transactions and facilitates the onboarding and transition of client relationships by performing reconciliation of portfolios across our custodial, portfolio management, and trading systems.

Prior to joining RWA, Grace interned with the Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee and served as a Peer Advocate at her university’s Rape Crisis Center. In these positions, Grace was responsible or various administrative tasks such as filing, data-entry, and maintaining databases. Previously, she has volunteered with the Borgen Project advocating for anti-poverty bills and with 7 Elements where she served low-income communities in the Dominican Republic. Through these diverse experiences, Grace has developed her passion for advocacy and client service.

Grace graduated from Brandeis University with a BA in International and Global Studies, and a minor in Legal Studies. She is originally from Nashua, New Hampshire. In her free time, she loves to cook, read, do hip hop dance, and go on long runs.

Co-Head of Family Office Tax Services and Senior Tax Accountant

Katherine Livingston

As Co-Head of Family Office Tax Services and Senior Tax Accountant for RWA Tax Solutions, Katherine (“Katie”) Livingston is responsible for the preparation and timely filing of federal and state individual and fiduciary income tax returns, and tax estimates of the highest complexity, including the gathering and analysis of all information needed to complete these returns and to determine the lowest lawful tax burden for the client. In addition, Katie also prepares and timely files other related tax returns, tax estimates and tax information documents, and performs complex calculations of various tax scenarios to assist and work with both clients and their fiduciaries with strategic tax planning.

Katie joined RWA Tax Solutions in 2023, having spent more than four years with Ropes & Gray LLP, most recently as Senior Income Tax Accountant. She began her career in public accounting, working in the Private Client Service group of BDO, USA LLP where she prepared complex 1040s for high net worth individual clients.

Katie is a graduate of Emmanuel College with BS in Accounting. She is an Enrolled Agent¹ and is able to represent clients before the Internal Revenue Service. Katie resides in Walpole and enjoys reading in her spare time.

_{¹ An Enrolled Agent has earned the privilege of representing taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service by either passing a three-part comprehensive IRS test covering individual and business tax returns, or through experience as a former IRS employee. Enrolled Agent status is the highest credential the IRS awards. Individuals who obtain this elite status must adhere to ethical standards and complete 72 hours of continuing education courses every three years.}

Lead Estate Settlement Administrator

Ellen S. Lohman

Ellen Lohman serves as RWA Family Office’s Lead Estate Settlement Administrator. Ellen brings her 35 years of experience in complex estate settlement to RWA, focusing on the management of the estate settlement process and meeting the needs of the families who are impacted by the loss of a loved one. Ellen works closely with family members and fiduciaries to secure the appointment of personal representatives by the probate court, gather information for preparation of estate tax returns, coordinate the valuation, collection and transfer of assets, and ultimately ensure that estate and trust assets are distributed accurately and in a timely fashion.

Ellen joined RWA in 2023 after spending over three decades with Ropes & Gray LLP’s Private Client Group. In her years at Ropes & Gray, Ellen was a champion of process improvement, creating many of the department’s tools for tracking estates – promoting consistency and high standards throughout the settlement process. As a highly trusted team member, she has also consistently served as a mentor and trainer to less experienced and newer members of the team.

Ellen is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire where she earned a BA in history and was a member of the Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society.

Ellen resides in Saint Augustine, Florida, where she enjoys spending time with her family, ballroom dancing, sunrise beach walks, and hosting friends from Boston!

Senior Client Officer

Michael E. Martin

Michael (“Mike”) Martin, CFP^®1 is a Senior Client Officer at RWA Family Office. Mike assists clients with planning and administrative aspects of their wealth management. Mike partners with RWA investment and financial planning professionals, trustees, and clients’ external advisors to ensure that a comprehensive and customized wealth plan is established and implemented.

Mike’s career in financial services has focused on serving the needs of individuals, families and business owners. Before joining RWA, Mike assisted clients as a Financial Planning Specialist and Trust Administrator at J.M. Forbes and Co. LLP, a Retirement Investment Specialist at Fidelity Investments and a Tax Accountant at Ropes & Gray LLP in the Private Client Group.

Mike earned a BS in Business Administration from Northeastern University. Mike is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^® certificant and has earned the Certified Trust and Financial Advisor (CTFA) designation.

Mike resides in Cambridge with his wife and enjoys spending time on the Cape, competing in triathlons and paddle boarding. Mike was a board member of Cape Cod MOVES which is a non-profit raising funds through activities to distribute to other non-profits serving the Cape and Islands. Mike is a member of the Falmouth Walk Committee which hosts events each year to raise funds for Falmouth charities. Mike is a member of the L Street Running Club, the Falmouth Track Club and the Cape Cod Triathlon Team. Mike also has enjoyed volunteering for the Falmouth Service Center which helps those in need in the community with food donations, financial support and professional counsel. Mike has volunteered as an instructor for the Credit for Life Fair which helps high school students develop personal financial management skills that they will use throughout their lives.

_{¹ CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^® or CFP^® certification is granted by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (“CFP Board”). Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree (or higher) from an accredited college or university and three years of full-time personal financial planning experience. To receive CFP^® certification, candidates must complete a CFP Board Registered Program or hold an accepted designation, degree or license; pass the CFP^® Certification Examination; and agree to be bound by CFP Board’s Standards of Professional Conduct. In addition, a CFP^® professional must complete 30 hours of continuing education every two years. More information about CFP^® certification is available at https://www.cfp.net.}

Senior Client Officer

Kerri Moore

Kerri Moore, joined RWA Family Office as a senior client officer in 2025. She works with clients to help manage the planning and administrative aspects of their wealth and is dedicated to the highest level of client service. Kerri partners with RWA investment and financial planning professionals, trustees and clients’ external advisors to ensure that a comprehensive and customized wealth plan is established and implemented. 

Prior to joining RWA, Kerri worked with a trust company as a member of the Trust Counsel team, where she was responsible for trust administration, serving as a client liaison and advising trustees and fiduciaries on their duties. She also worked for a small law firm, helping with estate planning, settlement and probate administration, drafting documents and administering estates after death.  

Kerri earned her bachelor’s degree from Stonehill College, majoring in criminology and minoring in business administration. She went on to earn her juris doctorate degree from the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University, where she was the recipient of the Edward J. Speno Memorial Merit scholarship and served as a notes and comments editor for the Labor and Employment Law Journal. She remains a lawyer in good standing in Massachusetts and holds the Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor™ (CTFA™)¹ certification.  

Kerri loves college basketball, reading and spending time with her husband and two young boys. She and her family live in Mansfield, MA.

_{¹Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor certification is conferred by The American Bankers Association. To receive CTFA certification, candidates must have three years of wealth management experience and completion of an approved training program, or five years of personal trust experience and a bachelor’s degree, or 10 years of personal trust experience; pass the CTFA examination; and agree to be bound by the ABA Professional Certifications’ Code of Ethics. More information about the CTFA certification is available at www.aba.com/ctfa.}

Investment Operations Specialist

Jack W. Morefield

Jack Morefield serves as an Investment Operations Specialist for RWA Family Office. In this role, Jack processes all types of client account transactions, and facilitates the onboarding and transition of client relationships by performing reconciliation of portfolios across our custodial, portfolio management, and trading systems. He also provides support to the Portfolio Managers by administering investment-related technology. Working with the Portfolio Trading Senior Officer, Jack coordinates and monitors the trading and timely settlement of the transactions of separate account managers and external investment advisers that RWA or its clients have engaged.

Prior to RWA, Jack was a Portfolio Trader with Ropes & Gray since 2001 and provided notable leadership in software solutions and technology.

Jack resides in Newton with his wife and two sons, and is an accomplished painter and musician.

Investment Analyst

Christopher A. Newton

Christopher (“Chris”) Newton serves as an Investment Analyst at RWA Family Office and is a member of the firm’s Investment Team and Investment Policy Committee. In his role, Chris works with the Investment Team on the formulation of the investment philosophy and process, assists Portfolio Managers with the implementation of client investment objectives, and establishes ongoing portfolio recommendations based on market environment, tax considerations, and individual client objectives. Chris performs attribution analysis on behalf of clients, especially as it relates to concentrated positions, and is a key contributor to the investment process and manager due diligence efforts in support of Portfolio Managers and the CIO.

Previously, Chris worked at AEW Capital Management as a member of the Real Estate Securities group. In this role, he was responsible for providing client reporting as well as review and analysis of investment portfolio information. Chris began his career in financial services at Brown Brothers Harriman.

Chris graduated with a BA in Economics from Trinity College, where he was a Summit Scholar. He is a CFA^®1 charterholder and is a member of the CFA Institute and CFA Society Boston.

Chris resides in Melrose with his wife and young daughter, and enjoys golf, reading, and spending time with his family and friends.

_{¹ Chartered Financial Analyst® or CFA® designation is a professional certification offered by the CFA Institute. In order to earn the CFA® designation, candidates must complete a series of three exams, possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution or have equivalent education or work experience as w ell as 4 years of qualified, professional work experience. CFA® charterholders are also obligated to adhere to a strict Code of Ethics and Standards governing their professional conduct. More information about the CFA® designation is available at CFA Program (cfainstitute.org).}

Client Officer

Erin M. O’Brien

Erin O’Brien is a Client Officer at RWA Family Office. Erin works with clients to help them manage the administrative aspects of their wealth and is dedicated to the highest level of client service. She partners with investment and financial planning professionals as well as with trustees and clients’ external advisors to ensure that all aspects of their wealth management plans are implemented and supported.

Previously, Erin held positions as Client Service Specialist and Client Administrator at RWA. She joined Ropes & Gray LLP in 2017 as a Client Services Assistant. Erin began her career as a Retail Flex Banker at The Washington Trust Company, where she provided customer service and was responsible for handling a broad range of transactions, working on account services, understanding financial products, and offering guidance to local customers and businesses.

Erin earned her BA from the University of Rhode Island, where she studied Public Relations. Erin resides in Boston with her Goldendoodle named Grady.

Senior Tax Administrator

Helen Phillips (Eileen)

As a Senior Tax Administrator for RWA Tax Solutions, Helen (“Eileen”) Phillips is responsible for the administration of systems and procedures designed to ensure timely and accurate filing of tax returns, payment of tax liabilities, and the timely and accurate billing of chargeable services related to any accounts for which RWA Tax Solutions has responsibility. Eileen is also responsible for record keeping of tax filings and providing general administrative and clerical support to RWA Tax Solutions.

Eileen joined RWA Tax Solutions in 2023, having spent 20 years in the Tax Operations group of Ropes & Gray LLP, most recently as Senior Tax Administrator. Prior to her career with Ropes & Gray, Eileen was a Trust & Estates Assistant with Hill & Barlow and has extensive experience in office management and accounts payable.

Eileen resides in Everett and enjoys socializing and traveling with friends, especially to visit family in her native country of Ireland., and her hobbies include knitting and sewing.

Senior Client Officer

Angela Roof

Angela Roof is a Senior Client Officer at RWA Family Office. Angela works with clients to help manage the planning and administrative aspects of their wealth and is dedicated to the highest level of client service. Angela partners with RWA investment and financial planning professionals, trustees, and clients’ external advisors to ensure that a comprehensive and customized wealth plan is established and implemented.

Angela has over 10 years of client service and operations experience. Prior to joining RWA, Angela was a Senior Registered Client Service Associate at Morgan Stanley and previously worked at Fidelity Investments and Acadian Asset Management.

Angela earned her BS in Financial Management from Franklin Pierce University. Angela lives in Charlestown with her Frenchton (Frenchie Boston mix) named Nora.

Financial Planning Analyst

Blake M. Russell

Blake Russell serves as a Financial Planning Analyst for RWA Family Office. In this role, Blake works closely with the Director of Family Office Financial Planning to prepare financial projections, implement financial plans, address client needs, and maintain client relationships.

Prior to joining RWA, Blake worked as an intern at 1st Financial Bank USA working in their finance department and with their loan group. Blake updated management information reports as well as fee analysis and risk forecasting reports. He handled multiple stages of the underwriting process for commercial loans including background checks, experience verification, risk evasion, and completing and submitting the credit memo to the bank’s credit committee.

Blake graduated from Bentley University with a BS in Economics and Finance. He is from Marblehead, MA and has a passion for many activities including skiing, soccer, golf, and playing chess.

Business Planning Administrator

Julia M. Salemme

Julia Salemme is a Business Planning Administrator at RWA Family Office. Julia provides critical administrative and operational support to our successful individual, family, endowment, and foundation clients. Julia partners with RWA investment, financial planning, and client service professionals, as well as trustees and clients’ external advisors to help ensure all aspects of their wealth management plan needs are implemented and supported.

Julia is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Her prior experiences include employment, internships and community service engagements with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Town of Winchester, MA and charitable organizations like Habitat for Humanity and Relay for Life. These experiences, along with her baccalaureate education and international study in Rome and Amsterdam, have helped to formulate and hone her strong passion and commitment to client service and teamwork. These skills and background serve Julia well in the trusted advisor model employed at RWA.

In her free time, Julia enjoys outdoor activities, traveling and spending time with family and friends.

Client Service Specialist

Vikram Sambharya

Vikram (“Vik”) Sambharya is a Client Service Specialist at RWA Family Office. Vik has been working with clients in financial services since 2015. He manages client relationships and provides administrative support to our successful individual, family, endowment, and foundation clients. Vik partners with Ropes Wealth investment and financial planning professionals, trustees, and clients’ external advisors to ensure that all aspects of their wealth management plan needs are implemented and supported.

Prior to joining RWA, Vik worked in fund accounting and custody as an Accounting and Reporting Specialist in BNY Mellon’s Asset Servicing business. The role involved striking daily NAVs of funds held in retirement plans. He began his financial services career as an intern at Pershing, a BNY Mellon company, in their Managed Investments group.

Vik earned a BS in Business Administration from Boston University and his MBA from Boston College. He resides in Allston and enjoys working out at the neighborhood gym.

Senior Estate Client Services Administrator

Lesley B. Stewart

As a Senior Estate Client Services Administrator for RWA Family Office, Lesley Stewart is responsible for the administration of estate and trust accounts, generally including accounts of a highly sensitive or more complex nature. Lesley works in collaboration with other estate administration professionals, estate tax accountants, the Investment Management and Client Service teams at RWA, and clients to identify, value, collect, and distribute assets according to a decedent’s estate plan and to complete the required estate, individual, and fiduciary tax filings. She organizes the daily administrative tasks of an estate, such as controlling the bills and cash flow, while providing the support fiduciaries and families need during estate settlements.

Lesley joined RWA in 2023, having spent more than 16 years with Ropes & Gray LLP, most recently as a Senior Estate Client Services Administrator. Prior to Ropes & Gray LLP, she worked with Deutsche Bank and State Street Bank & Trust.

Lesley graduated from Villanova University with a BA in Economics.

Lesley resides in Wayland with her husband and two children, is a board member and current president of Wayland Youth Soccer, and otherwise keeps healthy by competing in local sprint triathlons.

Business Planning Administrator

Saori Takahashi

Saori Takahashi serves as the Business Planning Administrator at RWA Family Office. In this role, she is responsible for providing crucial support to the strategic initiatives of RWA and leadership related to all aspects of business and office operations. Saori also assists her investment, financial planning, operations, compliance, and client services colleagues with various aspects of administrative and client service support.

Prior to joining RWA, Saori was an Accounts Receivable Coordinator at Barkan Management, a real estate construction, development, and property management company. In an earlier role, Saori provided administrative support at Silver Bridge Advisors LLC to the entire team including executives, the client service team, and the investment team.

Saori earned an MS in Actuarial Science, a BS in Mathematics, and an International Business Management Certificate from Boston University. She also teaches at the Japanese Language School of Greater Boston where she has provided Japanese and mathematics instruction since 2007. Saori is a member of Boston Cares and volunteers at local libraries as a tutor in English and mathematics for GED exams. Saori recently traveled to Tanzania as a part of International Volunteer HQ to teach local elementary school students in 2018.

Originally from Japan, Saori resides in Maynard with her boyfriend, and is a proud mother to a daughter in her twenties. She loves to cook and bake, enjoys reading, and spending time with her family and friends.

Operations Administrator

Colin C. Tarpey

Colin Tarpey serves as an Operations Administrator for RWA Family Office. He is responsible for providing operational support and administration to individuals, families, and institutions as part of our dedicated team delivering wealth management and client services. In this role, Colin processes all types of client account transactions, and facilitates the onboarding and transition of client relationships by performing reconciliation of portfolios across our custodial, portfolio management, and trading systems.

Colin is a proud graduate of Norwich University, where he was a member of the Corps of Cadets. Colin received his degree in Political Science. Prior to joining RWA, he worked for Fidelity and Bank of America.

Colin resides in Cohasset with his wife. In his spare time, he enjoys golf, going to the beach, and spending time with his family and friends.

Senior Client Officer

Beth C. Thorpe

Beth Thorpe is a Senior Client Officer at RWA Family Office. Beth has over 30 years of experience in wealth management, where her career has focused on serving the needs of successful individuals, families, endowments, and foundations. Beth works with clients to help manage the planning and administrative aspects of their wealth and is dedicated to the highest level of client service. Beth partners with RWA investment and financial planning professionals, trustees, and clients’ external advisors to ensure that a comprehensive and customized wealth plan is established and implemented.

Before joining RWA, Beth was a Senior Trust Client Services Administrator at Ropes & Gray for almost 20 years. Prior to Ropes & Gray, she was an Associate Vice President and Trust Officer at the Washington Trust Company.

Beth earned her BS in Criminal Justice from Northeastern University. She lives in Milford, MA and is active in her church, the Faith Community Church of Hopkinton.

Business Operations Specialist

Sean C. Turner

Sean Turner is a Business Operations Specialist at RWA Family Office. In his role, Sean is responsible for providing operational support related to the firm’s investment and business functions. He is particularly involved in the cash flow reconciliation and critical securities processing functions related to corporate actions, private investment tracking, and cost basis maintenance.

Prior to joining RWA, Sean worked as a Derivatives Analyst and provided reconciliation support for OTC trades.

Sean also served as an officer in the United States Army for 6 years. He earned his BA in Economics and Business from Virginia Military Institute and currently lives in Malden, MA.

Tax Administrator

Arianna Witham

As a Tax Administrator for RWA Tax Solutions, Arianna Witham works closely with her team to administer the systems and procedures designed to ensure timely and accurate filing of tax returns, payment of tax liabilities, and the timely and accurate billing of chargeable services related to any accounts for which RWA Tax Solutions has responsibility. Arianna is also responsible for recordkeeping of tax filings and providing general administrative and clerical support to RWA Tax Solutions.

Arianna joined RWA Tax Solutions in 2024. Prior to this role, she had been providing administrative support in the real estate field.

Arianna graduated from Utah Tech University with a BS in English.

Arianna resides in Boston and enjoys reading, trying new recipes, and tending to her many house plants.

Client Officer

Hamilton H. Wood III

Hamilton Wood, CFP^®1, ChFC^®2, is a Client Officer at RWA Family Office. Hamilton brings extensive experience to his role at RWA where he assists clients with planning and administrative aspects of their wealth management. Hamilton partners with RWA investment and financial planning professionals, trustees, and clients’ external advisors to ensure that a comprehensive and customized wealth plan is established and implemented.

Hamilton’s career in financial services has focused on serving the needs of clients within the Investor Services area of the industry. Before joining RWA, Hamilton spent nine years at State Street. Prior to working at State Street, Hamilton spent ten years at Deutsche Asset Management. Hamilton’s career began at Pioneer Investments as a Pricing Analyst.

Hamilton earned a BA in Political Science from the University of Vermont, where he was a member of the Men’s Varsity Lacrosse team. Hamilton is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^® certificant and has earned the Charted Financial Consultant^® designation.

Hamilton resides in Medfield with his wife and two children. In his free time, he coaches youth soccer and lacrosse, enjoys cooking, being active outside, and spending time with family.

_{¹ CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® or CFP® certification is granted by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (“CFP Board”). Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree (or higher) from an accredited college or university and three years of full-time personal financial planning experience. To receive CFP® certification, candidates must complete a CFP Board Registered Program or hold an accepted designation, degree or license; pass the CFP® Certification Examination; and agree to be bound by CFP Board’s Standards of Professional Conduct. In addition, a CFP® professional must complete 30 hours of continuing education every two years. More information about CFP® certification is available at https://www.cfp.net.}

_{² Chartered Financial Consultant® or ChFC® designation is conferred by The American College of Financial Services (“The College”). To receive ChFC® certification, candidates must have three years of professional experience; complete eight college-level courses; and agree to be bound by The College’s Code of Ethics. A ChFC® professional must participate in The College’s Professional Recertification Program to maintain the ChFC® designation. More information about ChFC® certification is available at https://www.theamericanco}

Associate

Emma Wright

As an Associate for RWA, Emma Wright provides expert fiduciary services and estate planning to clients as part of RWA’s offering of trust and estate administration. Emma’s responsibilities include all aspects of estate and individual planning, including sophisticated wealth and gift transfers, complex estate planning strategies, and estate and trust administration. Emma works closely with clients to create and administer estate plans that provide practical and tailored solutions to their individual needs. In creating an estate plan, she focuses on building ongoing relationships with her clients and their families to ensure that their goals continue to be met over time and as their circumstances evolve.

In addition to her role at RWA, Emma is an associate of Hall and Diana LLP, a boutique law firm specializing in domestic and international estate, tax, and charitable planning, estate settlement, and fiduciary administration. Prior to joining RWA in 2023, Emma was an associate in the Private Client Group at Ropes & Gray LLP and an associate at Hemenway & Barnes LLP.

Outside of the office, you can find Emma at Pilates class, walking the Boston harbor with her dog, cheering on the Boston Celtics, or searching for flight deals.

Research Analyst

Rowan Niemela

Rowan is a research analyst at RWA Wealth Partners. He is responsible for individual equity research, data analysis and providing insights to support the investment management team’s decision-making process. Prior to joining RWA in 2025, he worked as an equity research associate for Manning & Napier, an asset manager based in Rochester, NY.

Rowan received his B.S. in financial economics from the University of Rochester. In his free time, he loves to play sports, particularly basketball and golf, and read fiction novels.