In the latest episode of Focused on the Future, veteran industry leader Suzanne Siracuse talks with Mike LaMena, CEO of Wealthspire, on how he is ensuring his clients never outgrow his firm’s offering and advice, creating a DEIB strategy that works and why the future of advice is “human.”

Specifically, Mike and Suzanne discuss:

• His unique journey from a volunteer teacher in the Bronx, to working for a top advisor at Morgan Stanley to CEO at an RIA
• Why going from a front office to a back-office role shaped who he is as a leader
• His firm’s focus on offering specialized services and specific areas of expertise 
• Why family office services, especially trust and estate areas, are key to his growth strategy
• How he is addressing mutli-generational planning with a “matching” program
• His three-pillar DEIB strategy and why he’s made this a priority
• Why a giving back mindset will attract and retain both team members and clients.

Connect With Suzanne Siracuse:

• LinkedIn: Suzanne Siracuse
• Twitter: Suzanne Siracuse
• Suzanne@suzannesiracuse.com

Connect With MIKE LAMENA:

• Wealthspire
• Company LinkedIn: Wealthspire Advisors
• Personal LinkedIn: Michael LaMena
• mike.lamena@wealthspire.com

About our Guest:

Mike LaMena is the Chief Executive Officer of Wealthspire Advisors, having joined the firm in September 2017. He has 27+ years of experience building, operating and leading global wealth management organizations. His commitment to service excellence and his fundamental belief in the power of the firm’s independent, conflict-free model of financial advice inspires his enthusiasm to serve clients and expand the business. Throughout his time at Wealthspire, Mike has helped grow the organization to over $20 billion in AUM with 22 offices across the country and more than 300 employees.

Prior to joining the firm, Mike spent seven years at HighTower, serving as president and chief operating officer, playing an instrumental leadership role in scaling the business from a start-up organization to a nationally recognized financial services firm. He began his career in financial services with a 14-year tenure at Morgan Stanley, where he served as executive director of Private Wealth Management Operations in New York, as well as executive director of Private Wealth Management for Asia in Hong Kong.

Before entering the financial services profession, Mike did a year of service as a volunteer high school teacher at Mount St. Michael Academy in the Bronx, NY.

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In the latest episode of Focused on the Future, industry leader Suzanne Siracuse talks with Dr. Sylvia Rose, assistant dean, James T. George School of Business at Hampton University, and Dr. Curtis Kidd Telemaque, director, HBS Center for Financial Excellence and Adjunct Professor at the School of Business at Howard University. Their thoughtful insights into what their students are looking for in a career and in an employer should be a must listen for any firm seeking to hire for the future. They also provide advice to firms on how to best partner with a HBCU and what they can do differently to better engage with the growing diverse talent pool.

Specifically, Dr Rose and Dr Kidd discuss:

• What their students are looking for in an internship program
• How they advise their students on pursuing the best employer for them
• What works and what doesn’t when seeking to partner with a HBCU
• Key challenges in attracting HBCU students to a career in wealth management. 
• How firms, both large and small, can attract and engage with a diverse talent base.

Connect With Suzanne Siracuse:

• LinkedIn: Suzanne Siracuse
• Twitter: Suzanne Siracuse
• Email: Suzanne@suzannesiracuse.com

Connect With Dr. Sylvia Rose:

• Website: Hampton University
• Company LinkedIn: Hampton University 
• Personal LinkedIn: Sylvia Rose, Esq. 
• Email:  Sylvia.rose@hamptonu.edu

Connect With Dr Curtis Kidd Telemaque:

• Website: Howard University Home
• Company LinkedIn: Howard University 
• Personal LinkedIn: Curtis K. 
• Email: ckidd@howard.edu

 

About Our Guests:

Dr Sylvia Rose

Dr Rose is the Interim Dean and Assistant Professor of Finance in the School of Business at Hampton University. Dean Rose received her B.S. in Finance from Hampton University and a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law School. She is a member of the Virginia State Bar.

A few professional activities at Hampton University (HU) have included Faculty Representative to the HU Board of Trustees, Chairperson of Committee on the Financial and Physical Resources of SACS, Member of a University Grant team responsible for a $500K Financial Literacy Grant, Advisor to MBA Case Competition Teams and Primary Advisor to Undergraduate Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She is published in The Journal of Business and Finance Research; and a recipient of the Hampton University E.L. Hamm Distinguished Teaching Award. Dean Rose annually participates as guest speaker for numerous student sponsored activities and panel discussions; Honors College Capstone faculty participant; and serves on various other university activities as requested.

Prior work experience includes being a licensed Financial Advisor/Broker at Merrill Lynch. Dean Rose was also the former General Counsel for Hampton University, wherein she handled legal affairs of the University. Dean Rose served as an Attorney for law firms in Washington, DC and in Newport News, VA. Dean Rose is a member of several professional and civic organizations.

Dr Curtis Kidd Telemaque

Dr. Kidd Telemaque embarked on his professional journey after graduating from the University of Michigan in May 2000, initiating his career as an Institutional Equity Trader with a boutique firm in June of the same year. His trajectory in the financial sector continued as he assumed the role of General Securities and Registered Options Principal at a mid-tier brokerage in 2004. Concurrently, Dr. Telemaque pursued higher education and obtained a Master of Business Administration degree in Finance from Howard University. Notably, during this period, he served as an adjunct instructor of Advanced Algebra at Prince George’s Community College.

In 2008, driven by a passion for research and a commitment to Africana Studies, Dr. Kidd Telemaque commenced his journey toward a research degree at Howard University. Drawing from his robust economic and financial background, his research interests converged on economic development and financial policy analysis in Africa.

Presently, Dr. Kidd Telemaque occupies several significant roles, reflecting his diverse expertise. He serves as a subject matter expert with several private and public clients, where his analytical skills contribute to informed decision-making. Additionally, he holds the position of Managing Partner at Visions Consulting Group, actively participating in strategic consultancy for higher education. As an Executive of Lwazi Transportation Services, LLC, Dr. Telemaque spearheads initiatives in the transportation sector, specifically electric vehicles. Furthermore, he imparts his knowledge as an adjunct professor in management consulting, applied economics, and global management.

Dr. Kidd Telemaque’s multifaceted career showcases his commitment to continuous learning, expertise in finance and economics, and a dedication to making impactful contributions to students in various areas of finance.

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