Meet Our Team Member: Ken Chapel

By Ken Chapel, CFP®, RICP®

The Golden Rule states, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”  My parents did a fantastic job at modeling this for me through their hard work and dedication to our family and the community. Their example of selflessness taught me the importance of putting others first.  This principle has stayed with me throughout my career and is the driving force behind why I do what I do, which is to help others reach their financial goals and dreams. 

Growing up, I watched my father work hard at his job as a structural engineer, building and maintaining steel mills in Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, I could not follow in my father’s footsteps because the steel industry was shuttered in the early 1980s. Fortunately, I became intrigued with investing as a teenager and continued to pursue this hobby in college, turning it into a degree in finance and a fulfilling career. 

Building My Career

The education I received in college, with a degree in finance and a minor in quantitative business analysis, has greatly served me throughout my career. Along with a Master’s in Finance and a CFP® certification, I have continued to build upon the knowledge I first gained as an undergrad. 

My career started with Mellon Bank (Bank of New York Mellon) where I served in various wealth management related positions, including credit risk analyst, internal business director, and senior wealth analyst. During my time at BNY Mellon, I supported senior management and advisors, providing family office services to ultra-high net worth individuals and families. Additionally, I managed the product strategy committee, which oversaw all investment products’ due diligence, corporate compliance reporting, and development within BNY Mellon Wealth Management.

While I gained much valuable experience at BNY Mellon, I eventually moved on to work at PNC bank as the primary advisor to their private bank clients. Working closely with these clients, I provided customized solutions designed to best meet their goals and objectives, which included asset management, trust, estate planning, and private banking services. I am grateful for my education and experience working with these institutions in both finance and business-related roles because it has prepared me for the position I have today working with Interchange Capital Partners.    

My Career Today

In my role as senior director at Interchange Capital Partners, I have the privilege of working closely with individuals, families, and business owners to provide advice, strategy, and support that will help them take advantage of their opportunities while reducing their risk. I appreciate the opportunity to work with an independent registered advisory firm because I have fewer limitations on what I can offer for our client’s unique situations. My ideal client is someone who is looking for a partnership and understands that their financial plan is a journey that we do together. Executing a financial plan is a process and I love that I get to work closely with our clients, helping to provide a level of comfort as they gain knowledge and become more financially independent.  

One of the greatest benefits I can provide our clients with is a standard of excellence. Providing customized, sound financial advice is what I strive to do my best at every day. I also offer a personal experience, getting to know our clients and their needs, desires, and dreams. When it comes to delivering a standard of excellence, I strive to be available to our clients whenever they have questions or concerns or are walking through an unexpected situation. Additionally, our clients expect the advice they get to be tailored to them and in their best interest, so I always measure twice and cut once in the spirit of providing timely advice and service to clients.  

Why I Love What I Do

The most fulfilling and humbling aspect of my career is that I get to have the role of a trusted advisor to our clients. The best part of my job is that I truly am making an impact on people’s lives and receiving their appreciation for my advice, compassion, and friendship. Being a financial advisor enables me to merge my knowledge and experience with the intrinsic benefit of helping others. It motivates me to be a problem solver for our clients. Every day, I get to practice what my parents taught me, which is to help others by meeting their needs. That’s the best return on investment there is.  

I’m Here For You

Now that I’ve shared a little of my story, I would love to meet with you to learn what your financial goals and dreams are and help you come up with a plan to realize those dreams. If you are looking for a trusted financial advisor who you can partner with on the journey to financial freedom, Interchange Capital Partners is here for you. Email us today at team@interchangecp.com or call our office at 412-307-4230 to schedule an introductory appointment.