Q&A: Getting to know Jamie Hobkirk, CFA, CFP®

Tell us about your role at Reynders, McVeigh

For the most part, I help clients on the financial planning side of things, although I’ve also been a portfolio manager since I arrived at the firm four years ago. The financial planning  relationship might include meeting with clients to craft a plan with their long-term goals in mind, or it could focus on tailoring a retirement strategy, saving for higher education costs, purchasing a home, and more. All of that work is personal and exciting – it's really rewarding to be able to engage on that level with everyone. 

The great thing about having both my CFP® and CFA® certifications is that I get to work with clients on the investment management front, too. It makes for a nice balance.

What is a memorable accomplishment from your time at the firm? 

One accomplishment I’m proud of stems from a video project I worked on late last year with my colleague, Roberto Figueiredo, who is also a portfolio manager at RM. We stepped in front of the camera to explain how we approach gifting strategies with clients. I had never been on camera like that before, but I always imagined using video as a means to connect with and inform clients. I was surprised at how natural it felt!  

Another accomplishment is being involved with the creation of our educational financial planning materials. It’s been rewarding to find more creative ways to help our clients better understand complex topics, like walking through the options available to them when doing education planning for their family.  

What do you like to do in your free time outside of work?  

My whole life, I’ve been an avid skier – growing up in New England will do that! A fun fact is that I used to be a ski racer, and even went to Burke Mountain Academy in Vermont, which is a specialized high school that has developed professional racers. It certainly made for an interesting schooling experience. I still get to ski for fun with my two stepsons and husband in Vermont each year.

Lately, I’ve been trying to hone my cooking skills whenever I have the chance. I’m finding that it can be a seriously fun activity when you’re able to put some time into it.

What drives you in your role at Reynders, McVeigh?  

For me, I strive to keep learning. I try to better myself by pushing to acquire new skills, learn new facets of the job, and stay up to date with developments in the industry. In this line of work, there are endless opportunities for learning new things.  

Staying on top of the latest changes in laws or the tax code, for example, is what is needed for me to best help clients at different planning stages throughout life. It’s one of the reasons I love this job so much – the work is always interesting and evolving.

Tell us about a time that you got out of your personal comfort zone.

It would have to be learning to play golf. Originally, I picked the sport as a professional endeavor. It may sound like a stereotype: it’s true that a lot of networking is done on the golf course. But I ended up starting to like it! I’m still not any good at it, and the rules and etiquette can feel a little stressful at times, but it can be a great change of pace to tackle activities that test your patience or humble you.

Tell us about a time that you got out of your professional comfort zone.

I’ve always been open to exploring areas at work where I might have the academic experience, but not the real-life experience yet. I love that our culture at Reynders, McVeigh is so open and collaborative in that way. People are encouraged and free to walk into any meeting, regardless of what team you may work on, to learn more about everything we do.

Doing so has been enormously helpful for my continuous education in this field, as I have been able to build and grow new relationships and learn more from my outstanding colleagues. I have had the most growth when I have pushed myself outside my comfort zone trying to learn something new.

What do you love about where you live?

I recently moved to Easton, Massachusetts, which has been lovely. For almost the entirety of my professional career, I jumped from one Boston neighborhood to the next, so it’s been a refreshing break from the usual. While I do love the city and enjoy being in Boston for work, it’s nice to be back in the suburbs at the end of the day.

What were the highlights of your 2024?

That’s easy: getting married and buying a house!

Another major highlight for me and my family is our newly adopted Bernedoodle puppy. He is now 9 months old and far removed from his puppy self at 75 pounds!

Finally, I’d mention a fantastic trip I took to Playa del Carmen in Mexico for my sister’s wedding. I wasn’t expecting to love the warmer climate -- my idea of a vacation is normally hitting the slopes somewhere snowy -- but everything about this trip was amazing.

DISCLOSURE: The commentary provided by an employee of Reynders, McVeigh Capital Management, LLC (“RMCM”) in the Q&A above is subject to change and represents the current, good-faith views of the employee and RMCM at the time of publication. The commentary is educational in nature these views are not intended to forecast future events or guarantee future results.