While I have not had the pleasure of meeting Jamie personally, she is such an inspiration to anyone who comes in contact with her. Unfortunately, COVID hit right before we were headed to D.A. Davidson’s conference where I would have had the opportunity to meet her and her amazing team. Have you ever met anyone in today’s world who has never watched Netflix? Almost impossible, but it’s an interesting read to learn how Jamie spends her time when she’s not at work! We are truly grateful to Jamie for allowing us to learn about her journey to the top and share her incredible success story.
– Maree Moscati, CEO CTPRP
Jamie Wieferich
COO for Wealth Management
D.A. Davidson
Tell us something about yourself that most people aren’t aware of.
Jamie: When I moved from Montana to Los Angeles to pursue a new position with D.A. Davidson, I decided not to replace the television I’d left behind. I’ve since been without a TV for seven years and have yet to subscribe to a streaming service like Netflix. I guess you could say I’m a bit disconnected from pop culture and current-day entertainment. When it comes to table conversations about the latest and greatest episode of this or that, I often have no idea what people are talking about.
Instead of watching television, I spend as much time as possible outdoors pursuing my distance running goals. Weeknight evenings you can spot me running through the city, but on weekends I love to get out and run on Seattle’s nearby trails. Sometimes I’ll run, sometimes I’ll hike. I just love getting out to explore.
Share how your career path positioned you to be where you are today.
Jamie: I studied finance and economics in college so I was well positioned for the financial services industry. I was familiar with D.A. Davidson and enrolled in a college course led by a local D.A. Davidson Financial Advisor, who later became my first boss. In addition to supporting students with the real-world experience of investing $50,000, D.A. Davidson also offers a tremendous summer internship program which I pursued as a junior in college. I’ve held a number of roles since that memorable summer and am currently the Chief Operating Officer for Wealth Management.
I’ve tackled many challenges on my path to success and have been rewarded with new opportunities in return. I made a practice of raising my hand when I felt ready for the next challenge, and the company continually rewarded my hard work and ambition. This opened new doors to different leadership roles, and exciting geography changes, allowing me to escape the cold winters of Montana for the sun of Los Angeles, and now the lush green of Seattle. Early in my career I set my sights on the role I have today, which was previously held by another female in the organization who I really admire. Her leadership, mentorship, and support allowed me to keep working towards my goal.
I have called D.A. Davidson home for nearly 18 years because of the opportunities they’ve provided me and the unique culture they share with employees. I am proud to work for an employee-owned company that has its roots in Montana. I respect and value the support we provide to our financial advisors and each other, in addition to our local communities. We approach things differently at D.A. Davidson and people who join us can really feel that.
Do you have advice for women looking to get into this industry?
Jamie: Don’t be bashful. Raise your hand for the opportunities that interest you. We must speak up to position ourselves for new challenges. Sometimes this means being vulnerable, asking questions that might feel silly, and requesting new opportunities to learn. The relationships you build within a company are crucial to your success and personal fulfillment, so develop an internal network with the goal to provide support and encouragement for all who join.
Fun Fact:
I traveled to New Zealand to run a 50-kilometer (31-mile) ultramarathon race!
Bio:
Jamie serves as Chief Operating Officer for Wealth Management at D.A. Davidson. She joined the firm in 2004 and has since held roles of progressing responsibility. She most recently served as Chief Operating Officer for D.A. Davidson Trust Company, where she was responsible for compliance and operations oversight, efficiency initiatives, and partnering with D.A. Davidson offices and advisors.
Jamie originally joined Wealth Management as an intern and progressed to Branch Operations Manager and Registered Client Associate, and later Regional Administrative Manager for Southern California. During her time in California, she assisted with many key initiatives and was instrumental in helping align D.A. Davidson and Crowell Weedon following their merger. She has earned the Branch Operations Manager of the Year Award, Outstanding Ethics Award, and the Ian B. Davidson Cultural Excellence Award.
Jamie is an alum of Leadership Montana and a designated leadership coach for others at the company. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Montana State University and is a Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional (FPQP™).