MARY ELLEN BYRNE, CFP®, CIM®, Senior Wealth Advisor, Portfolio Manager, Richardson Wealth, Mary Ellen Byrne Wealth Management, Halifax, NS
- CARMEN MORGAN
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 23 hours ago
MARY ELLEN BYRNE
“Pre-retirement is probably what I love most. Walking people through this very transitional period is emotional, it’s psychological. There is so much in life we can’t know, but this is one life-changing event you can plan for."
"The service industry was a great introduction to life, and learning how to communicate with all different personalities," says Mary Ellen Byrne. She learned skills that have been central to her success in her career as a Portfolio Manager and Investment Advisor. While studying commerce at St. Mary's University in Halifax, Mary Ellen worked as a deckhand on deep-sea fishing charters in the early mornings and in local pubs at night to support herself through school. “I came from a smaller town in New Brunswick and I loved the life in Halifax," she says.
After graduation, Mary Ellen got a job as a teller at Royal Trust, a small bank later acquired by Royal Bank. It was there that her career trajectory changed when her manager recognized her potential. "Linda saw something in me and encouraged me to take the Canadian Securities course. She thought I would like the investing side," Mary Ellen says. This encouragement launched a 25 year career as a financial advisor, first at CIBC and then TD. In 2024, she and her team moved to Richardson Wealth.
Depth of client relationships is what sets Mary Ellen apart in the financial advisory space. "You know how pet owners can look like their pets—I find it's like that—people who are like-minded drift together. I have clients I’ve been working with for 25 years, now, and I've been through marriages and deaths, divorces and births and I have been part of their lives.”
Mary Ellen and her team’s particular area of passion and expertise is seeing clients through major life transitions. “Pre-retirement is probably what I love most. Walking people through this very transitional period is emotional, it’s psychological. There is so much in life we can’t know, but this is one life-changing event you can plan for," she says.
Through data-driven analysis, Mary Ellen helps clients visualize their financial security in retirement. “One of the most commonly asked questions is, naturally, ‘Will I outlive my money?’” She recognizes that numbers alone aren't sufficient to answer this. "Through the data, my team and I can make projections to show clients they are going to be financially ok. But there are other components, like partner and family dynamics to take into account.”
Women’s wealth management, in particular, has evolved throughout her career. “I was initially skeptical about the need for specialized focus on women's financial needs,” she says, “I didn’t understand why it was its own niche, but I now recognize its critical importance.” She has observed distinct differences in how women approach investing and wealth management. "Women feel differently towards money. Numbers are important, but there is also a different emotional connection. They want to feel good about their portfolio in a different kind of way. Yes they want returns, but they also want to invest in things aligned with their values."
Mary Ellen and her team’s approach includes practical examples that resonate with values-driven investors: "I might say something like, 'You are holding company X, and you might stick with it because they are good to their employees, and known to pay well’. Or they want to invest in a company that has a strong female presence on the board."
For business owners, Mary Ellen emphasizes the importance of coordinated professional guidance. "When it comes to business succession, it's important that everyone on the team is communicating early on—the lawyer, accountant and financial advisor all need to be aligned, and the first thing to do is get everyone involved to the table. Know who your team is."
Mary Ellen and her team’s systematic approach involves clear timelines and regular reviews. "We start with a base plan. This is what you need to think about with tax planning, and in two years, we have to do this. In three years, we do this. Having an action plan from a tax planning perspective early on also allows for peace of mind.”
At the heart of Mary Ellen’s success lies her six-person team, each member bringing complementary skills. "I have the most dedicated and hardworking team. At the end of the day, all we really want is to take care of people," she says. It is not unusual for Mary Ellen and her team to drive clients in a jam to a last minute appointment, deliver food when clients have had surgery and meet their family members. They even dropped off cheques to charities for clients during the mail strike.
The team’s commitment to values extends beyond client service to charitable giving and community support. They advocate for donor-advised accounts for larger clients, noting the tax efficiency and sense of community that comes with structured philanthropy. The team also demonstrates these values through annual charitable donations and community support, including recent contributions to wildfire survivors and the Gunning Cove Fire Department.
Mary Ellen and her team’s recent move to Richardson Wealth in 2024 also reflects her commitment to aligning practice with values. "We were not living our values where we were,” she says. “The collaborative culture at Richardson Wealth is the opposite of competitive. Everyone helps each other out and we love it."
Carmen Morgan is a skilled business writer and storyteller, collaborating with business owners and executives to tell their stories and share perspectives on growth and success, as well as perseverance and adversity. Over two decades she has refined her interview, writing and editing skills to capture the nuggets and captivating details that engage readers and make a story memorable.
Mary Ellen Byrne CFP®, CIM®
Senior Wealth Advisor, Portfolio Manager
RICHARDSON WEALTH | MARY ELLEN BYRNE WEALTH MANAGEMENT
1959 Upper Water Street, Suite 1700
Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3J 3N2
902 - 490 - 8115