conor boyd c finds his fortune in friends · specializing in custom design jewelry, engagement...

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6 BESTVERSIONMEDIA.COM C onor Boyd is a self-claimed introvert who loves engaging in deep, meaningful conversations. Born and raised in Potsdam, NY, Conor enjoyed playing sports, fishing, hunting and camping. He graduated Siena College with a BA in Social Work but always identified as an entrepreneur. After Siena, he found his way to St. Rose and their Certified Financial Planning Program. Here he met Frank Shipp, a professor that changed his life. “Frank was the one who really introduced me to the financial industry and gave me the confidence that the industry would be very interested in my skillsets. Once I recognized that my undergrad degree would not prevent me from getting into financial services, I immediately jumped in and never looked back. A successful recruit of mine once said that the greatest financial advisors have the heart of a social worker and the head of a capitalist. That pretty much summed up my life,” says Conor. Conor has always had an entrepreneurial mind and started the company, askwish.com in 2007. Though this website ultimately shut down, it did gain the attention of producers at Harpo Studios. The result of these conversations was an opportunity for Conor and 150 other guests to go on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Australia with Oprah Winfrey. While there, Conor presented his very first iWish Necklace to Oprah and her best friend Gayle King. The iWish necklace is a “breakable” wishbone necklace where the wishbone doubles as the clasp, so whenever you take it off, you can “break it” and make a wish! After this trip, he knew he was ready to start dating again and decided to give online dating a try. He joined eHarmony never intending to find his future wife, but quickly stumbled upon Lisa’s picture. Joking that she was much too beautiful to be on there, he assumed something must be wrong with her but started chatting anyway, and they instantly felt a connection. They set up a date, and without him knowing, Lisa planted her sister and best friend at a bar right down the Conor Boyd Finds His Fortune in Family, Faith & Friends FAMILY FEATURE BY JENNA CAPUTO PHOTOGRAPHY BY INDIGO PINE CREATIVE

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Page 1: Conor Boyd C Finds His Fortune in Friends · Specializing in custom design jewelry, engagement rings, expert jewelry repairs. Sheryll Graubart-Hoffman, Graduate Gemologist 326 Mariaville

6 BESTVERSIONMEDIA.COM

Conor Boyd is a self-claimed introvert who loves engaging in deep, meaningful

conversations. Born and raised in Potsdam, NY, Conor enjoyed playing sports, fishing,

hunting and camping. He graduated Siena College with a BA in Social Work but always

identified as an entrepreneur. After Siena, he found his way to St. Rose and their Certified Financial

Planning Program. Here he met Frank Shipp, a professor that changed his life. “Frank was the one

who really introduced me to the financial industry and gave me the confidence that the industry

would be very interested in my skillsets. Once I recognized that my undergrad degree would

not prevent me from getting into financial services, I immediately jumped in and never looked

back. A successful recruit of mine once said that the greatest financial advisors have the heart

of a social worker and the head of a capitalist. That pretty much summed up my life,” says Conor.

Conor has always had an entrepreneurial mind and started the company, askwish.com in 2007.

Though this website ultimately shut down, it did gain the attention of producers at Harpo

Studios. The result of these conversations was an opportunity for Conor and 150 other guests

to go on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Australia with Oprah Winfrey. While there, Conor presented

his very first iWish Necklace to Oprah and her best friend Gayle King. The iWish necklace is a

“breakable” wishbone necklace where the wishbone doubles as the clasp, so whenever you take

it off, you can “break it” and make a wish!

After this trip, he knew he was ready to start dating again and decided to give online dating a

try. He joined eHarmony never intending to find his future wife, but quickly stumbled upon Lisa’s

picture. Joking that she was much too beautiful to be on there, he assumed something must be

wrong with her but started chatting anyway, and they instantly felt a connection. They set up a

date, and without him knowing, Lisa planted her sister and best friend at a bar right down the

Conor Boyd Finds His Fortune in Family, Faith & Friends

F A M I L Y F E A T U R E

BY JENNA CAPUTOPHOTOGRAPHY BY INDIGO PINE CREATIVE

Page 2: Conor Boyd C Finds His Fortune in Friends · Specializing in custom design jewelry, engagement rings, expert jewelry repairs. Sheryll Graubart-Hoffman, Graduate Gemologist 326 Mariaville

AUGUST 2020 NISKAYUNA NEIGHBORS | 7

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Chandra House

street so she could easily bail if she needed to. However,

eight hours later, she never took that out. Conor and Lisa

sat and chatted the entire time, and the rest is history!

Lisa was born and raised in Loudonville and spent her

early days visiting her grandmother, swimming, riding

bikes and playing outside. She always had an inclination

to help others. “When I was in elementary school, I would

often spend my recess helping students with disabilities

in other classrooms. That desire to help and nurture

others was always present. I also spent a significant

amount of time babysitting and discovered my love for

children.”

She became a special education teacher in the South

Colonie School District, and at the time she met Conor,

had a student in her class who loved Justin Bieber. Conor

remembered that for their first date. “Instead of bringing

her flowers or some other traditional gift, I brought her

a Justin Bieber calendar for her classroom. A good move

on my part because I could see her visibly melt in the

parking lot.”

Conor is now the Managing Partner at Thoroughbred

Advisors, a financial planning firm with offices in Latham

and Queensbury to serve the Capital Region and beyond.

“We believe the habits you create, tools you implement

and strategy that informs the creation of each will

be the primary variables that impact your level of

financial security and prosperity. From the outside, you

would perceive that we are in the business of financial

planning, insurance and investments, which would be

true, but beyond that, we believe we are in the business

of personal development,” says Conor.

Conor takes his position very seriously, and his

relationships with his clients do not just stay within the

confines of his office doors. “If I am not working, I am

with my family at our home on Lake George,” he says.

“Although we have a lot of friends, we tend to be family-

focused in our spare time. My clients become my friends

F A M I L Y F E A T U R E

Page 3: Conor Boyd C Finds His Fortune in Friends · Specializing in custom design jewelry, engagement rings, expert jewelry repairs. Sheryll Graubart-Hoffman, Graduate Gemologist 326 Mariaville

8 BESTVERSIONMEDIA.COM

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and an extension of my family. I cannot imagine a greater career than being able to truly help

the people I care about while at the same time forging deep and meaningful relationships.

Our money is a very personal thing. My clients share all their hopes, fears, dreams, failures and

accomplishments. I thank God every day for the gift of this career!”

Conor and Lisa’s family now include Brooklyn (6), Easton (4) and Taylor (2). Lisa and her younger

sister, Gina, actually had their baby girls on the same day, at the same hospital, delivered by the

same doctor. Conor calls Taylor and Isabella “the twins” and the two cousins are inseparable. Lisa

has taken time off from teaching to be with the children, and whenever Conor can get away from

the office they spend as much time as they can

at “Camp George.”

“Although we love the Capital Region, the

Adirondacks are constantly pulling us back,”

says Conor. “It is the only place on Earth that

I can go and instantly have stress melt away.

When I go on a formal vacation, it takes me

at least three days to get into vacation mode.

On the lake, we do all of the normal things

from boating to nature walks to campfires,

cookouts and a lot of swimming.” He considers

their family truly blessed. Besides their three

beautiful and healthy children, their marriage

continues to grow deeper year by year and

they truly love spending time with each other.

They were able to squeeze in their Disney

vacation they had been planning for over a

year one week before the parks closed for the

pandemic. They stayed at the Disney Beach

Club Resort and had a wonderful trip. They

are so thankful they didn’t have to postpone

it. They also take a family vacation every year

to Wells, Maine in August and are hoping they

will still be able to go this year.

Conor also tries to reach out to the community

F A M I L Y F E A T U R E

Page 4: Conor Boyd C Finds His Fortune in Friends · Specializing in custom design jewelry, engagement rings, expert jewelry repairs. Sheryll Graubart-Hoffman, Graduate Gemologist 326 Mariaville

AUGUST 2020 NISKAYUNA NEIGHBORS | 9

OFFICESLatham & Queensbury

Financial Advisor aThoroughbred?

Is your

Contact Conor Boyd for a Free Consultation

518-608-4608www.thoroughbredadvisors.com

Conor Boyd is a Registered Representative and Investment Adviser Representative of Equity Services, Inc. Securities, Financial Planning, and Investment Advisory Services are offered solely by Equity Services, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC,

333 Westchester Avenue, South Building Suite 3302, White Plains, NY 10604 914.428.4000. Thoroughbred Advisors, LLC is independent of Equity Services, Inc. TC104944(1118)1

whenever he can. Since 2015, he has been on the Board of

Berkshire Farm, New York’s leading child welfare organization

founded in 1886. Their mission is to strengthen children and

families so they can live safely, independently and productively

within their home communities. “Any charitable organizations

benefiting children have my support,” says Conor. “As all my fellow

parents know, when you have children, they open up your heart

in a very special way. They have certainly helped me to become a

better version of myself.”

All his hard work has paid off. Early in 2018, Conor received the

Albany Business Review’s 40 Under 40, a huge honor in the Capital

Region reserved for a select group who demonstrate not only

business acumen, but leadership skills and community involvement.

The Business Review and an advisory committee picked the latest

forty from more than 400 nominations.

Conor prays every day for the wisdom to help his clients and

financial advisors and to do the best for his family as he can. He

focuses on his favorite mantra, “Even if it looks like we are losing,

we are really winning,” to remind himself of all his blessings and

the successes ahead. While the upcoming months are uncertain

with the pandemic, Conor continues to push forward and keep his

community at the forefront of his mind. “This pandemic has been

universally challenging for everyone,” he says. “Some have fared

better than others and we want our fellow neighbors to know that

we pray for their wellbeing and are thankful for all who have risked

their health for the wellbeing of us all.”

For more information about how you can help Berkshire Farm,

visit www.berkshirefarm.org.

For more information about Thoroughbred Advisors,

visit www.thoroughbredadvisors.com.

Conor Boyd is a Registered Representative and Investment Adviser Representative of EquityServices, Inc. Securities and Investment Advisory Services are offered solely by Equity Services,Inc., Member FINRA & SIPC, 333 Westchester Ave, South Building Suite 3302, White Plains, NY10604 914.428.4000. Thoroughbred Advisors, LLC is independent of Equity Services, Inc.

F A M I L Y F E A T U R E