Chesapeake Wealth Management (CWM), a sister company to Chesapeake Bank, marks a milestone anniversary this year. Founded in 1973 as the Northern Neck’s first-ever trust company at Chesapeake National Bank, CWM has evolved over 50 years into a thriving, holistic wealth management company with a dedicated, community-minded team of experienced wealth advisors, portfolio managers and trust officers providing premier investment and trust services to clients across Virginia and nationally.
The following is a video featuring Jean Light, Jeff Szyperski, and John Sadler, own why this anniversary is so significant for Chesapeake Bank and Chesapeake Wealth Management.
Jean Light
Going back a bit to the formation of the trust department is essential. Tom Denegre was a retired Navy captain who had wound up at the Pentagon. And so when he moved down here and then came in and talked to Mr. Monroe about the possibility of starting a trust department here, through various discussions, I think they felt it was a good idea.
In this area, we were the very first trust department, so no one else in this area had to trust department in the bank. It was in May of 1973. And then, the trust committee was formed in 1974.
Jeff Szyperski
The niche Chesapeake Wealth Management fills is we always lead with our people. You know, depending on where people are in their life, whether it’s in the asset management of growing their wealth or in, you know, retirement as a spend down their wealth, we consistently lead with people, we, we lead with the heart, what can be challenging times for people.
We never take the human element out of it. We make the human element the preeminent thing we emphasize and back it up with great expertise.
John Sadler
I think it says a lot. I think it says that we have longevity and have remained true to our roots. When we talk about giving back to our community, it is not just lip service. We do a lot of volunteer hours. We do a lot of servicing for local nonprofits, churches, and foundations.
And we think, again, that following that philosophy that made us get to where we are of having in-house expertise and being a community-dedicated company will help us sustain that longevity in this era of mergers, acquisitions, and very short-lived companies.