🔒#2 Small/Medium Company Category: Fiduciary Investment Advisors

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To find out what makes Windsor-based Fiduciary Investment Advisors an ideal workplace, talk to any member of the core leadership team, all of whom have been with the company between 18 and 20 years.

Or, ask any new employee who has been given uninterrupted time with the company's president, Mark Wetzel. Other testimonials might come from staffers who have benefitted from the company's internal learning institutes, or who have rolled up their sleeves to take part in FIA's community service efforts.

Wetzel began to grow his team in 1990, formally incorporating in 2006. Today, the firm has 53 employees who advise on more than $43 billion of fiduciary assets for more than 300 clients. During its growth, FIA officials say the company has had no turnover at the senior-consultant level, and has managed to maintain a collaborative atmosphere — a major key to its success.

“I have an open-door policy. The thinking is that everyone is here for a reason,” said Wetzel, who invites all staffers to sign up for “Coffee with the President” sessions that are available several times a week.

“We pay our people for their ideas,'' he said. “We want them to add value to the firm and to our clients. Diversity of thought and opinion is valuable to us.”

He also sits with each new employee when they start. Wetzel says younger employees often take advantage of their face time with him to discuss career opportunities and chances for advancement within the firm.

Recognition is another key part of employee support at FIA. Whether it's a restaurant gift certificate on an employee's work anniversary, or promotions publicized in the company newsletter, no special event goes unnoticed.

“In our Monday morning staff meetings, employees receive recognition for accomplishments in an open forum,” said Maureen Cooper, the firm's chief operating officer. “We also have an annual off-site where we go over the whole business, including a recap of the year and goals for the next year, so that everyone knows where we are. Ours are very contributory meetings.”

FIA employees are also invited to formally share information that can help their coworkers.

“We hold learning institutes every two to three weeks, where a person from a particular department gives a 45-minute presentation. Attendees can listen, ask questions, and soak in knowledge along the way,” Cooper said. “Topics have included capital-markets review, asset allocation, spending policies for nonprofits, retirement savings, and more.”

Sharing ideas and learning from others are qualities that extend beyond the walls of FIA as well. Employees are encouraged to sit on boards of community nonprofits. Staffers are also invited to participate in the FIA's many community service projects.

“We have a community-service committee which picks our charities. We intentionally choose those that let us get involved in an active way — serving food, things like that — which makes it more personal and meaningful,” said Wetzel. “For example, we deliver food to Hands on Hartford every month, and it's so impactful to see how important the effort is to those we help.”

Cooper says the growth of the committee shows how much employees want to be involved. “We had about 20 people on our community service committee to start,” Cooper said. “Now, you walk by a committee meeting and it fills the conference room. Everyone enjoys it so much.”

Read about the other Best Places to Work in CT 2016 winners.