Stacy Sizemore

Chief Compliance Officer

“Living ‘wealth that matters’ means working towards and achieving what is important to you and living your life in tune with the present moment. My family is my wealth and that wealth brings me joy.

Tell us about something special from your youth.

Growing up in Portland, Oregon, we lived 1 ½ hours from the mountains and ½ hour from a river that has sandy beaches.

Almost every weekend during the winter, my family would pack up our motorhome and drive to the mountain, park by other families with motorhomes, and spend the day skiing and the night playing in the snow under the moonlight with other kids our age.

We had a similar set-up in the summers – on Fridays, those same families would pack up their boats, pitch tents on the “island” (a sandy beach) and play all weekend.

Growing up with a “village” of a diverse group of adults and kids, out in the open air exploring is one of my best childhood memories.

Share an interesting story about your family.

In high school, I had a very “scary” social studies teacher (eventually principal) who was always so serious and tough on his students. He was also the coach of the varsity boys basketball team and was known to expect 200% from the team. This guy never seemed to smile.

Move forward ten years – I met my future husband and found out, on our first date, that his dad was that scary teacher from High School. I was very nervous meeting him for the first time!

This guy who never seemed to smile showed his true self: a loving, caring man whose family meant the world to him and he had a great sense of humor. He was the most doting grandfather to our daughter. This tough guy was a teddy bear. He loved helping kids grow and reach for the stars. We lost this man, Dennis Sizemore, to cancer in November 2018 and he is missed every day.

Where have you worked? What is the best thing that has ever happened while you were working?

Prior to working in the financial industry, I ran the marketing department for a regional real estate company. One of the realtors needed an apartment manager for one of her buildings in downtown Portland and I, being single and living with multiple roommates, was ready to be out on my own and jumped at the opportunity.

I was charged with renting apartments and collecting rent for a free apartment. The best thing that ever happened to me while working was renting an apartment to my future husband. The rest is history.

When did you first realize you were interested in finance?

When the real estate firm I worked for relocated, I decided to stay in Portland and try something new. My best friend and my fiancé both worked in the financial industry and hearing about it constantly sparked my interest. I got a job at my best friend’s firm, moved around in the industry a bit and found my place in compliance.

My interest in finance, helping people, my organizing skills, and my love of playing detective all were found in Compliance. There is never a dull moment.

What is the most important thing you’ve learned about helping other people?

Be kind; you never know what someone is going through.

What are you known for among your friends?

My planning skills. You want a party; ask me to put it together. You want to go on vacation (with me, of course); I will find the tickets and hotel. You want to try a new restaurant; I will research it for you.

I am also that friend/family member who is always prepared. I have a sewing kit in my purse.

How do you spend your time outside of work?

I love spending time with my family and friends. I am lucky enough to have my best friend since High School living 5 minutes away and my husband’s family is about the same distance. My extended family all live in Lake Havasu City, AZ so although I miss them all, it is sure fun to visit.

What is your favorite part of what you do at Vestia?

Vestia includes some of the most intelligent, client focused, organized team of people I have ever met. The people and how they interact with their clients to truly help them is my favorite part about working with Vestia.

What book do you always tell people they should read? Why?

One of the best books I have ever read I received as a gift. It is a photo book of street portraits and interviews from New York City titled “Humans of New York”. This book is both heartwarming and heartbreaking in that it portrays real people and real life.

This book shows that humanity in NYC is truly a melting pot with every religion, ethnicity, age, socioeconomic background and anything else you can imagine represented with a plethora of situations and life successes and challenges portrayed. It can really take someone outside of the bubble we all can sometimes find ourselves in.

One of Vestia’s values is to model “wealth that matters.” What does this mean to you?

Wealth can mean so many things. Family, friends, monetary, knowledge, generosity, giving back and so on. To me, “wealth that matters” is working towards and achieving what is important to you and living your life in tune with the present moment. My family is my wealth and that wealth brings me joy.

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. ~ Maya Angelou