About us
About West Branch Capital
An Investment Adviser acting as a fiduciary on your behalf
Founded in 2004, West Branch Capital is an independent, minority owned, fee-only Registered Investment Adviser. Our core investment team collectively represents over 100 years of investment management experience.
As a firm, we are committed to maintaining a culture of integrity that permeates everything we do. We pride ourselves on offering independent, objective money management services and providing complete transparency to our clients in the management of their assets. The tradition and culture of the firm is not to sell products. We understand the high degree of trust placed in us by our clients and we work tirelessly to preserve it.
West Branch Capital offers a full range of investment management services for individuals, institutions and corporate retirement plan sponsors. We manage equities, domestic fixed income (both taxable and tax-free), balanced portfolios, mutual funds, closed end funds, exchange-traded funds and similar vehicles.
West Branch Capital’s clients benefit from the collective expertise of our staff. A team approach, with client service at its core, is the hallmark of our professionalism.
Where our name comes from
Why "West Branch Capital"?
Although branches happen to be a wonderful symbol of growth, our founder and CEO, Ayaz Mahmud, pursued dual graduate degrees in his college days, and he was able to first become published in prestigious literary publications West Branch and Prairie Schooner. In 2004 when the firm was established, it seemed a natural fit to celebrate the inspirational publication that gave his literature a chance.
Over 100 Years of Collective Experience
About Our Team
As a firm, we are committed to maintaining a culture of integrity that permeates everything we do. We pride ourselves on offering independent, objective investment management services and providing complete transparency. We understand the high degree of trust placed in us by our clients and we work tirelessly to keep it.
Please feel free to research any of our Investment Adviser Representatives at https://www.adviserinfo.sec.gov/
Anne Christopulos, CFP®
Anne is a Managing Director and Financial Planner with over twenty years of experience in the financial services industry. After holding corporate management positions in finance and strategic planning in New York City, she moved to Boston to become the Product Manager for the IRA business at Fidelity Investments. Following that, she was Vice President, Retirement Investments, at Fleet Financial Services. A native of Cape Cod, she returned to the Cape in 2001 and made the transition to personal financial planning, first at Secure Future Financial Services in Dennis, then at Davis Financial Services, LLC, in Orleans, which is now a division of West Branch Capital.
Anne holds a B.A. in music and economics from Wellesley College and an MBA from Harvard Business School. She was granted the CFP® certification by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. in 2004.
Ayaz Mahmud
Ayaz brings almost thirty years of investment management experience to West Branch Capital. He serves as the firm’s Chief Executive Officer. Ayaz founded West Branch Capital in 2004 after spending over twenty years as a top wealth advisor at premier global investment banks: Kidder Peabody, Smith Barney and Lehman Brothers. At Lehman Brothers, he helped build the Wealth Management Group in Boston and co-managed the Equity and Fixed Income Middle Market Institutional Trading Desks.
Ayaz has managed client portfolios throughout his career.
Ayaz holds an M.A/M.B.A and a B.A/B.S from Syracuse University.
Cheryl Slattery
David Fadel, CFP®
Deborah E. Davis, CFP®
Deborah was the Principal and founder of Davis Financial Services, a former Registered Investment Advisory firm. Deborah has over twenty years of investment advisory and financial planning experience. As a West Branch Capital Managing Director and Portfolio Manager, Deborah provides custom design and management of client portfolios utilizing individual stocks and bonds, Preferred Stocks, ETFs and mutual funds.
Prior to founding Davis Financial Services, Deborah spent 23 years in banking, where she served in a variety of roles, including mortgage lender, commercial credit analyst, commercial loan officer, and loan workout specialist.
Deborah was granted the CFP® certification by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. in 1996.
Geoff Wilson
Geoff has over fifteen years of investment management experience. He is a Managing Director of the firm.
Prior to joining West Branch, Geoff was a Partner at p-Value Capital Management, an alternative asset management firm focused on public and private life science investments. Prior to joining p-Value, he served as a Portfolio Manager for Mansur Capital Corp., where he oversaw equity and alternative investments for a large family office. Geoff began his investment career as an equity analyst with several large institutional asset managers, including Columbia Wanger Asset Management and Mesirow Financial.
Geoff holds an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and an A.B. from Princeton University.
Georgann Ramage
Georgann is Director of Operations for the West Branch Capital office in Orleans, MA. She has spent her career in the financial services and private banking industry, first in a large mid-Atlantic bank in the Washington, DC area, in individual client management, then in the Private Banking Division, leading a team of Private Banking professionals providing financial services, including trust and investment management.
Georgann has been the business and operations manager at Davis Financial Services, LLC since 2012, which is now a division of West Branch Capital. She oversaw the operation of the firm including compliance, account servicing, and office management.
Georgann holds a B.A. in Economics from The College of William and Mary in Virginia.
Howard Singer, CFP®
Howard is a Principal and one of the founders of Singer Potito Associates. He began his career in the 1980s, and co-founded Singer Potito Associates in 1990 with Michael Potito. His area of expertise is portfolio design and management, and complex financial planning issues.
Howard holds a B.A. from the University of Colorado and an M.F.A. from Columbia University, New York. He was granted the CFP® certification by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. in 1993.
James K. Ho, CFA
Jim has over thirty years of investment management experience. He is a Managing Director and Principal of the firm.
Prior to West Branch Capital, Jim was a fixed income Portfolio Manager at John Hancock Advisors. Previously, he managed the John Hancock Tax Exempt Income Trust. Prior to joining John Hancock Advisors, Jim was a Senior Investment Officer at The New England (MetLife), where he managed multiple bond portfolios, including taxable and tax exempt mutual funds and separate accounts.
Jim holds an M.B.A. from Columbia University, New York, as well as an M.S. in Applied Math and B.S. in Applied Math and Economics from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst and a member of the Boston Society of Security Analysts.
Joan Long
As Business Manager, Joan’s focus is on bookkeeping, quarterly newsletters, and client database maintenance, providing office assistance and supporting the firm’s principals. She has a BA in English. Joan spends her free time as a volunteer coach for Girls on the Run Western Massachusetts.
Lori Mahmud
Lori began her working life as an English teacher at Brookline High School. She joined West Branch Capital in 2004 as an Operations Manager. She currently plays the role of Operating Officer for the firm.
Lori holds a B.A. in English Literature and a B.S. from the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University, as well as a Masters Degree in Education from Northeastern University.
Peter B. Wiley, CFA
Peter brings to the firm over twenty years of experience as a Portfolio Manager and Equity Analyst. He is the Chief Investment Officer of the firm. Peter joined West Branch Capital from Blaine Capital Advisors LLC, an investment firm he founded in 2011.
Before Blaine Capital, Peter was a Portfolio Manager and a Senior Analyst at Pioneer Investment Management. Before Pioneer, Peter was a Partner and Portfolio Manager at Trove Partners, an equity hedge fund he co-founded in 2002.
Peter received his B.S. from the University of Notre Dame, a M.S. in Computer and Information Science from The Ohio State University, and a M.S. in Finance from Boston College. Peter has been a Chartered Financial Analyst since 1997.
Anne Christopulos, CFP®
Anne is a Managing Director and Financial Planner with over twenty years of experience in the financial services industry. After holding corporate management positions in finance and strategic planning in New York City, she moved to Boston to become the Product Manager for the IRA business at Fidelity Investments. Following that, she was Vice President, Retirement Investments, at Fleet Financial Services. A native of Cape Cod, she returned to the Cape in 2001 and made the transition to personal financial planning, first at Secure Future Financial Services in Dennis, then at Davis Financial Services, LLC, in Orleans, which is now a division of West Branch Capital.
Anne holds a B.A. in music and economics from Wellesley College and an MBA from Harvard Business School. She was granted the CFP® certification by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. in 2004.
Ayaz Mahmud
Ayaz brings almost thirty years of investment management experience to West Branch Capital. He serves as the firm’s Chief Executive Officer. Ayaz founded West Branch Capital in 2004 after spending over twenty years as a top wealth advisor at premier global investment banks: Kidder Peabody, Smith Barney and Lehman Brothers. At Lehman Brothers, he helped build the Wealth Management Group in Boston and co-managed the Equity and Fixed Income Middle Market Institutional Trading Desks.
Ayaz has managed client portfolios throughout his career.
Ayaz holds an M.A/M.B.A and a B.A/B.S from Syracuse University.
Cheryl Slattery
David Fadel, CFP®
Deborah E. Davis, CFP®
Deborah was the Principal and founder of Davis Financial Services, a former Registered Investment Advisory firm. Deborah has over twenty years of investment advisory and financial planning experience. As a West Branch Capital Managing Director and Portfolio Manager, Deborah provides custom design and management of client portfolios utilizing individual stocks and bonds, Preferred Stocks, ETFs and mutual funds.
Prior to founding Davis Financial Services, Deborah spent 23 years in banking, where she served in a variety of roles, including mortgage lender, commercial credit analyst, commercial loan officer, and loan workout specialist.
Deborah was granted the CFP® certification by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. in 1996.
Geoff Wilson
Geoff has over fifteen years of investment management experience. He is a Managing Director of the firm.
Prior to joining West Branch, Geoff was a Partner at p-Value Capital Management, an alternative asset management firm focused on public and private life science investments. Prior to joining p-Value, he served as a Portfolio Manager for Mansur Capital Corp., where he oversaw equity and alternative investments for a large family office. Geoff began his investment career as an equity analyst with several large institutional asset managers, including Columbia Wanger Asset Management and Mesirow Financial.
Geoff holds an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and an A.B. from Princeton University.
Georgann Ramage
Georgann is Director of Operations for the West Branch Capital office in Orleans, MA. She has spent her career in the financial services and private banking industry, first in a large mid-Atlantic bank in the Washington, DC area, in individual client management, then in the Private Banking Division, leading a team of Private Banking professionals providing financial services, including trust and investment management.
Georgann has been the business and operations manager at Davis Financial Services, LLC since 2012, which is now a division of West Branch Capital. She oversaw the operation of the firm including compliance, account servicing, and office management.
Georgann holds a B.A. in Economics from The College of William and Mary in Virginia.
Howard Singer, CFP®
Howard is a Portfolio Manager. He began his career in the 1980s, and co-founded Singer Potito Associates in 1990.
Howard holds a B.A. from the University of Colorado and an M.F.A. from Columbia University, New York. He was granted the CFP® certification by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. in 1993.
James K. Ho, CFA
Jim has over thirty years of investment management experience. He is a Managing Director and Principal of the firm.
Prior to West Branch Capital, Jim was a fixed income Portfolio Manager at John Hancock Advisors. Previously, he managed the John Hancock Tax Exempt Income Trust. Prior to joining John Hancock Advisors, Jim was a Senior Investment Officer at The New England (MetLife), where he managed multiple bond portfolios, including taxable and tax exempt mutual funds and separate accounts.
Jim holds an M.B.A. from Columbia University, New York, as well as an M.S. in Applied Math and B.S. in Applied Math and Economics from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst and a member of the Boston Society of Security Analysts.
Joan Long
As Business Manager, Joan’s focus is on bookkeeping, quarterly newsletters, and client database maintenance, providing office assistance and supporting the firm’s principals. She has a BA in English. Joan spends her free time as a volunteer coach for Girls on the Run Western Massachusetts.
Lori Mahmud
Lori began her working life as an English teacher at Brookline High School. She joined West Branch Capital in 2004 as an Operations Manager. She currently plays the role of Operating Officer for the firm.
Lori holds a B.A. in English Literature and a B.S. from the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University, as well as a Masters Degree in Education from Northeastern University.
Peter B. Wiley, CFA
Peter brings to the firm over twenty years of experience as a Portfolio Manager and Equity Analyst. He is the Chief Investment Officer of the firm. Peter joined West Branch Capital from Blaine Capital Advisors LLC, an investment firm he founded in 2011.
Before Blaine Capital, Peter was a Portfolio Manager and a Senior Analyst at Pioneer Investment Management. Before Pioneer, Peter was a Partner and Portfolio Manager at Trove Partners, an equity hedge fund he co-founded in 2002.
Peter received his B.S. from the University of Notre Dame, a M.S. in Computer and Information Science from The Ohio State University, and a M.S. in Finance from Boston College. Peter has been a Chartered Financial Analyst since 1997.
Not Convinced Yet?
Why Our Clients Choose Us
- 01
Convenience
With four office locations, clients are sure to find a location for meetings and servicing of accounts. We also offer a client portal so that you may view your quarterly reports at any time, and even maximize your financial planning.
- 02
Reliability
Client contact is a priority and we are proud of our quick response time to requests, questions, and concerns.
- 03
Trust
As a fiduciary, you are assured that our team continuously works with your best interests in mind.
- 04
Communication
Clients receive quarterly reports along with our “West Branch Capital Report” newsletter, and regular check-ins via meeting or phone call.
- 05
Peace of Mind
Clients are comfortable knowing that we handle their accounts with confidentiality and best practices to ensure continued security.