Brendan has been with First Financial Trust since 2003 serving in the role of portfolio manager for individual, corporate, charitable, and trust accounts. He chairs the Investment Committee and coordinates the firm's research efforts. He also oversees trading for the firm. He helped develop the firm's Multiple Asset Program, which focuses on diversification across multiple asset classes through the use of Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and Mutual Funds. Prior to joining First Financial Trust, Brendan worked as a trader for a hedge fund focused primarily on mergers and acquisitions. He also worked as a Specialist's Assistant at the New York Stock Exchange.

Brendan earned his Bachelor's degree in Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He holds a Chartered Financial Analyst^® (CFA) designation and is a member of CFA Institute and the Boston Security Analysts Society.

Brendan resides in West Roxbury with his wife and three daughters. He is an active member of the Rotary Club of West Roxbury-Roslindale and coaches youth sports.

Joe is the Senior Investment Officer and a member of the Investment Committee here at FFT. He previously served as a member of the First Financial Trust Board of Directors and has been part of the FFT team since 1996. Joe brings more than 45 years of investment experience to the team, including over 20 years at the former Safety Fund National Bank, where he served as Senior Vice President and Senior Trust Investment Officer. Joe was past Chairman of the Lunenburg Finance Committee and was a Lunenburg Park Commissioner. He was also a past President and longtime board member of Our Fathers House, a past Chairman of the Diocese of Worcester Finance committee, and served on the Catholic Charities Finance committee. He is currently on the board of directors for Fitchburg Mutual Insurance Company, Norfolk & Dedham Mutual Insurance Company, M.C. Johnson Inc., Fabriteq Inc. and Newbury Corp. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame.

Jim has been an integral part of the FFT team for over 19 years. He brings over forty years of experience as a portfolio manager to First Financial Trust. Prior to joining the Bank, Jim was a Vice President at Safety Fund National Bank for 17 years in their Trust Department. At Safety Fund, Jim managed trust portfolios including the research and screening of individual stocks. Before Safety Fund, Jim was a portfolio manager for Security Bank & Trust Company in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.

Jim is a graduate of Lehigh University with a BS in Finance and earned his MBA from Assumption College. Very active in the local community, Jim was president of the Montachusett Area Rotary Club, where he is currently a member, and was also president of TLC Trust, an organization that oversees trusts for the benefit of special needs individuals. Jim is on the Board of Directors for the Salvation Army, Montachusett Regional YMCA and Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority. Jim served as Managing Trustee for the Nashua Valley Boy Scouts Endowment Funds and was former president of Children's Aid and Family Service. Jim resides in Fitchburg and enjoys exercising at the YMCA in his spare time.

Rick has over 20 years experience managing portfolios for high net worth individuals and local institutional clients. His experience in Trust and Investment Management is a true asset in our efforts to continuously build our strong wealth management team.

Prior to joining FFT, Rick managed private-client and non-profit investment portfolios in his position as Vice President at People's United Bank Wealth Management group. His focus in employing smart strategies to build equity portfolios offering growth potential while being conscious of market risk serves our clients well. Rick enjoys working one on one with his clients to help them achieve their financial goals.

Rick received an MBA from Suffolk University and a BA in Economics from Framingham State College. He serves as a Board member on the Essex County Estate and Planning Council, a Board member of the Beverly Rotary, and as a member of the Board of Commissioners of Trust Funds for the City of Gloucester. In addition, Rick was a past Board President of the Cape Ann YMCA Board of Directors. Rick lives in Gloucester with his wife and three children.

Kathryn has more than fifteen years of experience providing wealth management and fiduciary expertise to individuals and their families. She works with First Financial Trust clients and families serving investment management accounts, trusts and retirement accounts. Kathryn earned her undergraduate degree from Bridgewater State College and law degree from Suffolk University Law School. She was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in December 1999. Kathryn is a member of both the Essex County and Merrimack Valley Estate Planning Councils. She is also on the board of directors of the Rotary Club of Wakefield and the Boys & Girls Club of Stoneham and Wakefield. She lives in Wakefield with her husband and three children.

Peter has over 36 years experience in the trust and investment management industry, and is responsible for the administration of client services for both new and existing relationships at FFT. From 1980 to 2002, Peter was Vice President and Senior Financial Advisor with the TD Banknorth Wealth Management Group organizations. At TD Banknorth, Peter was the Market Manager and Senior Trust Officer responsible for the administration of high net worth personal, institutional and non-for-profit relationships in North Central MA. Prior to joining TD Banknorth, he was an Administrative Officer for Chase (Connecticut) in Danbury, CT, and began his trust career in 1975 as a Trust Tax Accountant for Mellon Bank-Northeast in Stroudsburg, PA.

Peter serves on the Board of Directors of the Mt. Wachusett Community College Foundation, and is Vice-Chairman of their Investment and Finance Committee. Peter is past president of the Rotary Club of Gardner, the United Way of Greater Gardner, as well as Campaign Chairman for the Leadership Giving Division of the United Way of North Central MA, where he also served on the membership committee. He is a member of the Estate and Business Planning Council of Worcester County, Montachusett Estate Planning Council and Worcester Economic Club. Peter is both a Certified Trust and Financial Advisor (CTFA) and a Certified Financial Services Counselor (CFSC). Peter received his BS from Manhattan College and also graduated from the National Graduate Trust School at Northwestern University. Peter enjoys spending time with his family and is an ardent fan of both the NY Yankees and NY Giants.

Janice has extensive experience in the trust and investment management industry and provides superior client service for our wealth management clients. She works closely with attorneys and CPAs to provide a comprehensive plan for each client and also administers trusts with real-estate, dealing with all aspects of property management. Janice has a strong background in compliance procedures under the OCC guidelines as well as internal audit requirements. She is a member of the firm's Trust Administration Committee and, prior to joining FFT, Janice was associated with Congress Trust, N.A., a subsidiary of Congress Asset Management of Boston as a Vice President & Trust Operations Officer. Additionally, she was a Probate Accountant for Ropes & Gray and State Street Bank & Trust Company.

Janice attended Bentley College and is a graduate of the Cannon Financial Trust School and has successfully completed numerous Fiduciary and Trust seminars and programs. She is a member of Lynnfield Rotary, the recipient of multiple Paul Harris awards, along with being a former board member and past Treasurer. She is on the Board of Directors of the Wakefield/Lynnfield Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Directors of Mystic Valley Elder Services and a member of FAST (Financial Abuse Specialist Team) of the Northern Mass Region of Elder Protective Services. She is a Notary Public and resides in Lynnfield with her husband, Robert.

Bob recently joined the First Financial Team, and oversees the day-to-day processing of all trust operations related activity. Bob works closely with trust officers and portfolio managers to provide clients with the best possible service. He serves on the compliance committee for First Financial Trust and has over twenty years of experience in the trust and investment management industry. Prior to joining the firm, he worked as a trust administrator in various law firms and banks. He studied at New England College of Finance and is currently pursuing his CTFA.

Bob resides in Reading and enjoys spending time with his two daughters.

Mercy recently joined the First Financial Trust team, after having worked at The Savings Bank for almost 19 years. She started as a Part-Time Teller, working mother's hours, at the Lakeside Branch, in November 2000. She assumed the Full-Time position of Head Teller at the Main Office in 2006, and soon moved up to Customer Service Representative. She had been the Assistant Branch Manager at the Main Office since 2014, before making a career move to FFT in April 2019.

Mercy is a graduate from Boston State College, where she majored in Spanish and Psychology. She has 6 grown up children, and 4 grandchildren, all of whom are her pride and joy. Mercy resides with her husband, in Woburn, MA.

Michelle changed careers from 10 years of Project Management to Banking/Finance in 2017. She is a dynamic and versatile employee, assisting the entire First Financial Trust team with whatever needs they have. Michelle earned an undergraduate degree in Business Administration and a graduate degree in Organizational Management from Endicott College.

Michelle has served as a treasurer on numerous associations and is an avid volunteer in the Wakefield/Peabody Communities. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family, yoga, and anything outdoors.