Sheelagh Howett

Sheelagh brings an extensive understanding of regulatory compliance and operations to her role as our Chief Risk Officer. Her focus on improving efficiency while meeting compliance objectives has strengthened our compliance systems while keeping processes manageable for our advisors. Sheelagh shares her experience to create new initiatives for improving efficiency and communication in industry compliance measures.

She began her career with Cantella in 2003. Her entrepreneurial spirit, skill in understanding regulatory requirements and commitment to helping advisors made her an integral part of our Transitions Department team. She advanced to the role of Director of Corporate Development, bringing a love of trouble-shooting and the implementation of creative, effective and prudent solutions that molded the department into the forward-thinking, streamlined operation it is today. Sheelagh was elected to the firm’s Board of Directors in 2012.

Throughout her career with Cantella, Sheelagh has exemplified an understanding and commitment to the importance of regulatory oversight and a focus on exacting yet efficient compliance. She has brought these qualities to every department of our firm, continuously improving the efficiency and integration of existing processes into daily routines so they become ingrained in the firm’s business. Sheelagh strongly believes that risk management is an enterprise-wide responsibility and has created a risk-aware culture at Cantella, with a clear understanding that risk mitigation and prevention is everyone’s job.

While Cantella operated as a broker-dealer, Sheelagh was elected by industry peers to the Mid-Size Firm seat on the FINRA District Committee for District 11 where she will serve for 3 years, a position previously held by Jay Lanstein, illustrating how strongly the firm believes in regulatory advocacy.

Sheelagh is an active member of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, New England Broker/Dealer Investment Advisor Association and Women in Pensions Network. Originally from Ireland, she earned a BA in Banking and Finance at University College in Dublin. She holds FINRA Series 7 and 24 licenses and AIF ® designation.

Sheelagh lives on Boston’s North Shore with her husband Tom Layte, their son and daughter.