This month, we are delighted to recognise a special milestone for two long-standing members of the Halpin Wealth team.

Felicity Eardley, Business Systems Manager, and Mandy Keane, Client Service Officer, are both celebrating 10 years with Halpin Wealth.

Over the past decade, they have each played an important role in supporting our clients, advisers and wider team. They have also collected plenty of memories along the way.

To mark the occasion, we asked them to reflect on their time at Halpin and share a little more about themselves.

What has kept them here for 10 years?

For both Felicity and Mandy, there is a strong connection between their role and the experience clients receive.

Felicity says what she enjoys most is “working collaboratively in a team to produce the best outcomes for our clients”.

As Business Systems Manager, much of Felicity’s work happens behind the scenes, helping make sure the systems and processes supporting the team work effectively.

Mandy’s role is more directly involved in preparing clients for their regular meetings with their adviser.

“I take pride in the process of booking our clients in for their half-yearly or annual reviews, preparing and ensuring the accuracy of a client’s portfolio and any outstanding paperwork, so the adviser can present an accurate picture to them at their appointment,” she says.

While their roles are different, both answers reflect something that has remained consistent throughout their time at Halpin: attention to detail, teamwork and a focus on helping clients feel well looked after.

Ten years brings plenty of memories

When asked to choose a moment from the past decade that still makes them smile, Felicity and Mandy reflected on the memories with the team.

Felicity immediately remembered the day the Halpin team moved offices.

“The conga line of staff wheeling our chairs stacked with items down Pirie Street,” she recalls.

With items falling from chairs on the uneven pavers and the team waiting together at traffic lights, it was apparently quite a sight.

“Everyone was laughing at us,” Felicity says.

For Mandy, it is an annual Halpin tradition that stands out: the staff Kris Kringle before the Christmas lunch.

With a $20 limit, gifts are chosen in order, with the option to “snatch” something another person has already opened.

“This always brings lots of laughter, especially when there are funny gifts or something is snatched from someone who was happy with their gift,” Mandy says.

“It is a good wind-down to the end of a year.”

Their ultimate dinner parties would be quite something

We asked them both to pick a guest they would love to invite to their dream dinner party. To make it even more interesting their guest could be living or from the past.

Felicity did not restrict herself to just one guest.

Her table would include Gerald Durrell, David Attenborough, Daphne Sheldrick, Jane Goodall, Brian Cox, Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams.

“They are people I admire,” she says.

“I believe the conversation would revolve around science, conservation, our natural environment, both on Earth and the cosmos that surrounds us.

“They are all amazing, intelligent people with vast knowledge who communicate with humour and wit, and I think the conversation would be brilliant.”

Mandy’s guest list would bring together treasured family members who have passed away, Lucille Ball, Robin Williams, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Dolly Parton, Neil Armstrong and Michelangelo.

As Mandy puts it, it would be “a mixed bag”.

Lucille Ball was a childhood idol, Robin Williams would bring the quick wit and Mick Jagger and Keith Richards would have plenty of questions to answer from a lifelong Stones fan.

Dolly Parton makes the list because “she’s a great storyteller”, although Mandy jokes that she might not seat her next to Mick.

Neil Armstrong also holds a special place in her memories.

“I can remember being sent home from primary school to watch the Moon Walk on our black-and-white TV,” she says.

Michelangelo rounds out the table. With Italian heritage and memories of a trip to Italy seven years ago, Mandy says she was in awe of his sculptures and paintings.

“I feel he was a genius. There are so many pieces of work, and I’m not sure how he was able to fit it all in during his lifetime.”

We suspect both dinner parties could run very late into the evening.

What about the topics they could talk about forever?

For Felicity, the answer is travel, particularly Africa.

Given her interest in wildlife, conservation and the natural world, it is probably no surprise that she could happily talk about her travels for hours.

For Mandy, there was no hesitation.

“My dear grandchildren,” she says.

She currently has a four-year-old grandson and two-year-old granddaughter, with another grandchild due in December.

Then came an important amendment.

“My children too, of course. I forgot they will be reading this!”

A decade at Halpin

Ten years is a significant milestone, and we are grateful for everything Felicity and Mandy have contributed during that time.

Both have played an important part in helping Halpin Wealth support our clients and our team.

Just as importantly, they have contributed to the relationships, humour and shared memories that help make Halpin what it is.

Congratulations, Felicity and Mandy, on 10 years with Halpin Wealth, and thank you for everything you have brought to the team along the way.