Paul Samett founded Eastlakes in 2007 after a long career as a senior corporate executive in finance and investments, culminating with the successful public offering of a shipping investment company of which he was a co-founder.  As a CPA, financial planner and investment analyst with 30 years of experience, he is able to guide his clients through today’s complex financial world and provide them with the confidence and peace of mind that comes with knowing that their financial affairs are handled in a thorough and professional manner by a trustworthy advisor. 

 

Paul started his career with the international accounting and consulting firm, Arthur Andersen & Co., in New York City in 1977, serving clients that included some of the wealthiest families and largest corporations in the world, with respect to accounting, auditing and investment analysis. 

 

He left Andersen in 1990 to join his client, a multi-billion dollar diversified investment company, where his primary responsibilities included analyzing investment opportunities and working closely with the firm’s Executive Investment Committee on deciding which of these opportunities to invest in, as well as leadership of the corporate finance staff.  His next opportunity was with another multi-billion dollar financial services company which he joined as Senior Vice President, CFO and Treasurer with seats on the Board of Directors and Executive Investment Committee.  He briefly joined another public company as Senior VP and CFO until, in 2000, he co-founded a ship finance company which he and his colleagues brought public in an IPO during 2007.

 

These experiences in the corporate finance community have given Paul valuable perspectives on how the investment world works from the inside.  Paul established Eastlakes in 2007 to bring this experience to bear on guiding individual and small business clients through the maze of modern finance.  His initial primary consulting client was the family investment office of an ultra-high net worth family where he analyzed and implemented investment strategies.  Eastlakes is a Registered Investment Advisor. Today, approximately 90% of his practice serves individuals and small business clients.

 

Paul is a cum laude graduate of the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Management, earning his bachelor’s degree in 1977, and has been a Certified Public Accountant since 1980.  He also completed an executive program on Investment and Risk Analysis in Shipping at the IMD Graduate School of Business in Lausanne, Switzerland, in 2004.  Paul is the holder of a FINRA Series 65 license, and is a member of the Personal Financial Planning and Tax Sections of the American Institute of CPA's. 

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In his spare time, Paul serves as a volunteer Board Member and the Finance Chair of Chester County Futures, a not-for-profit organization in suburban Philadelphia ( www.ccfutures.org ).  CCF's mission is to provide comprehensive academic support, mentoring and scholarships for motivated, economically-disadvantaged youth to succeed in school, higher education and life.

 

On a personal level, Paul is an avid basketball fan, a former professional turned amateur musician, a bridge player and a jazz, rock, and classical music aficionado.  He voraciously follows current economic and political events through various news sources and non-fiction books.  He lives in the Main Line area of suburban Philadelphia in an empty nest with his wife of over 30 years, Barbara, and their two quirky dogs.  Their daughter, Andrea, always makes him smile.