Matthew Sullivan's blog

Earlier in my career I often volunteered as a guest speaker in State Street Bank’s training program for recent college graduates. I always asked the new hires: how long do you plan on being in the workforce? I wanted to get them thinking about career planning. I also encouraged them to immediately begin retirement planning by participating in the 401(k) plan and take advantage of the company’s matching contributions. More than twenty years later I’m quite certain that all those trainees are now in different jobs and many in different occupations – they adapted their career plan.

At the end of October 2023 my colleague, Frank Boland, invited me to a visit with a client. I spent many years communicating with this client via email and phone calls. It was wonderful to finally meet them in person. A few short weeks later, on the day before Thanksgiving, I was at a pub with a friend when I heard the news that Frank had passed away. I was shocked and remember my denial  – “that can’t be I was just visiting clients with him a few weeks ago”. For me, it is one of those memories that remains detailed and vivid as if it happened yesterday.