Elyssa Kupferberg mom, finance wiz and humanitarian

By Diane Feen
Special to the News

When you meet Elyssa Kupferberg you have to throw stereotypes to the wind. The blond haired beauty with the high wattage smile and glamorous trappings of suburbia is nothing like one would think at first glance.

She doesn’t have a French manicure, doesn’t spend her afternoons playing tennis and you won’t see her lining up for Botox on Saturday afternoons. But you will see her working with fiduciary specialists; establishing asset allocation programs and checking out mid cap stocks for her clients.

That’s because the University of Pennsylvania Wharton economics and communications major has her hand on the pulse of the financial world in Boca Raton and beyond. As the Director of Business Development for BNY Mellon Wealth Management, Kupferberg’s task is to educate her clients and help them maintain financial well being (via investments and estate planning).

Although Kupferberg is quite a pioneer in this field (there were only two women out of 40 lending managers at Chase Manhattan when she started), she still relishes the routines that make up her day. “I have a passion for helping people and making them feel comfortable with their financial situations,” said the New Jersey native.

Kupferberg also wants to make sure that everyone involved gets the full advantage of her (and her teams) financial expertise. “I try to have husbands include their wives in meetings. It’s important because often the woman will outlive the man.”

It’s the pragmatist in Kupferberg that seems to set this young woman apart from her peers. She is motivated to bring in new clients (her track record is stellar) and is equally as driven to make sure they get the best care when life throws them a curve ball. “I truly care about my clients. I call them to make sure they get out, and if they need help, I find it for them. I treat my clients like they’re my own parents.”

And that’s a big deal. Kupferberg is very close to her parents Paula and Jack, who provided her and her brother Elliot an idyllic upbringing and family values that were the bedrock of the 60’s (think Ozzie and Harriet).

Perhaps it is that stable upbringing that set the stage for Kupferberg to spread her wisdom and leadership skills to charities across Palm Beach County. And if you think it’s easy to raise two boys (14-year-old Evan and 12-year-old Landon), work full time, sit on dozens of committees, boards and civic organizations, and be a good wife to husband Barry, you’re wrong. “My life is like a three-legged stool, but I try to balance family, career and my non-profit work,” said the Boca golden girl.

And it looks like she is succeeding. Kupferberg was the past chair of the Professional Advisory Committee for Federation of South Palm Beach County (helping raise $14 million), the Vice Chair (and board member) of the Foundation for the Federation of SPBC, board member of the Jewish Association for Residential Care, on the professional advisory committee for the Boca Raton Community Hospital, Board member of JCC and Women’s Division of the Federation of SPBC.

And it is this dedication to the community that has garnered Kupferberg a long list of admirers. “Elyssa has a heart of gold.  She loves her profession and takes a deep and genuine interest in her clients. Her passion for various charities has made a significant impact on our community,” said David Pratt, partner with Proskauer Rose LLP.

In between her work duties and committee meetings Kupferberg drives her children to school, attends their basketball games (they’re both champions) and recently chaired the LEAH Gala honoring Yvonne Boice (with husband Barry).

In her free time (one wonders if this superwoman has more than the 24- hours a day we’re allotted) she is the president elect of the Boca Raton Estate Planning Council, board member of the Boca Round Table, Florence Fuller Child Development Center and The American Jewish Committee, member of the National Cabinet of Israel Bonds and co-chair of JAFCO professional Advisory committee.

Magna Cum Laude
 
Yet when you meet this youthful looking Boca mom she exudes a sense of balance and manicured elegance. She doesn’t look harried, yet she does seem to have a symbiotic relationship with her Blackberry. But it’s easy to see why patrons of the arts and those accumulating (and procuring) wealth would trust this 23- year veteran of high finance.

She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business and the Annenberg School for Communication, she received the 2002 Women of Distinction Award by Soroptimist International, the Volunteer of the Year in 2003 by Florence Fuller Child Development Center, the Pillar of the Community Award in 2005 by LEAH, and Woman of Vision 2007 by the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science.

Kupferberg also has the financial pedigree reserved for champions (that are often male). She has an MBA in banking and finance, and worked as a corporate lending officer at European American Bank and a vice president in both the lending and Private Banking Divisions of Chase Manhattan Bank.