SHIRL PENNEY

FOUNDER & CEO, DYNASTY PARTNERS, ST. PETERSBURG

Penney founded Dynasty Financial Partners 15 years ago to provide independent wealth management firms and investment advisers with proprietary resources, a tech platform and capital strategies to offer clients personalized financial advice. Today, it’s one of the largest independent wealth firms in the nation with nearly $100 billion in client assets on its platform. “Dynasty has democratized the family office model once reserved for ultra-wealthy families to make the model available to more people,” Penney says.

EDUCATION: Bates College (BS)

FIRST JOB: My first jobs, simultaneously, were working on fishing boats and raking blueberries in Maine at age 11. On the fishing boats, I mended nets, caught and cleaned the fish, and cleaned the boats. This was a year-round, very difficult job. Raking blueberries on the blueberry farms was a summer job. Clearly both jobs were easier in the summer.

DREAM ALTERNATE CAREER: I’d spend my time inspiring entrepreneurs, especially those who come from local, underserved communities and those who are first generation in the US.

HOBBY: My wife Mary Ann and I are deeply involved in horse racing, managing Team Penney Racing, a stable of about 20 racehorses.