BlueDoor was founded with the singular goal to invest purposefully for its clients. As technological innovation has infiltrated the investment management industry, firms are increasingly using it to cut costs and provide generic products to clients irrespective of their unique needs. Our goal was to strip back the investment process to its core and ask the singular question of why are we investing these funds. For some it is long term growth while others seek the pinnacle of capital preservation. Framed in the context of our unique knowledge of each client we are able to craft a strategy around their needs and not our products.
“It's attention to detail that makes the difference between average and stunning."
-Francis Atterbury
Michael is the Founder and CEO of BlueDoor Private Wealth. He has over twenty years of experience providing investment, tax and estate planning advice to individuals, family groups and charities.
Prior to founding BlueDoor, Michael was a founding partner of Little House Capital, LLC. He also served as a principal and Chief Compliance Officer of East Coast Asset Management. Prior to his time at East Coast, Michael was a Principal and the Director of Wealth Management with Cabot Money Management, Inc. in Salem, MA. While at Cabot, Michael was responsible for overseeing the wealth management and tax preparation services for the firm. He also served as the firm’s Chief Compliance Officer. Prior to Cabot, Michael worked for The Colony Group, LLC in Boston, MA where he provided financial planning services to high net worth families and corporate executives as well as estate planning services through the firm’s affiliated law firm.
Michael received his B.A. from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in Anthropology and earned his Juris Doctor from Boston University. Michael is admitted to practice law in Massachusetts and before the U.S. Tax Court. He also holds the Certified Financial PlannerTM (CFP®) designation.
In addition to his professional life, Michael is an avid golfer and soccer fan.
Kevin is the President and Chief Investment Officer at BlueDoor and the owner of Live Oak Family Office, which provides his clients with investment management and financial planning services through BlueDoor. Kevin is responsible for overseeing all investment management operations at BlueDoor.
With a passion for building lasting relationships, he collaborates closely with clients’ CPAs, attorneys, and other advisors to create a cohesive financial team dedicated to achieving their goals. Kevin finds deep purpose in guiding families through their wealth management journey, empowering them to make informed decisions with confidence.
A graduate of The Ohio State University, Kevin began his career at an investment advisory firm in Ohio, where he honed his expertise in crafting tailored investment plans. Driven by a vision to foster greater family involvement and financial education, he co-founded an advisory business with Garcia & Ortiz, P.A., a respected accounting firm in St. Petersburg, Florida. Following the loss of his esteemed partners, Louie Ortiz and Luis Garcia, to cancer, Kevin merged his practice with Live Oak Family Offices, aligning with Tommy Platt’s shared commitment to client-centered wealth management.
As a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) and member of the CFA Institute, Kevin brings rigorous expertise to his work. His approach blends disciplined risk management with a zest for life, encouraging clients to leverage their wealth to live meaningfully and fully.
Outside the office, Kevin cherishes time with family, friends, and his dogs. An avid traveler, concert-goer, and outdoor enthusiast, he enjoys biking, hiking, and embracing life’s adventures. His curiosity and wanderlust inspire his work, as he helps clients not only secure their financial future but also pursue a life of purpose and fulfillment.
Grady is an Associate Portfolio Manager at BlueDoor Private Wealth, where he supports the firm in both an investment research and client adviser capacity. Grady is particularly focused on using his background to drive deep fundamental analysis to support BlueDoor’s long-term investment focus. In his capacity working with clients, he strives to offer a personalized approach to the client experience by bridging the gap between the portfolios and real world needs of each individual client.
Prior to joining BlueDoor, Grady graduated Magna cum Laude from Fordham University with a B.S. in Business Administration concentrating in Finance. While enrolled at Fordham, Grady was a member of the Division 1 men’s soccer team and competed in the NCAA National Tournament. He also founded Collegiate Skillz which provides sports based after-school programs delivered by college athletes to schools throughout the United States.
He is currently enrolled in the CFA program as a Level 2 candidate, having passed his Level 1 exam.
Apart from his work with BlueDoor, Grady enjoys travel, golf and continues to play soccer and maintain his lifelong support of Manchester United.
Ryan O’Meara is an Associate Financial Counselor at BlueDoor Private Wealth, where she supports the firm’s advisors in delivering investment support and administrative services to clients. She plays a key role in the client experience, helping to ensure that each client receives prompt, thoughtful, and highly personalized attention throughout their financial journey. Ryan previously worked in the financial advisory industry in Portsmouth, NH and brings a fantastic combination of knowledge, efficiency and enthusiasm to our team.
Ryan graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 2021 with a B.A. in English. She is committed to continuing her professional development in the areas of investment planning, estate coordination, and client advisory services. She is particularly interested in the role that clear communication and thoughtful planning play in helping clients feel confident in their financial decisions.
Outside of work, she practices yoga and enjoys spending time with family and friends.
Mary Ann Watkins is an Administrative Assistant with BlueDoor Private Wealth, LLC. She brings over 30 years of financial operations experience to the firm. Mary Ann provides highly professional and dedicated service to the clients of BlueDoor since joining BlueDoor in 2023. Her responsibilities include providing support to the BlueDoor team through monitoring account updates, daily reporting, and workflow processes. Prior to BlueDoor, Mary Ann held positions with various investment management firms in both Boston, and Essex, MA.
Mary Ann enjoys spending time with family and her wire fox terrier, Chloe, and has a passion for riding and showing horses.
Tom Shepherd is President and Managing Director of Connecticut Retirement Readiness, a division of Bluedoor Private Wealth. In this role, he works with the firm’s team on all aspects of private wealth management, helping individuals and families pursue long-term financial security and retirement readiness.
Tom’s passion for helping others achieve financial success is the driving force behind his work. He is committed to building lifelong relationships with clients and believes strongly that financial advice and financial education go hand in hand. Tom is particularly passionate about teaching financial literacy and helping clients develop a clearer understanding of their financial lives so they can confidently work toward their goals. As he often tells clients, he enjoys teaching them “how to play—and win—the money game.”
Prior to joining Connecticut Retirement Readiness, Tom served as a Registered Investment Adviser with Baystate Financial, a division of MassMutual, and as a Registered Representative and Retirement Counselor with Empower, Prudential, Voya, and ING. In those roles, he worked extensively with participants in the State of Connecticut Employee Retirement Plans. He primarily served employees at the University of Connecticut, along with professionals across many state agencies including the Department of Education, Department of Transportation, Judicial Branch, Legislative Management, and numerous other state departments. As a former State of Connecticut employee himself, Tom has a deep understanding of the state’s pension systems and supplemental retirement plans.
Tom graduated from Villanova University with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, with a concentration in Criminal Justice and a minor in Philosophy. Earlier in his career, he worked as a paralegal while considering law school. When the legal profession proved not to be the right path, he transitioned into the medical field, working in clinical research at the University of Connecticut Health Center. While preparing for medical school, a physician colleague encouraged him to pursue financial advising, recognizing his natural aptitude for financial matters and his ability to help others navigate complex financial decisions. Taking that advice ultimately led Tom to the profession where he discovered his true calling.
Outside of his professional work, Tom maintains an active and diverse set of interests. A former fitness trainer in Philadelphia, he continues to prioritize health and fitness. As the former owner of Shepherd Landscaping, he also enjoys landscaping and helping neighbors and friends beautify their properties. Tom has played ice hockey for most of his life and still enjoys getting on the ice when he can. He also enjoys music, including singing and learning to play guitar, bass guitar, and drums. An avid reader of the literary classics, Tom is passionate about lifelong learning and exploring different cultures through travel, particularly in Europe. Above all, he believes strongly in sharing knowledge and helping others grow.
John Shepherd is a portfolio manager with Connecticut Retirement Readiness, a division of Bluedoor Private Wealth, as Vice President. In this role, he works with the firm’s team on all aspects of private wealth management, helping individuals and families pursue long-term financial security and retirement readiness.
John’s passion, work ethic, and highly individualized approach to client relationships have earned him recognition as an innovator across the institutional investment industry, including the broker-dealer marketplace, registered investment advisor community, and family office environments.
Prior to joining Connecticut Retirement Readiness, John served as Vice President at Fairbanks Capital Management a California-based registered investment advisor and real estate boutique. Earlier in his career, he was a Director at a leading RIA technology firm and a Portfolio Manager responsible for debt, equity, and asset allocation strategies.
John’s previous leadership roles also include Managing Director at Lateef Investment Management as well as Vice President positions at Fidelity Investments and The Hartford.
He is a graduate of St. Anselm College and an honors graduate school masters program at City College of New York Business School. John has also been finance faculty at the college level.
Outside of his professional work, John is an author, tennis player, golfer, and avid fitness enthusiast. He has a strong interest in the financial and health decisions seniors make as they prepare for retirement, and he closely follows local, national, and international political developments
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