Say Hello to Sarah

Sarah Fitzgibbon, financial analyst, joined Columbia Asset Management in 2006. She was born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan and graduated in 2006 from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Science. After working full-time at Columbia for more than two years, she moved to Colorado to attend the University of Colorado, Boulder and pursue her MBA. She graduated with honors in 2010 with a focus in finance and real estate. Sarah currently lives in Boulder with her husband and two kids, Madison and Declan, working for Columbia and cheering on Michigan football remotely (even despite that bowl game performance). In her free time, she enjoys hiking in the beautiful Colorado foothills, snowboarding, cooking and spending time with her family and friends.

What’s your favorite part of working at Columbia?

Being able to follow the markets and learn about different investments and companies. There are so many options when it comes to the investment world and it’s important to know about all of them when deciding where to put your or your clients’ money. Everyone has different wants, needs and goals, and understanding those when making investment suggestions is imperative.

Best advice you’ve been given?

You are your own best advocate. You must make it known what you need, or want, because no one can read your mind. This applies not just at work, but to life in general. Advocating for yourself can be hard, but it’s essential for both professional and personal growth.

Favorite vacation destination?

The beach! All my life, we’ve vacationed at the beach — I love the sunshine. My mom now lives in Sarasota, Florida and we try to visit at least twice a year. Siesta Key Beach is one of my favorites, with its fine white sand, warm waters and great seashells to collect.

Favorite part of living in Colorado?

What’s not to love about Colorado?! I’d have to say my favorite part of living in Colorado is being able to enjoy the outdoors all year long. We love hiking in the foothills during the spring, boating on the reservoirs in the summer, enjoying the fall colors of the aspens in Rocky Mountain National Park, and skiing and snowboarding in the high country in the winter. There is so much to do all year long, and the weather and sunshine just can’t be beat!

What are some fun facts about yourself?

Growing up, I played field hockey for 10 years on various rec & ed teams and for Ann Arbor Pioneer High School. I then coached youth field hockey teams while attending the University of Michigan. I can’t wait for my daughter to be old enough to start playing herself. I’ve also traveled around the world through a program called Semester at Sea. I visited nine countries in 4.5 months while taking college courses. It was the experience of a lifetime and sparked an interest in travel in me that I can’t wait to pass on to my children.