Membership Directory - Individual
Richard Mella
Compliance Officer at Raymond James Investment Services
About
Richard (Rich) joined Raymond James in March 2021. He has worked in the financial services industry for over 30 years, latterly twenty years for an Independent Financial Adviser. He is a Compliance Officer at Raymond James Investment Services in the UK. Primarily he conducts reviews of financial planning business written by the branches to ensure that the advice given is both appropriate and that it has been conducted in accordance with regulatory standards. Very much a supporting role to the branches, the file review process entails travel throughout the country to conduct the reviews, produce reports and provide feedback to wealth managers on the business written. In addition, Rich assists other members of the compliance team on the monitoring of trades conducted by wealth managers.
Encouraged by the proactive approach Raymond James is taking to diversity and inclusion, Rich is very pleased to be involved with Project 1000 and to be an ally to those already “out” (from any part of the rainbow family) but also those individuals who perhaps are not able to be as open about their sexuality as they might like, for whatever reason. Rich also sees the role as being an ally to those outside of the LGBT+ community; to educate and help promote a more equal and inclusive society.
Rich’s journey to where he is now saw him previously married and he has 2 adult children, but he felt unable for many years to “come out”, because of the environment he was in, so his life experiences put him in an uncommon position. It was only later that he felt able to “come out”, to everyone and whilst he now lives as an openly gay man, and is happily married (to Ricky) he fully understands that it’s not easy to be who you are and live a comfortable existence.
In his spare time Rich sings with a local chorus; The Herts & Soul Community Choir, who sing to raise funds for local charities, by performing at concerts in and around Hertfordshire and Essex. In addition, he is a keen cyclist and has undertaken some overseas charity rides raising £12k for Mind, Macmillan and Breast Cancer Now.
Rich comments that:
“I am proud to be a Project 1000 Role Model because although the world is moving in the right direction in terms of acceptance of LGBT+ individuals there is still a way to go before we reach the position of acceptance, without questioning. Our industry should reflect the diversity that exists in society and I hope that myself and the other Role Models, will enable others to feel they can stand Proud and be who they are without fear”.
Encouraged by the proactive approach Raymond James is taking to diversity and inclusion, Rich is very pleased to be involved with Project 1000 and to be an ally to those already “out” (from any part of the rainbow family) but also those individuals who perhaps are not able to be as open about their sexuality as they might like, for whatever reason. Rich also sees the role as being an ally to those outside of the LGBT+ community; to educate and help promote a more equal and inclusive society.
Rich’s journey to where he is now saw him previously married and he has 2 adult children, but he felt unable for many years to “come out”, because of the environment he was in, so his life experiences put him in an uncommon position. It was only later that he felt able to “come out”, to everyone and whilst he now lives as an openly gay man, and is happily married (to Ricky) he fully understands that it’s not easy to be who you are and live a comfortable existence.
In his spare time Rich sings with a local chorus; The Herts & Soul Community Choir, who sing to raise funds for local charities, by performing at concerts in and around Hertfordshire and Essex. In addition, he is a keen cyclist and has undertaken some overseas charity rides raising £12k for Mind, Macmillan and Breast Cancer Now.
Rich comments that:
“I am proud to be a Project 1000 Role Model because although the world is moving in the right direction in terms of acceptance of LGBT+ individuals there is still a way to go before we reach the position of acceptance, without questioning. Our industry should reflect the diversity that exists in society and I hope that myself and the other Role Models, will enable others to feel they can stand Proud and be who they are without fear”.
Project 1000
Available to Members