Our Team

Nichole is President/CEO and founder of Nvest Financial Group, LLC. She began her career in the financial services industry in 1995, having previously worked as an advisor with two large brokerage firms before establishing Nvest.

“Nvest was created to be the kind of place where we, ourselves, would want to be clients - an independent firm so we could focus 100% of our time and effort on the needs and objectives of our clientele,” explains Nichole as one reason for having founded the firm in 2003. Above all else, Nichole values her clients, their relationships, and working for them and not for a big Wall Street conglomerate.

As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner, Accredited Investment Fiduciary^® designee, Certified Divorce Financial Analyst™, and Master Planner in Advanced Studies, Nichole takes her fiduciary responsibility seriously when it comes to clients in her care. She and her team work tirelessly and precisely regarding all aspects of a client's financial life, helping to educate along the way so clients feel they are making informed decisions about their personal financial matters.

Nichole is often tapped as a guest speaker at various events, national and local conferences, talk shows, and other groups because of her uncanny ability to take difficult subject matter and make it easily understandable to her audience. She has been recognized for her achievements by being invited to numerous broker/dealer top-producer club levels over the past 10 years.

RECENT INDUSTRY HONORS:

• Forbes:  America's Top Women Advisors 2019^*
• Forbes:  Best-in-State Advisors List - Maine 2019^*
• Five Star Wealth Advisor - NH:  2019**
• Forbes:  America's Top Women Advisors 2018^*
• NH Business Review:  Business Excellence Award for Financial Services 2018***
• Forbes:  Best-in-State Advisors List - Maine 2018^*
• Five Star Wealth Advisor - NH:  2018**
• Forbes:  America's Top Women Advisors 2017^*
• Five Star Wealth Avisor - NH:  2017^**
• Investment News:  Best Practices Award, Top Producer - 2017 Advisor Technology Study

Nichole D. Raftopoulos is proud to have been recognized as a Chairman's Level advisor for 2018—a distinction based on annual production attained by just 3 percent of advisors affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network.

Each year, Commonwealth, the Registered Investment Adviser–broker/dealer that helps us process investment transactions on your behalf, recognizes Chairman's Level advisors by inviting them to an exclusive gathering of their peers, leading industry experts, and Commonwealth home office staff. Chairman's Level advisors benefit from an intensive learning and networking experience designed to help them hone their expertise, share best practices, and provide ever-higher levels of service, education, and leadership to their clients.

Summary of Advanced Education and Professional Licenses:

• CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner—CFP^® certification from the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. 
• Certified Divorce Financial Analyst™ (CDFA™) 
• Accredited Investment Fiduciary^® (AIF^®)
• Master Planner Advanced Studies (MPAS^℠) 
• Master's of science degree, financial planning 
• FINRA Series 7, 24, 63, and 65 securities registrations held through Commonwealth Financial Network^® 
• Life and health insurance agent’s license 
• Maine and New Hampshire licensed Investment Advisor 

*The ranking of 2019 Forbes' Top Wealth Advisors (Top Women Advisors)⁽¹⁾ is based on an algorithm of qualitative and quantitative criteria, including a minimum of seven years of experience, a minimum of $1 million in production, and the weighing of factors including revenue trends, AUM, compliance records, industry experience, and best practices (gathered through telephone and in-person due-diligence interviews). Shook Research also employs an opinion-based weighting system that prioritizes its preferred "best practices," which include business models, activities, processes, and structure. 4000 advisers were invited to complete a survey and 200 (5 percent of invitees) were recognized. The actual number of individuals that completed the survey was not provided and the completion rate may be significantly lower. Overall, 7,826 Advisors were considered, and 250 (3.1 percent of candidates) were recognized. For the full methodology that Forbes developed in partnership with SHOOK Research, please visit here.

⁽¹⁾ SHOOK Research recognitions and the due-diligence processes conducted are not indicative of the advisor's future performance. Your experience may vary. As your specific needs and circumstances may vary, you are encouraged to conduct your own due diligence. Portfolio performance is not a criterion due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. SHOOK does not receive a fee in exchange for rankings.

*The 2019 ranking of the Forbes' Best-in-State Wealth Advisors list was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person and telephone due-diligence meetings to evaluate each advisor qualitatively and on a ranking algorithm that includes client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations, and quantitative criteria (including assets under management and revenue generated for their firms). Overall, approximately 30,000 advisors were considered, and 3,500 (~11.6 percent of candidates) were recognized. Winners are organized and ranked by state. Some states may have more advisors than others. You are encouraged to conduct your own research to determine if the advisor is right for you. Portfolio performance is not a criterion due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. SHOOK does not receive a fee in exchange for rankings. The full methodology that Forbes developed in partnership with SHOOK Research is available here.

^** Based on 10 objective eligibility and evaluation criteria, including a minimum of 5 years as an active credentialed financial professional, favorable regulatory and complaint history, accepts new clients, client retention rates, client assets administered, education, and professional designations. 739 New Hampshire wealth managers were considered for the award; 104 (14 percent of candidates) were named 2017 Five Star Professionals. (The criteria provided reflects the most recent year for which advisor received the award. The criteria used, the number of wealth managers considered for the award, and the percentage of those who receive the award, may vary from year to year). These awards are not indicative of the wealth managers' future performance. Your experiences may vary. For more information, please visit www.fivestarprofessional.com.

***The NH Business Review's Business Excellence Awards recognize the imagination, industriousness, innovations and achievements of business owners and operators in New Hampshire. This award is not specific to financial services and does not imply an endorsement, recommendation, or otherwise reflect the performance of the advisor or any account.

As an associate financial consultant, Daphne assists Nichole and the team with portfolio research, investment monitoring, and account trading. In addition, she conducts client meetings by phone or in person, assisting with portfolio reviews, requests, inquiries, and other financial related matters.

She graduated from George Washington University with a degree in finance. Soon after graduating, she took a job in New York as an equity trader. After 15 years in the city, she moved to New England to start something new.

What she loves the most is spending time with her fiancé and daughter exploring the beach near where she lives. She also enjoys a good book and running by the sea.

As Office Manager and Registered Client Administrator of our Portsmouth location, Melanie brings an array of experience to the Nvest team.

Melanie's primary focus is in working diligently to bring the utmost care and attention in assisting with our clients' daily requests and needs.   This includes answering questions and providing services such as fund transfers, new account processing, scheduling appointments, as well as many other administrative matters. In addition, she oversees the managment of the Portsmouth office to make sure all daily operations are running smoothly and efficiently. 

Before joining Nvest, Melanie spent 9 years working in the financial industry.  She carries the Series 7 and 66 FINRA licenses.

In her free time, Melanie enjoys spending time with her son and daughter, reading a good book and trying out all the local cuisines.