Vigni Pietro
Founding Partner — Lead AdvisorVigni is a Founding Partner and Lead Advisor at FirstVault. He works directly with high-net-worth families and leads the execution of their comprehensive financial and investment plans, with a specialty in concentrated equity positions across both private and public markets. He holds Series 7, 63, and 65 licenses.
Vigni lives in the Bay Area with his wife, Anne, and their young son. Born and raised in Southern California, he graduated cum laude with degrees in Finance and Business Administration from the University of San Diego, where he played football for four years. He serves on the board of the Northern California branch of Best Buddies, a nonprofit supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
vigni@firstvault.com
James Alba
Founding Partner — Lead AdvisorJames is a Founding Partner and Lead Advisor at FirstVault, collaborating with the team to deliver comprehensive planning and investment management to clients. He holds Series 7, 63, and 65 licenses and is an investor and advisor to a number of early-stage tech startups.
Before FirstVault, James worked as a Senior Wealth Advisor at a boutique capital partnership, with prior experience at several private banks and healthcare firms. He earned his undergraduate degree from the Lundquist College of Business at the University of Oregon, where he was a Dean's List scholar. In his spare time he can be found on the golf course or supporting Bay Area sports teams.
james@firstvault.com
Richard Hyde, CFA
Founding Partner — Chief Investment OfficerRichard serves as Chief Investment Officer, overseeing FirstVault's investment process and chairing the firm's Investment Team, which manages a diverse set of global portfolios. He previously served as Director of Research at a boutique capital partnership and as an Analyst at a global asset manager.
He graduated cum laude from the University of California, Davis with a B.S. in Managerial Economics, is a CFA® charterholder, and holds his Series 65 registration. Richard is a winemaker in his spare time, focusing on small-batch wines from the Santa Cruz mountains, and enjoys hiking on weekends.
rich@firstvault.com
Vincent Alaire
Founding Partner — Managing PartnerFor over 25 years, Vincent has been a leader in the wealth and investment management industry — as a strategist, researcher, author, speaker, and business owner. As Managing Partner, he leads the FirstVault team in building customized wealth management solutions for a distinctive client set.
Prior to founding FirstVault, Vincent held senior roles including Chief Investment Officer, Senior Investment Strategist, and Senior Portfolio Manager at several leading global institutions. He holds a bachelor's degree from Benedictine College and is a frequent media resource on wealth management, having appeared on CNBC and Bloomberg Television and contributed to Barron's and The Wall Street Journal.
vincent@firstvault.com
Jennifer O'Connor
Head of Client ServiceJennifer joined FirstVault as Head of Client Service in 2022. She collaborates with the team to ensure client service excellence while delivering comprehensive planning and investment management. Jennifer holds Series 7 and 66 registrations and is licensed to provide investment advisory services.
Prior to FirstVault, Jennifer worked as a Client Advisor at a national wealth management firm, opening a private client office in Nashville before advising entrepreneurs and foundations in San Francisco. She holds a Bachelor of Science in International Business from Marymount Manhattan College and studied acting and dramaturgy at the Atlantic Theater conservatory.
jennifer@firstvault.com
Daisy Smith
Chief Compliance OfficerDaisy is FirstVault's Chief Compliance Officer, collaborating with the team to preserve a culture of compliance and advise on regulatory responsibilities. She holds Series 63 and 66 registrations and is licensed to provide investment advisory services, with over 20 years of experience in financial services — 12 of them in compliance.
Daisy has worked with broker-dealers, investment advisors, and hybrid firms throughout her career. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, she earned a B.S. in Sociology from Oregon State University with an emphasis on journalism and marketing.
daisy@firstvault.com