Meet Celeste Simmons: BNA Wealth’s Director of Client Engagement

For Celeste V. Simmons, Director of Client Engagement, BNA Wealth has been part of her life long before it became part of her career.

Her father, Larry Vitez, founded Consolidated Investment Advisors in 1991. Growing up, she watched him build the business and develop relationships with customers and families over the years.

“My connection to BNA Wealth goes back to my childhood. My father, Larry Vitez, founded the firm in 1991 as Consolidated Investment Advisors, so I grew up watching him build the business and develop relationships with clients and families over the years.”

In 2015, she officially joined the firm as an administrative assistant, filing documents, answering phones and helping wherever she was needed. She quickly found that she enjoyed being part of the day-to-day operations and supporting the team. Her responsibilities grew over time, taking her from administrative assistant to office manager and eventually to her current role as Director of Client Engagement.

She also saw the firm enter a new chapter in 2018, when Consolidated Investment Advisors became BNA Wealth and moved to Riverwalk.

Creating a Personal Customer Experience

Today, Celeste helps shape the customer experience at BNA Wealth from start to finish. Her role includes onboarding new customers, opening and maintaining accounts, assisting with requests and helping customers navigate Orion, BNA Wealth’s customer portal. She also works closely with the team behind the scenes to keep things organized and running smoothly.

“Because I started on the administrative side of the firm, I understand how important the little details are and how much they can impact a client’s overall experience,” she says. “At the end of the day, my goal is to make sure our clients feel welcomed, valued and connected to our team.”

One of the most rewarding parts of her role is getting to know customers and their families over time. Some have been with BNA Wealth for many years, and in some cases, those relationships have continued into the next generation.

“There have also been times when longtime clients have passed away, and their children or other family members have chosen to continue their relationship with BNA Wealth,” she says. “While those circumstances are difficult, it means a lot to know that the trust we built with that client extends to the next generation of their family.”

Carrying the Family Legacy Forward

More than 30 years after her father founded the original firm, Celeste is now helping shape what comes next. As BNA Wealth continues to grow, she hopes to preserve the personal, family-oriented approach that has been part of the firm from the beginning while finding new ways to make the customer experience easier, more personal and more efficient.

“Having grown up around the firm and now being part of its future, it means a lot to me to help continue what my dad started while also helping BNA Wealth evolve for the next generation.”