Our Team

315.428.1990

For more than 30 years, Rachel has made a career of helping people. As a partner and branch manager/registered principal at Michael Roberts Associates, Inc., she is often the first person to whom clients turn when tragedy strikes. Whether a client receives a life-changing health diagnosis or when a family member dies unexpectedly, Rachel is there to fix problems and to offer calm guidance and support.

Because of the relationships Rachel has built with her clients, “they think of us before they think of their attorney or their accountant,” she says. “Every case is unique, especially with the loss of a loved one. I console a lot of distraught people.”

An example of Rachel’s work involved a client who died suddenly while working for the state of New York. His widow was unable to receive his pension because he hadn’t retired. “We had several calls with New York State because there were some complexities with the way the life insurance and benefits were paid out by the state. In the end, the process took a year and a half, but we finally got her retirement benefits and his pension flowing.”

As a teenager growing up in Pennsylvania, Rachel had envisioned going into medicine. “I thought I would be a physical therapist. I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, lifting people on and off the chairs and wheeling them around. I knew I wanted to aid people.” While in college at Lehigh University, she considered going into the legal field and majored in government and prelaw.

During her senior year, however, she interviewed with Chase Manhattan Bank and was accepted into their management development program. “I learned a lot about finance while at Chase and discovered that I liked it.”

Eventually, Rachel became friends with Neil Hoyt, who offered her a role when he was expanding his financial planning practice. “That was February 1997, and I have been here ever since.”

Given her roundabout way of getting into the financial planning business, Rachel understands why many people hesitate in getting their finances in order. “I'm a big proponent of financial literacy, getting people educated about the whys and hows of investing, and taking the fear out of it,” she said. “We work hard at bringing the personal touch to something that is very anxiety provoking for most Americans.”

Currently, Rachel and her team advise assets of more than $474 million* for 436 households. Many clients refer Rachel to their family and friends. “We have not only multiple generations but also brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins,” she said. 

Outside of work, Rachel is active at Dewitt Community Church and enjoys volunteering at the Samaritan Center and Clearpath for Veterans. She’s also musical, playing the clarinet and recorder and singing in her church choir. And she’s a competitive athlete. “I did a triathlon in 2011 and I shot a 78 in golf in April 2020.” Rachel and her husband live in Syracuse and have two grown children, a dog, and two cats.

*As of June 10, 2022

Education and registrations

• Lehigh University, 1987
• FINRA Series 7, 24, 63, and 65

Work experience

• Chase Manhattan Bank, Management Development Program, 1987–1989
  • Second Vice President, 1989–1992
• Cadaret Grant
  • Trading Desk Manager, 1992–1994
  • Director of Continuing Education and Firm Element Training, 1994–1997

Community involvement

• DCC (Board of Trustees 16 years, most recently as President – rotated off 2016)
  • Sunday school and youth group leader, Samaritan Center Serve Team, annual Thanksgiving boxes, Chancel Choir
• Clearpath for Veterans
  • Arranged volunteer day for clients and MRA staff
• CNY Community Foundation
• Developed donor-advised fund to provide financial support for community

315.428.1990

Sonnet is a partner and a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional with Michael Roberts Associates. She has been working with individuals and business owners located all over the country since 2005, providing sound advice and service for all of their financial planning needs. She obtained her BA in economics from Bryn Mawr College, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.

Sonnet believes that life should be at the center of the financial planning process. Assisting her clients as they pass through each phase of life and helping them to work through and anticipate transitions is what she does best.  

As a CFP® professional, Sonnet has completed the extensive training and experience requirements and is held to rigorous ethical standards. 

In addition to being passionate about her practice, Sonnet is active in the community. She is consistently recognized for her financial expertise as she is a frequent contributor to CNY 55 Plus, a magazine serving active adults in the Central New York area.  Sonnet serves on the board of the Financial Planning Association of Central New York and is also a member of the Central New York Community Foundation Professional Advisor Council.  Sonnet has served on the ARISE Foundation board of directors and is a past member of the University Neighborhood Preservation Association, having served as treasurer and as a member of the executive committee. Sonnet is a native of Cazenovia, New York.

315.428.1990

Michelle joined Michael Roberts Associates in January 2006 as a registered financial associate. She works as a direct client service associate with Neil Hoyt and Rachel Roney to provide excellent customer service to clients, assisting them with account inquiries, prepping paperwork, and scheduling appointments.

Michelle graduated from Onondaga Community College with a degree in business administration and holds FINRA Series 7 and 63 securities registrations. Michelle is a life member of the Simon-Parise VFW Post 9596 Auxiliary. She is an avid gardener who keeps the Michael Roberts staff supplied with fresh vegetables at harvest time.  Besides being an avid gardener, she is also a big animal lover and, in fact, owns multiple chickens, turkeys, ducks, and pigs. Michelle and her husband, Dan, live in Bridgeport with their twins, Richard and Grace.

Shane joined Michael Roberts Associates, Inc., in 2020 as a wealth management assistant. As a member of Neil Hoyt and Rachel Roney's team, Shane’s focus will be on assisting advisors with portfolio construction and research, financial planning, and client service.  

Born and raised in Syracuse, New York, Shane attended high school at Christian Brothers Academy, where he was a three-sport athlete. Shane is a former Division 1 lacrosse player and graduated cum laude from Le Moyne College with a dual major in finance and business analytics. He holds his Masters of Business Administration with a specialization in business analytics from Le Moyne College. Shane holds his FINRA Series 7 and 66 securities licenses and has received the designation of Chartered Market Technician (CMT). Shane resides in downtown Syracuse, where he enjoys playing golf, staying active and spending time with his family.