Alumni Spotlight
You Don’t Have to Go to Latin School and Harvard to Become Successful
Allan Kiser ’82, successful financial services executive, co-chairs English High School’s October 1st Gala Fundraising event and encourages alumni ‘to give back’ to today’s students
The marble statue that inspired Allan Kiser during the 1980’s still stands today in the halls of The English High School
Every day at English High when he walked by the famous marble statue in the school hallway with the motto: “The aim of every English High School boy is to become a man of honor and achievement,” Allan Kiser, ’82 took that message to heart. He carried it with him all through his life and an outstanding career in the financial services industry. “You don’t have to go to Latin school and Harvard to become successful,” he says. “Effort and expectations bring success,” he emphasizes.
Allan grew up on Geneva Avenue near Fields Corner. He chose to go to English. “I wanted to go to English because at the time it was a magnet school, provided a strong education, had a very respected music department, and because my mother told me to go,” he quips. Allan, who once considered a career in music, sang the Star-Spangled Banner during English alumni and school events. Allan is also past Charmian and Board member for the Boston Children’s Chorus.
Allan credits English teacher, Miles Striar (left) and History teacher Frank Fennessey (right) for encouraging him to reach his potential.
Allan wasn’t always confident in his abilities in school but fondly recalls two EHS teachers, Miles Striar, English, and Frank Fennessey, history who had a profound effect on his horizons and career. “They gave me an excellent education. They pushed me to have greater expectations.” Striar especially had great belief in Allan’s potential. “He gave me confidence and said I carried great potential.” “I expect great things from you, do well, “ Striar said. Several years ago his former English teacher, now in his 80’s contacted Allan. They discussed Allan’s career and how sure he was about Allan succeeding. “I was right about you, and you were wrong about you.” Read the tribute Allan Kiser made to Miles Striar in our “My Favorite Teacher” section.
Allan Kiser as a senior in the 1982 English High yearbook.
After graduating from English, Allan attended Guildford College in North Carolina. He returned to Boston and earned his BA in Legal Studies at UMass-Boston. Legal studies helped Allan develop his writing skills, analytical thinking and how better to understand issues.
Allan started his financial services career at mutual fund powerhouse Fidelity Investments, but not as an “big shot.” His first Fidelity job was as a driver for company executives which included Peter Lynch. A female executive he used to drive took an interest him, and that led to a position in Fidelity’s “Blue Sky Laws,” department. Blue Sky laws are state regulations established as safeguards for investors against securities fraud. The laws, which may vary by state, typically require sellers of new issues to register their offerings and provide financial details of the deal and the entities. Billions of investors’ dollars are at stake. This launched Allan into a long and successful career as compliance officer for a number of financial services companies. Compliance officers are important for a company since they are the ones who assure that employees comply with rules and regulations set by the government or by municipalities. Allan’s job was to keep companies out of trouble with regulators. “I was becoming a company’s financial ‘sheriff,’ in a multi-billion-dollar industry but my mother never let it go to my head.” “You think you are the guy in the white horse,” she once said, “ but grow up!”
After Fidelity he held similar compliance and management positions at Putnam Investments, Scudder, Stevens & Clark, Fidelity Atlantic Trust , Bank of New York, UBS Financial Services, Marksfield Asset Trust and finally back to Boston as Chief Compliance Officer and VP at Fidelity Personal Trust Fidelity which has more than two billion dollars in assets.
Looking back at his career Allan says, “ I always knew there was no substitute for hard work and grittiness. I learned this life lesson at English High. The school gave me a chance.”
Allan serves on the Board of Directors of The English High School Association
Allan, who is on the English High Association’s Board of Directors was recently named a co-chair of Association’s Fund-Raising Gala to be held on October 1 in Boston. The event is part of a three-year campaign to raise $ 3M to fund scholarships, the tutoring center and career pathways—all programs which are funded by the Association. He urges EHS alumni to support today’s students and continue the school’s rejuvenation.
