Patrick Roy, Vice President, joined the team in 2022 and works in our St. Louis office. As part of our Meet the Team series, we spoke with Patrick about his path to investment banking, his role at Nolan, and life outside the office.
How did you get started in your career, and what inspired you to choose this path?
I took a non-traditional path into investment banking and, more specifically, M&A advisory. Out of college, I worked in Aon Hewitt’s Chicago office in their investment consulting arm, advising public pension plans, endowments, and other institutional investors on asset allocation and portfolio construction. It was a great foundation in finance and gave me strong analytical skills, but I realized I wanted to do something that felt more personal and fulfilling than working with large institutions.
Growing up, I watched my dad work for A.G. Edwards here in St. Louis and always had an interest in following in his footsteps. That, coupled with the chance to work directly with family- and founder-led businesses, ultimately inspired me to pursue a career in investment banking. What drew me in was how relationship-driven the work is — it’s not just about executing a transaction; it’s about building trust with owners who have poured their lives into their companies.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
No doubt it’s helping family- and founder-owned businesses navigate some of the most important decisions of their lives. At Nolan, we get to work closely with owners who have poured years of blood, sweat, and tears into their companies, and it’s incredibly fulfilling to provide both the strategic guidance and personal support they need through a transaction. Seeing their hard work recognized, ensuring they achieve the best outcome, and knowing we played a role in securing their legacy is deeply meaningful.
What is the best piece of professional advice you have received?
The best piece of professional advice I’ve received is, “Give more than you take.” It’s straightforward, but it applies not only to work, where relationships are built on trust and generosity, but to every aspect of life.
What is one thing your colleagues might not know about you?
My mom was born in Ireland and adopted in America when she was ~18 months old. After the COVID-19 pandemic, our family was able to trace her ancestry and locate her siblings, who now live in the U.K. In 2022, my entire family made the trip to Ireland & the U.K. to visit where my mom was born & meet her siblings for the first time. It was an unforgettable experience – I don’t think there was a dry eye in the room when we were finally all together.
How do you like to spend your time outside of the office?
Weekends are spent chasing around our two girls, Lucy & Molly, along with our golden retriever, Ralph. I’ve got the golf bug like everyone else, so the limited free time I have is spent working on my mediocre handicap.