Shelburne Falls wealth management biz to mark 100th anniversary by ringing bell at NY Stock Exchange

Scott and Ellen Purinton, Heather Wynne and Tim Gaulin, who work at the Shelburne Falls branch of the Wellington Shields wealth management company, during a previous visit to the New York Stock Exchange. To mark the company’s 100th anniversary, Wellington Shields employees have been invited to ring the bell to close the day at the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Published: 07-07-2025 2:04 PM |
SHELBURNE FALLS — A group of financial advisors from Shelburne Falls will be traveling to New York City this week to ring the stock exchange closing bell and celebrate the 100th anniversary of Wellington Shields.
The wealth management company was founded in 1925 as H.G. Wellington, according to Shelburne Falls Branch Manager Scott Purinton, who has been with the company since 1999. H.G. Wellington merged with Shields & Co. in 2009. To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the wealth management company’s founding, the team will be ringing the closing bell of the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday at 4 p.m.
“It’s a neat tradition — ringing the bell, signing the wall and the book. It’s not something a lot of people from Massachusetts get to experience,” Purinton said. “For people that do what we do, it’s a dream to get to ring the bell.”
Purinton said that since the New York Stock Exchange opened in 1792, companies have been invited to ring the bell to start the day at 9:30 a.m. and to close the day at 4 p.m. Businesses that were recently founded or that are celebrating a significant anniversary are invited to visit the stock exchange and ring the bell.
David Shields, founder of Shields & Co. and chair of the Wellington Shields board of directors, spent decades working on the floor of the stock exchange. Purinton said that after some calls between Shields and his former colleagues, they were able to schedule a time for the Wellington Shields team to travel to New York City.
“We’re celebrating our 100th anniversary this summer,” Purinton said. “They invited us to be a part of the team up on the balcony, ringing the bell.”
In addition to the Shelburne Falls location, Wellington Shields has offices across New York and in Georgia, Vermont. A team of approximately 100 people will be joining Shields on the balcony of the stock exchange to close the business day on Wednesday. Purinton said the Shelburne Falls team — consisting of himself, his wife Ellen Purinton, Heather Wynne and Tim Gaulin — will be among them.
After the bell is rung, the Wellington Shields team will have the opportunity to mingle with stockbrokers and other visitors to the stock exchange, as well as explore New York City. Purinton mentioned his children and grandchildren will be traveling to the city to join them.
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He added that while ringing the bell is a celebration of the company’s 100th anniversary and its team members who have been helping clients to manage their wealth and investments for decades, the milestone is also a time to think about the company’s future.
“It’s a neat tradition that started nearly 240 years ago, and the stock exchange is only open 250 days a year, so only 250 people get the privilege to ring the bell,” Purinton said. “It’s acknowledging a lot of great work done by people who have been here for 50, 60 years, and the next generation of Wellington Shields.”
Purinton noted Wednesday’s trip will give the younger members of the Wellington Shields team a chance to explore the stock exchange. They will also be thinking about their future in financial management.
“We’re creating a succession plan to ensure continued client care,” Purinton said.
Reach Madison Schofield at 413-930-4579 or mschofield@recorder.com.