ROCHESTER, NY
My name is Michaela Covert — up until September 2024, it was Michaela Cramer. Something people are often surprised to learn about me is that I was named after my dad, Michael. He’s pretty convinced he originated this spelling of my name, which most people know as “Mikayla”. I’ve always thought it was special to share almost the same name as my father even if it did lead to plenty of mispronunciations growing up. I grew up in the Rochester area and graduated from Niagara University, but I eventually found my way back to my roots. Although I’d love to spend more time in warmer climates someday, Rochester will always be home base for me. When I’m not meeting with clients or developing new relationships, my behind‑the‑scenes identity comes out I’m drawn to hosting and event planning. It started with planning my own wedding and bringing my vision to life, then evolved into hosting my first Friendsgiving for twenty‑two of my closest friends, and now includes a quarterly themed book club with a few ladies from the office. I genuinely love curating spaces and events that feel unforgettable. Above all, whether I’m guiding clients or designing memorable events, my goal is always the same: to create meaningful experiences built on trust and connection.
I started with Equitable in 2020. Prior to becoming an advisor, my career has always been centered around client and customer facing roles, talking to people has always been a passion of mine. As kids growing up, everyone gets asked the question at least once of, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” my answer changed often but never once was it “a Financial Advisor”. Looking back on my career experiences now though, I realize this is exactly where I’m meant to be. I take pride in building and fostering relationships with my clients and helping them plan for their future, whatever that future may look like to them. At the end of the day, I truly believe that trust in both business and personal relationships is what matters most.
Why did I join Cypress? After spending five amazing years with Equitable, I reached a point in my career where I was ready to grow in new ways. Even though I’m not someone who naturally gravitates toward change, I strongly believe that staying in one place for too long can stall your development—and that was the last thing I wanted to allow.
Joining Cypress offered me the chance to be part of something bigger. The opportunity to work alongside incredibly successful professionals, each with years of deep expertise, meant I’d be surrounded by people who could challenge me, inspire me, and help elevate my skill set. I was genuinely eager for that.
I’ve always found motivation in the quote: “If you are the smartest person in the room, then you are in the wrong room.” – Confucius
To me, growth requires challenge. Cypress represented that next level—a place where I could continue learning, expanding, and becoming better at what I do.