Ian Boyce was a little leery of doing the interview. He wants to distance himself from his playing career, not be perceived as some ex-jock who used his cachet for a second career.

Boyce needn’t worry.

The accomplishments of the former Fort Wayne Komets captain in the financial field outweigh what he did on the ice during his 10-year playing career.

Boyce, 44, is a certified financial planner with Dickmeyer Boyce Financial Management Inc., a firm he helped form in 2004.

“Let me characterize it as this,” Boyce said. “We work very hard to help clients understand their personal financial situations, primarily as it relates to retirement, but all pieces of their financial situation (are covered). We also manage money for them, consistent with their level of risk and need for return.”

Dickmeyer Boyce is a fee-only firm.

“It’s relatively new to the industry,” Boyce said, “but it means every dollar we receive comes from the clients.”

Boyce graduated from the University of Vermont with a degree in biology and a minor in economics. Although he spent seven seasons skating for the Komets in the original International Hockey League, known for his ability to score and defend, it was his time with the San Francisco Spiders in 1995-96 that got him started on the path toward his second career.

“I was always interested in finance, but this was all born out of the time I spent in San Francisco, which was the beginning of the dot-com era,” Boyce said. “There were companies beginning to blossom there and I really took notice.”

Boyce finished his career with the Komets in 1998-99; he had a banking internship with Chase in its private-client group, working on cash-flow and estate-planning issues.

That propelled him to a job with another fee-only firm before he founded Dickmeyer Boyce, where he finds the skills that made him a successful hockey player still serve him well.

“I would say a lot of the skills I took from hockey translated into the workforce, in terms of hard work, discipline, competitiveness, all the characteristics that generally preclude success are there,” Boyce said. “They come in different ways (in the financial field), but they are all similar. Persistence is another. It’s not a straight road to the top. You have to be willing to deal with challenges and failures and be able to move on and find the best place for you. I would say a lot of the skills do translate from hockey.”

Boyce chaired the University of Vermont’s board of trustees for two years and, in March, joined University of Saint Francis’ academic affairs committee.

While former Komets have found their way to various other careers – Colin Chin is with Lincoln Financial Group, Kelly Hurd is with the Fort Wayne Fire Department, Guy Dupuis is with Diversified Marketing Solutions, Bobby Phillips is a nursing student – many Komets leave the sport unprepared for life after hockey.

Boyce wasn’t one of them.

“I think it’s about planning and obviously having received a college degree and a good education helps; it opens doors for a lot of opportunities,” said Boyce, who continued his post-secondary education once his hockey-playing days were over. “(If I didn’t have the education), it might have been more difficult to do this. That’s not to say others should give up on what they want to do.”

Those interested in learning more about Dickmeyer Boyce’s financial services can call 436-2051 or email Ian@dickmeyerboyce.com.

jcohn@jg.net