Contact Natalie
Natalie C. Atabek
Director of Communications
- (301) 951-2642
Natalie C. Atabek
Director of Communications
Why I get up in the morning:
To learn something new in the industry and translate complex topics and ideas into comprehensible knowledge that can help positively impact one’s financial journey.
How I got here:
Growing up watching this firm develop into and become the company it is today has been an incredible experience. I was an intern at AFS every summer from 2009-13 as I completed my undergraduate studies at Davidson College, and after earning my B.A. in May 2013, I joined the AFS team as an Operations Assistant providing internal support to the advisors and principals of both AFS entities. In 2014, I began my graduate studies at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, where I graduated with an M.S. in Supply Chain Management with a Finance focus in May 2015. I worked in a management role for lululemon athletica in the D.C. area before re-joining AFS as the Director of Communications in October 2016.
What I do really well:
I am passionate about perfecting the written word and applying a new dimension of understanding and transparency to complex topics. I lead our firms’ communications to existing clients and marketing to prospects and focus on how we can engage our clients to provide them with the utmost experience and relationships to cultivate an environment in which financial goals can be realized and achieved.
What I’m most interested in for the retirement industry today:
I have an insatiable desire to learn something new within the financial industry and investment world every day. What I enjoy most is communicating unique and hot industry topics, and investment knowledge to our clients, both current and future, and to anyone seeking financial insight via the internet-centric world we live in. I aspire to elevate our AFS content to be among the foremost resources of the financial industry. The financial arena is a fast-paced environment that witnesses stimulating changes on a daily basis, from the ebbs and flows of the domestic and international markets to the IMF’s and World Band’s reports on global GDP, to congressional legislation monumentally changing the retirement planning landscape. There is never a dull moment in this industry or a lack of new information to learn, and these innate aspects drive my enthusiasm for the ever-changing financial landscape.
Who I am really:
I live in Baltimore, MD with my fiance, and we love exploring the various trails and parks in the area and the many local breweries the city has to offer.
I was a Division I distance runner for the Women’s Cross Country and Track teams at Davidson College, and I continue to be an avid runner. My frequent running routes include the Capital Crescent Trail (where I often see my dad cruising on his bike), the C&O Canal, and Rock Creek Park. I have completed countless half marathons and four marathons, including the Boston Marathon, which to date has been my most memorable race experience.
I love the outdoors and traveling and have visited 35 states and eight countries with Banff, Alberta – where I fell in love with the natural, awe-inspiring beauty of the Canadian Rockies – being my favorite destination. In addition to running and traveling, I enjoy spending time reading, writing, and spending time with my family at our house in St. Michaels, MD.