What has inspired you to stay at Bernstein for as long as you have?
Growing up as a first-generation American in a small suburb of New York City, my family instilled in me the importance of values: primarily integrity and the pursuit of excellence. These principles helped my family start a new life and find success in another country. Throughout my life I have continued to apply these principles in academics and interpersonal relationships and have carried them with me to my work life. From the moment I began my career at Bernstein in 2008, I have felt that the firm’s values were completely aligned with my own.
When you love where you work, you’re inspired to reach further and do better. I feel fortunate that this is my mindset each morning. The longer I’m in the industry, the more I believe that there is no financial firm that has higher morale and ethical convictions than Bernstein—there is nothing more important to me and to Bernstein than doing right by our clients. Bernstein continues to evolve and our pursuit of excellent outcomes for clients is what drives this evolution.
After spending 15 years in Bernstein’s NY office, I moved my family down to South Florida in 2023 and couldn’t imagine spending the next phase of my life at any other financial firm.
What is the most fulfilling aspect of being an advisor to your clients?
In addition to the incredible relationships I’ve built with my clients over the years—many of whom feel like my extended family—what has been most fulfilling for me as an advisor is seeing, firsthand, how the holistic advice I provide to my clients, impacts their families’ lives in a meaningful way. Many of my clients come to me with difficult situations as well as the fear of changing the status quo. By partnering closely with each client’s team of professional advisors, I am able to create a plan that gives them the ability to see how the financial decisions they make today may affect their wealth in the future. This empowers them to take actions we suggest, such as making substantial gifts to their family or charity, starting a new business venture or retiring earlier than they had anticipated.
One of my most fulfilling and rewarding moments as an advisor was having the opportunity to spend time with a family I work with- four generations of Bernstein clients all in one room whose lives have been impacted by our advice.
What passions do you pursue outside of work?
Raising two young children means that a great deal of my time outside of work is devoted to helping them grow and explore their own passions: whether it is baseball and soccer for my son Ethan, or art and theatre productions for my daughter Mylie. Observing their own introduction into entrepreneurship through the “businesses” they create has made me a proud parent!
Music is also a huge passion of mine: I studied classical piano for 15 years growing up and minored in music back in college. I recently resumed playing the piano as a hobby, which is great for relaxation. I absolutely love it when my kids try and duet with me!