New Hires to Support Firm’s Trust & Estate Planning and Investment Solutions for Global Families
NEW YORK, January 14, 2025 — Bernstein Private Wealth Management (Bernstein), a unit of AllianceBernstein L.P. (NYSE: AB), today announced the appointment of Christopher Steele as Director of the Institute for Trust and Estate Planning, and Evelyn Vigistain as an Investment Strategist with a focus on Global Families.
Both appointments coincide with the company’s ongoing efforts to be best positioned to support the changing face of wealth, the fastest-growing wealth markets in the United States, and emerging geographies of their ultrahigh-net-worth (UHNW) clients.
Bernstein’s Institute for Trust and Estate Planning helps individuals and families implement complex tax and wealth transfer planning strategies. The team provides actionable advice for clients as it relates to planning for lifetime spending, wealth transfer, philanthropy, and the investment implementation of these plans.
“We are thrilled to add Christopher as a strategic hire to support our growing practice in the Atlanta area,” said Tara Popernik, Head of Wealth Strategies at Bernstein. “He will play a pivotal role in helping our UHNW clients plan for and live with their wealth in the face of a changing estate planning landscape.”
Prior to joining Bernstein, Steele spent over 12 years as a practicing attorney most recently as a Partner with MendenFreiman, and prior to that, with Chamberlain Hrdlicka. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Atlanta Estate Planning Council, as a Den Leader with Scouting America, and a host and leader with Southside Church in Peachtree City, Georgia. He attained an LLM in taxation from the University of Florida, a JD from Mercer University, and a bachelor’s in business management from Georgia State University.
“I’m humbled to be invited to join Bernstein’s remarkable Wealth Strategies group and to be able to work alongside our clients to ensure that they are well equipped to navigate the complexities of their personal lives, the tax code, and estate planning in general,” said Steele.
The firm also demonstrates its commitment to the global families and cross-border space with the hiring of Vigistain. In her role she will work hand in hand with advisors and their clients to determine the appropriate asset allocation, investment objectives, strategies, and vehicles to meet their investment goals. Vigistain will be particularly focused on working with Global Families, helping solve for the complexities that accompany managing wealth across various jurisdictions.
“Evelyn is precisely what we were searching for—a global citizen with broad experience, thoughtfulness, and distinct perspective. Now more than ever, advice is invaluable,” said Matthew Palazzolo, Senior National Director, Investment Insights. “Evelyn’s expertise ensures our global client base will continue to receive sound advise related to the complexities of having wealth.”
Vigistain was previously a Senior Vice President at Bessemer Trust, advising UHNW families on the comprehensive management of their wealth. She previously headed public market manager research and due diligence at WE Family Offices and was an Associate Director at Oppenheimer & Co., serving on the manager research team and acting as Co-Portfolio Manager of OAM’s ETF models. She is fluent in Spanish and English and sits on the NextGen Committee at the Pérez Art Museum Miami. Vigistain holds a master’s in international relations with a focus in business from IE Business School, plus a double major in political science and international relations, cum laude, from Boston University.
“I am honored to join such an impressive and exceptional group of Senior Investment Strategists and am particularly excited about leveraging my international background and investment expertise as we strengthen our focus on Global Families,” added Vigistain.
Bernstein’s growing Atlanta office has served the Atlanta metro Area for over 18 years and is led by Managing Director Amy Botkin. The firm’s Miami office was founded in 2002 and is led by Managing Director Ben Moscowicz.
About Bernstein Private Wealth Management
Bernstein Private Wealth Management advises ultrahigh- and high-net-worth clients on planning for—and living with—the complexities that come with significant wealth. Bernstein is distinguished among major wealth managers by its expertise in navigating life’s transitions through a holistic approach. A flexible process—paired with innovative research, sophisticated modeling, and cutting-edge investment solutions—also set Bernstein apart. Headquartered in Nashville, Bernstein is a business unit of AllianceBernstein, which ranks among the largest investment managers in the world, with offices in major world markets across 26 countries and jurisdictions and over $792 billion in assets under management.*
For additional information, visit Bernstein.com.
*As of December 31, 2024
Contact:
communications@bernstein.com
