What inspired you to join Bernstein?
I applied to Brandeis University with the sole intention of becoming a Rabbi. This was the path I wanted to pursue, however, I ultimately changed course and graduated with degrees in economics and politics. Fortunately, my spirituality and moral compass have always pointed me in the direction of my true north. I listen to this inner compass because it never leads me astray. When I worked in investment banking at my first company, I realized it wasn’t for me. It was a business centered on greed, which doesn’t align with the person that I am. In searching for a company that would align with my integrity and principles, a family friend recommended I meet with the Bernstein team while I was back home in Palm Beach, Florida. Instantly, my intuition recognized that Bernstein is a firm singularly focused on the success of their clients and removing conflicts of interest. Nearly a decade and a half later, I look at myself in the mirror every morning confident that I made the right decision.
Which personal accomplishment makes you proudest?
It might be a cliche but I don’t care. I smile when writing that my greatest personal accomplishment thus far is my kids. My wife and I have two young boys, ages 6 and 3, who keep us active, to say the least. The circumstances of COVID-19 have only brought us closer together as a family unit because our children relish having my wife and me around 24/7. On weekends, we love getting away to the beach and being by the water. It’s been amazing to watch my kids learn and grow every day through swimming, reading books and bike riding. My “me" time is golf, tennis and swimming because it takes me back to a time when life was simpler. I also volunteer on a few boards of local nonprofits that support New York’s underserved communities as well as a national Jewish action nonprofit. These passions intersect with my work. In another life, I suspect I’d explore one of my many interests driven by my moral compass, desire to help others and, metaphorically, try every flavor life has to offer.
How have your values and personal background uniquely positioned you to work with your clients?
It might be a cliché, but I don’t care. I smile when writing that my greatest personal accomplishment thus far is my kids. My wife, Kate, and I have 3 amazing kids who keep us active, and on our toes, to say the least. Like many, I owe the person and professional I am today to my parents and the way in which I was raised. My brother and I were lucky to come from a warm and loving home where the Jewish values of social justice, honesty, integrity and fairness were a lived part of our daily life. I’ve tried to instill these values in my children and live them in my marriage. Also, I do my best to bring these values to my clients every day. In 2008, I joined Bernstein as an associate, a role in which I supported advisors and their clients. It was an interesting time at the firm and I quickly developed my expertise in our portfolios, processes and people. While, naturally, some of the faces, strategies and programs have evolved over time, my having grown up at Bernstein is a huge benefit to my clients. I can leverage my internal knowledge, fully understand their unique needs and marshal all available resources in order to execute our plan. This is the crux of my job and I love it.