Top CFOs is pleased to announce The Top 50 Financial Advisors of Miami for 2022. Today and throughout history, Miami has allured many as it continues to thrive in various economic sectors. Known as the financial capital of Latin America, Miami has the largest concentration of domestic and international banks in the region. This year’s awardees are committed to their unique clients, setting them up for continued growth for years to come. Their success stories range from ultra-high-net-worth individuals to startup companies, to families and beyond. Their deep analytical abilities, passion for wealth management, and industry knowledge set them apart from their peers.
Among this year’s awardees is Richard Bernstein, Private Wealth Advisor and Co-Founder of Camelot Wealth Management Partners, whose success and dedication to his clients has landed him on this year’s Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors list. Awardee Pablo Gherardi, Wealth Management Managing Director with Jefferies, was previously part of a team who oversaw $1.5 billion in assets and generated $7.3 million in production from families in Argentina, Brazil. and Uruguay. Also awarded is Michael Revilla, Executive Director and Wealth Advisor with J.P. Morgan, who was hired in January from Raymond James where he was part of a $300 million two-person advisor team.
We applaud these individuals for their outstanding commitment and financial advice. Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of The Top 50 Financial Advisors of Miami for 2022.
1. Richard Bernstein
Private Wealth Advisor & Co-Founder, Camelot Wealth Management Partners
Richard Bernstein is a nationally recognized Private Wealth Advisor. In practice for 27 years, he is proud to lead Camelot Wealth Management Partners in taking a holistic, hands-on approach, listening to our clients’ financial goals and building a plan tailored for each client. When individuals work with Bernstein, they begin the planning process with a comprehensive approach in identifying, prioritizing, and documenting financial goals.
Bernstein came to Ameriprise because it allowed him to go in depth on clients’ goals and see what they want to accomplish. Not just, ‘Let’s beat the market,’ but, ‘How can I retire at 62?’ As a Private Wealth Advisor, he works one-on-one with clients on financial planning, investments, stock portfolios, 401K accounts, ETF investments, bond accounts, trust accounts, estate planning, tax planning and legacy planning strategies to determine an appropriate way to shift assets to family members and charities. Bernstein graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with an undergraduate degree in economics.
2. Rebecca Sarelson
Senior Wealth Strategist & VP, PNC
Rebecca Sarelson began her professional career 18 years ago. Today, she is a Senior Wealth Strategist and Vice President for PNC. For more than 160 years, PNC has been committed to making a difference for their customers, communities, and employees. Their Main Street banking model means they are uniquely rooted in the places where they operate, living in and supporting the communities in which they do business, understanding their customers are also neighbors.
Sarelson first got her start in 2004 as a tax associate at Fieldstone Shear & Denberg where she handled international and domestic corporate transactions, taxation, wealth preservation, estate planning, and real estate transactions. From there, she went on to Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr before eventually rising to become a senior wealth planning strategist at Wells Fargo, her most recent position prior to joining PNC. Sarelson graduated from the University of Florida with a JD, an LLM in tax law, and an undergraduate degree in criminology and sociology.
3. John Fumagalli
President of Wealth Management, Northern Trust
John Fumagalli is the President of Wealth Management of Northern Trust. He is responsible for overseeing the firm's investment management, banking, and fiduciary business for offices in the Central Region. Fumagalli is also a member of the firm's Wealth Management Executive Committee. Northern Trust collaborates with clients and their advisors to offer holistic wealth management services for individuals and families, privately held businesses, family offices, and foundations and endowments
Fumagalli has served with Northern Trust in various roles over the past 34 years. He graduated from Northwestern University with an MBA and from the College of the Holy Cross with an undergraduate degree in economics.
4. Stephanie Aoun
Private Wealth Advisor & VP, Goldman Sachs
Stephanie Aoun is a Private Wealth Advisor and Vice President with Goldman Sachs. At Goldman Sachs, they believe progress is everyone’s business and they commit their people, capital and ideas to helping their clients, shareholders, and the communities they serve to grow. Aoun serves as a trusted advisor for ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families, corporate executives, real estate developers, entrepreneurs, and institutions. She has 12 years of experience. She began his career in 2010.
Aoun graduated from the University of Miami with an MBA in finance and M&A and with an undergraduate degree in international finance and marketing.
View the complete list of awardees.
9. Francesco Traina
Financial Advisor, Raymond James
Originally from Italy, Francesco Traina’s career in finance began in New York City as an intern at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2001. After moving to Miami, he continued building his experience at Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo Advisors. In 2016, Francesco founded Brickell 21 Capital Management, a boutique investment practice that provides Wealth Management Services for a very selective group of high-net-worth clients. Specializing in equity, fixed incomes and lending, as well as estate and financial planning, he is able to provide quality financial planning to his clients. They are business owners, companies and families from New York, Miami, Europe, and Latin America.
Brickell 21 Capital Management is aligned with Raymond James Financial Services, a publicly traded broker/dealer, which offers Francesco’s clientele essential services such as custody and compliance. Raymond James has been managing wealth for over 50 years and has more than $1 trillion in client assets. Raymond James is included in the S&P 500 index, and its shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Francesco speaks English, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese. Today he leads a dynamic team of financial professionals dedicated to financial freedom.
10. Pablo Gherardi
Wealth Management Managing Director, Jefferies
Pablo Gherardi is a Managing Director for Jefferies Private Wealth Management and a member of the wealth management team in Miami. Gherardi focuses on asset management for high-net-worth individuals and over the course of his career, has developed extensive resources and relationships with wealthy families, family offices and asset managers.
Gherardi has been recognized by On Wall Street Magazine as one of the "Top 40 Advisors Under 40" in 2010. Prior to joining Jefferies, he was a managing director in Wells Fargo Advisors. He received his undergraduate degree in business administration in Uruguay from Universidad de la Republica and holds Series 7, Series 4, Series 63, and Series 65 licenses.
13. Rodrigo Carvalho
First VP & Financial Advisor, Morgan Stanley
Rodrigo Carvalho began his professional career over 17 years ago. Today, he is one of the leaders of The Carvalho Group, a team of 4 professionals within Private Wealth Management at Morgan Stanley. They develop tailored financial strategies for family offices, business owners, senior executives, and their family members. Rodrigo serves clients primarily abroad and in the US who value the experience, honesty, and thoughtfulness that the group brings to relationships.
Clients have entrusted their team with over $1 billion of their wealth. Our extensive experience working with some of the wealthiest families provides clients with the insight and knowledge they need to advance their financial goals, enact long-term legacies, and understand the risks and rewards of various investments, and family wealth issues. Prior to this role, Rodrigo held various positions within the Wealth Management platforms of Itau (Miami) as well as Citi and JPM (NY). In these roles he was involved in helping solve for a wide variety of investment management, trust and estate planning needs.
15. Mark Wilkins
Managing Director of Wealth Management & Private Wealth Advisor, UBS
Mark Wilkins is a Managing Director of Wealth Management and Private Wealth Advisor for UBS. He and his team help families navigate the complexities that accompany significant wealth. They construct a strategic framework around their wealth, allowing each to direct the impact of their wealth on their personal, professional, and public lives. They are intimately familiar with their client’s aspirations and provide families with the leadership they need to have a clear, disciplined, and comprehensive approach to managing their wealth.
Wilkins joined UBS Private Wealth Management in 2015, following 21 years at Merrill Lynch. Prior to becoming a private wealth advisor, he served as an officer in the United States Army. He was named a top advisor by Barron's for eight years and a Best-in-State Wealth Advisor by Forbes in 2019, 2020, and 2021. He is a founder and board member of the Second Ranger Battalion Assistance Foundation. In 2005, he founded the Mark & Patrick Wilkins Army ROTC Fund at the University of Missouri-his alma mater and in 2007 delivered the commencement address to the graduates of the College of Arts & Sciences for the university.
17. Louise Armour
Financial Advisor & Managing Director, J.P. Morgan
Louise Armour is a Financial Advisor and Managing Director with J.P. Morgan. She first joined the firm in 1985. Armour works closely with corporations, individuals, and institutions to focus on a broad array of solutions necessary to establish a pathway to reaching their goals and advising on solutions. With 35 years of experience handling complex transactions through variable economic environments, Armour has earned a reputation for executional excellence. As a member of the J.P. Morgan Portfolio Manager Program, she is part of a select group of advisors managing discretionary client assets. She enjoys the personal aspects of serving the financial needs of her clients and involving and educating the next generation. She exhibits a keen interest in creating organized long-term plans for clients and seeing them through various life stages.
Armour began her career at Thompson McKinnon, followed by Bear Stearns and now J.P. Morgan Securities. She has been an active fundraiser for Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Department Scholarship Fund, MD Anderson, Polo under the Palms and Polo for Life, both in support of families with health and financial issues. She is passionate about women’s advancement in the workplace and served on JP Morgan’s Women’s Executive Advisory Council. Armour earned an undergraduate degree in biology and chemistry from the University at Albany, SUNY.
18. Ricardo Gutierrez
Private Wealth Advisor & Managing Director, Merrill Private Wealth Management
Ricardo Gutierrez is a Private Wealth Advisor and Managing Director with Merrill Private Wealth Management. He first joined Merrill in 2002 and has primarily focused his efforts on relationship management of ultra-high-net-worth clients, key stakeholders, and multi-jurisdictional and multi-generational wealth structuring for sophisticated individuals and corporations to pass on patrimonies efficiently and effectively.
Prior to joining Merrill, Ricardo was the director of Pro-Export in Japan focused on providing Colombian business owners with the advice and tools needed for international expansion. He also worked on the restructuring of one of Colombia's largest construction companies, Interplan. During his successful career he has always maintained a dedication to philanthropic endeavors.
20. Vivien Balcker
Private Wealth Advisor, Ameriprise Financial Services
Vivien Balcker began her professional career 22 years ago. Today, she is a Private Wealth Advisor with Ameriprise Financial Services. She provides financial advice that is anchored in a solid understanding of client needs and expectations, and provides in one-on-one relationships with her clients.
Balcker first got her start in 2003 as a client service specialist at Citi. From there, she went on to Raymond James Financial as a business development coordinator, her most recent position prior to joining Ameriprise Financial Services. Balcker graduated from Eckerd College with a degree in international business with minors in economics and business administration and concentration in human resources.
View the complete list of awardees.
22. Eric Breitenbach
Financial Advisor, Equitable Advisors
Eric Breitenbach is a Financial Advisor and member of the Retirement Benefits Group at Equitable Advisors. Breitenbach provides financial planning solutions and investment strategies to individuals and their families, business owners, teachers and first responders. He also services financial, and tax advantaged plans for senior executives, multi-generational estates, as well as defined contribution and pension plans.
Breitenbach grew up in the Chicago suburbs and is a former first team all-league division 1 athlete (tennis), former law enforcement officer and former adjunct professor. He was also a board trustee to a 55-million-dollar police pension fund. Breitenbach earned an undergraduate degree in finance from Butler University and a master’s degree in executive leadership from Champlain College.
24. Yahaira Fernandez
Vice President of Wealth Management, Raymond James
Yahaira Fernandez is a Vice President of Wealth Management for Raymond James. She is dedicated to doing what’s best for each client, and since no two are the same, neither is the approach she takes. Her diverse range of clients include business owners, corporate executives, professional athletes, and retirees. She is not only an advisor and advocate to them, but she also treats them like family. She is dedicated to sharing the financial wisdom she has accrued during her career.
Yahaira began her career as a personal banker in 2005 with Washington Mutual Bank. Previously, she was an assistant vice president of investments and a financial advisor at Wells Fargo. She holds the professional designation of Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor℠. For the past four years, she has attended the Barron’s Advisory Team Summit, an invitation-only, higher education conference. In 2019, she was featured as a guest speaker. Fernandez graduated from the University of Central Florida with an undergraduate degree in finance.
26. Alfonso Montoya
Premier Wealth Advisor & VP, HSBC Global Banking and Markets
Alfonso Montoya is a Premier Wealth Advisor and Vice President with HSBC Global Banking and Markets. He first joined the firm in 2005. Founded in 1865 to finance trade between Asia and the West, today HSBC is one of the world’s largest banking and financial services organizations serving around 46 million customers, ranging from individual savers and investors to some of the world’s biggest companies and governments. Montoya has 26 years of experience. He began his career in 1996.
Before joining HSBC Global Banking and Markets, Montoya was a senior financial advisor and vice president at Citi. He earned an undergraduate degree in finance from Florida International University.
27. Fabio Prada
Financial Advisor, Insigneo
Fabio Prada began his professional career 27 years ago. Today, he is a Financial Advisor with Insigneo, a leading international wealth management firm offering a comprehensive menu of services and technology that empowers independent investment professionals to manage their clients around the world. Since 1985, Insigneo has been committed to delivering a simpler user experience and being a friendlier, more approachable investment firm. They promote a culture of shared values with intelligent controls, service excellence, and continuous innovation, like-minded individuals working as a team over a common goal: to empower the independent investment professional.
Prada first got his start in 1995 as a derivatives trader at Citi Brasil. From there, he went on to Santander Brasil. After that he went to the corporate side becoming CFO of Huawei Technologies, ZTE Technologies and Mitsubishi Motors, before rising to become a director of wealth management at Hayman-Woodward Global Mobility, his most recent position prior to joining Insigneo. Prada graduated from Fundação Armando Alvares Penteado with an undergraduate degree in business administration and management.
28. Susan Jones
Senior Wealth Manager, Plancorp
For over twenty years, Susan Jones has passionately provided wealth management services to individuals, families, fiduciaries, private foundations and their related entities with a focus on sophisticated income, gift and estate tax consulting and compliance, proactive executive compensation planning and succession planning. She understands the many facets involved in creating a successful multi-generational family legacy and uses a forward-looking approach to help clients grow and preserve assets, reduce taxes and realize both their financial and non-financial goals. Jones currently serves as a Senior Wealth Manager with Plancorp.
Jones’ experience includes practicing law in the tax and estate planning area with an international law firm and, most recently, as a partner with a national accounting firm where in addition to her direct client work Susan served as the North Region leader for the Private Client group and as the Tax Director for the Missouri and Southern Illinois offices. After collaborating with Plancorp advisors for many years and respecting Plancorp’s holistic and comprehensive approach to wealth planning, Jones joined the Plancorp team in the summer of 2021. She graduated from Washington University in St. Louis a JD and from Saint Louis University with an undergraduate degree in accounting and finance.
30. Angela Abrascio-Ramos
International Wealth Management Advisor & AVP, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
Angela Abrascio-Ramos is an International Wealth Management Advisor and Assistant Vice President of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She works on the belief that managing wealth extends beyond building investment portfolios, and that it means collaborating with people to define what matters most as they prepare for the next stage of life and the financial implications of such planning. Abrascio-Ramos is part of a team of tenured professionals with over 100 years of combined experience that provides wealth management strategies and services for high-net-worth families to help them structure their financial assets and pursue their short- and long-term financial goals. As a native of Brazil, she is fluent in Portuguese, English and Spanish.
Abrascio-Ramos began her financial services career in 1990. Over the years she has completed several finance and investment courses including the Chase Professional Development Program in 1998. Most recently, she earned the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor℠ designation offered by The College for Financial Planning Institutes Corp. in 2015.
31. Kyle Stewart
VP of Investments & Senior PIM Portfolio Manager, The Brief-Stewart Private Wealth Group of Wells Fargo Advisors
Kyle Stewart is a hands-on advisor who takes pride in serving as a coach for clients, helping them make informed decisions about their finances and their lives. Over his 16-year career, he has built a reputation as a trusted advisor on whom clients rely on to help them build, manage, protect and transfer their wealth. He seeks to form deep connections with clients to fully understand their unique goals and priorities, including lifestyle, family, philanthropy and creating a legacy for the future.
Stewart and his team work with high net worth individuals, families, estates and trusts. As a former business development manager for Smith Barney with a background in banking, he is able to focus on both sides of the balance sheet to help empower clients to achieve their specific financial goals. Stewart can provide access to Wells Fargo affiliate products and services such as wealth planning, private banking, trust and fiduciary services, and insurance as well as various customized and more traditional lending products. As part of the Brief Stewart Financial Group of Wells Fargo Advisors, Stewart is committed to putting clients first, striving to exceed expectations and uphold the team’s high service standards. He is a compassionate, energetic advisor who is quick to roll up his sleeves to get the job done.
View the complete list of awardees.
33. Yousef Surmawala
Financial Advisor, Coastal Wealth, a MassMutual firm
Yousef Surmawala is a Financial Advisor of Coastal Wealth, a MassMutual firm. Their services cover all areas of financial management, from investment and retirement planning to risk management and estate conservation. They focus on helping their clients develop a comprehensive, cohesive financial strategy that fits their unique needs and enables them to meet both short and long-term objectives.
For the last 5 years, Surmawala and his team have concentrated on young professionals and designing their financial plans in coordination with their work benefits. For long time mature clients, their forte has been in developing estate plans with tax advantage strategies for retirement and legacy planning. Before joining Coastal Wealth, Surmawala was a financial advisor at MetLife. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University with an undergraduate degree in business administration and enterprise economics.
38. Stuart McGeough
Wealth Management Advisor, TIAA
Stuart McGeough is a Wealth Management Advisor with TIAA. He first joined the firm in 2015. TIAA specializes in providing retirement plans, IRAs, mutual funds, and life insurance. The company is dedicated to helping those who teach, heal, and serve to achieve financial well-being. TIAA was founded in 1918 and headquartered in New York, United States. They are committed to helping those who help others find confidence in retirement is their mission and they stand hand-in-hand with 5M+ clients to help fortify their money so they can ignite their dreams.
Previously, McGeough was a branch manager at Scottrade and before that a financial consultant at Ladenburg Thalmann. Earlier in his career he worked with Deutsche Bank as a graduate analyst. McGeough earned an undergraduate degree in economics from Loughborough University.
40. David Feigelman
Wealth Management Advisor & Managing Director, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
David Feigelman is a Wealth Management Advisor and Managing Director with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He focuses on understanding each client's unique needs and constructing an asset allocation plan to accurately reflect each client's income and growth expectations. These plans are flexible and adjust to changes in the markets and the client's personal circumstances. He is a qualified portfolio manager and works closely with clients to build highly customized strategies, constructing portfolios on a non-discretionary basis through the use of individual stocks and bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, and option strategies for income.
In 2018, Feigelman was honored to be named to Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors" list. He started his career with EF Hutton in Massachusetts in 1982. Feigelman graduated from Boston University with an undergraduate degree in finance.
42. Christopher Georgopoulos
Director and Wealth Advisor, Cresset
Christopher Georgopoulos is a Director and Wealth Advisor with Cresset. He specializes in providing concierge service and solutions to ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families and is based in south Florida but works with clients throughout the country.
Georgopoulos began his career in 2002 as an equity and options trader with AMR Capital. In 2010 he left the trade desk to head the sales team at Lowry Research Corp. Most recently in 2017, he joined Bank of America Private Bank as a private client advisor and served as the lead advisor on a large book of ultra-high-net-worth clients. Georgopoulos is a graduate of the University of Tampa with an undergraduate degree in finance with a concentration in statistics. He is active in the Greek Orthodox community in south Florida and a proud member of the Friends of the Uffizi.
43. Brad Baumgartner
Partner and Wealth Advisor, Stratos Wealth
Brad Baumgartner has over 30 years of experience assisting clients in pursuing their savings and retirement goals. He joined Stratos Wealth Partners in 2012 in order to better accommodate the needs of his clients without conflicts of interest. He began his career as a securities broker for retail investors before becoming an independent financial planner. Baumgartner specializes in helping clients navigate personalized retirement plans, lump sum distributions, IRAs, Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts, and more. He has been working with the employees of the University of Miami since 1997 and continues to be a dedicated resource to their faculty and staff.
Baumgartner graduated from the University of South Florida with an undergraduate degree in mass communications and marketing.
49. Ayesha Yasin
Managing Director & Financial Advisor, RBC Wealth Management
Ayesha Yasin began her professional career 17 years ago. Today, she is a Managing Director and Financial Advisor with RBC Wealth Management. Yasin and her team provide customized financial solutions for a select group of families and business owners to help them achieve their financial and investment management objectives
Yasin first got her start in 2005 as a VP and portfolio manager at Merrill Lynch. From there, she went on to Morgan Stanley serving as an SVP and portfolio manager. Yasin graduated from St. Joseph College for Women Karachi with an undergraduate degree in economics, finance, and French.
View the complete list of awardees.
