Meet the Man:
Founder and CEO
What do I do for my clients? I am a Tactician because small wins lead to big victories. I am an Opportunist because that's how you make money in today's world. I am a Guardian because it's not what you make but what you keep that is just as important. These are the attributes that define my client service and loyalty.
Professionals in wealth management often talk about helping clients "navigate" the financial world.... but the problem is that there is no compass in our economic environment. If we knew the correct direction of the markets, regulations, politics, wars, etc., we would all be rich. Instead, to make the right choices, we need to rely on the stars, those time-tested constellations that have offered fundamental guidance throughout history. But comprehending the stars requires introspective intuition, instinct and most of all, rooted experience. It requires the discipline to trust the interpretation of the stars when the economic compass is pointing in another direction. This is who I am and what I bring to the table for my clients.
I look forward to successfully helping you achieve your goals.... Gregory
EXPERIENCE:
My experience spans over 22 years in global business and finance and includes....
(Current) Senior Advisor and partner of Newstar Investment Family Office, a multi-family office serving high-net worth families in China. NewstarWealth is partnered with BB&T Wealth, a unit of BB&T Bank, to provide investment management services to these global families. NewstarWealth specializes in cross-border financial, trust and estate planning. After Wall Street, I worked for several years advising clients on their personal wealth management which lead to the creation of NewstarWealth.
Managing Director, Investment Banking at Collins Stewart Hawkpoint plc (New York). Collins Stewart was a publicly traded global investment banking and asset management firm headquartered in London with office across Asia, Europe and the US (subsequently acquired by Canaccord Financial, Inc., a leading Canadian investment bank). I lead a team focused on capital markets transactions such as IPOs, PIPEs, Convertible Financings, etc. I had great clients but the Wall Street environment was tough during the financial crisis.
Director, Investment Banking at Cantor Fitzerald & Co. (New York). I lead a team completing a variety of capital markets transactions (reverse merger, mezzanine financing, IPO and secondary). This was during the heydays of Wall Street.
Associate, Mergers & Acquisitions Group at Peter J. Solomon Company (New York). I advised clients on M&A, hostile takeovers and leveraged buyouts in the $100 million to $1 billion transaction size. Profile transaction included J. Jill's hostile takeover attempt by Liz Claiborne and subsequent $800 million sale to Talbots. I ate my Thanksgiving sandwich at the office for that deal.
Senior Manager, Corporate Recovery Services at Arthur Andersen LLC (New York). I began my career as a restructuring consultant at Arthur Andersen (then Big 6 accounting firm). We worked mostly for banks with loans to over-leveraged companies. I traveled the country on assignments to terminate workforce and increase cash flow for creditors. I was 24 and had grown men crying in my hotel room after a job loss (not fun).
Chief Financial Officer, RetailCo Inc. (Shanghai). I co-founded this startup company and grew it into the leading athletic retailer in China with over 300 employees and 50 retail stores. We started with 7 people and grew the company from scratch, installing inventory and accounting systems, operation procedures, HR policies, and managing an army of employees, etc. It was my single greatest learning experience and forever instilled in me the mentality and unique culture of a business owner. We ultimately sold the business to the largest publicly listed footwear retailer in China. I went back to business school after this and surprisingly learned more.
EDUCATION:
Columbia Business School, New York, NY - Master of Business Administration | concentration: Finance
The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Chicago , IL - Certified Private Wealth Advisor Program
Georgetown University, Washington D.C. - Bachelor of Science Business Administration | concentration: Accounting
The Hotchkiss School, Lakeville, CT - High School Diploma
MEMBERSHIPS:
The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) Affiliate Member. STEP is the global professional association for practitioners who specialize in family inheritance and succession planning.
CERTIFICATIONS:
CFP® | CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional
CPWA® | Certified Private Wealth Advisor® Professional
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and CFP® in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements.
Investment Management Consultants Association® (IMCA®) is the owner of the certification marks "CPWA®" and "Certified Private Wealth Advisor®". Use of CPWA® or Certified Private Wealth Advisor® signifies that the user has successfully completed IMCA's initial and ongoing credentialing requirements for wealth advisors.
Professionals in wealth management often talk about helping clients "navigate" the financial world.... but the problem is that there is no compass in our economic environment. If we knew the correct direction of the markets, regulations, politics, wars, etc., we would all be rich. Instead, to make the right choices, we need to rely on the stars, those time-tested constellations that have offered fundamental guidance throughout history. But comprehending the stars requires introspective intuition, instinct and most of all, rooted experience. It requires the discipline to trust the interpretation of the stars when the economic compass is pointing in another direction. This is who I am and what I bring to the table for my clients.
I look forward to successfully helping you achieve your goals.... Gregory
EXPERIENCE:
My experience spans over 22 years in global business and finance and includes....
(Current) Senior Advisor and partner of Newstar Investment Family Office, a multi-family office serving high-net worth families in China. NewstarWealth is partnered with BB&T Wealth, a unit of BB&T Bank, to provide investment management services to these global families. NewstarWealth specializes in cross-border financial, trust and estate planning. After Wall Street, I worked for several years advising clients on their personal wealth management which lead to the creation of NewstarWealth.
Managing Director, Investment Banking at Collins Stewart Hawkpoint plc (New York). Collins Stewart was a publicly traded global investment banking and asset management firm headquartered in London with office across Asia, Europe and the US (subsequently acquired by Canaccord Financial, Inc., a leading Canadian investment bank). I lead a team focused on capital markets transactions such as IPOs, PIPEs, Convertible Financings, etc. I had great clients but the Wall Street environment was tough during the financial crisis.
Director, Investment Banking at Cantor Fitzerald & Co. (New York). I lead a team completing a variety of capital markets transactions (reverse merger, mezzanine financing, IPO and secondary). This was during the heydays of Wall Street.
Associate, Mergers & Acquisitions Group at Peter J. Solomon Company (New York). I advised clients on M&A, hostile takeovers and leveraged buyouts in the $100 million to $1 billion transaction size. Profile transaction included J. Jill's hostile takeover attempt by Liz Claiborne and subsequent $800 million sale to Talbots. I ate my Thanksgiving sandwich at the office for that deal.
Senior Manager, Corporate Recovery Services at Arthur Andersen LLC (New York). I began my career as a restructuring consultant at Arthur Andersen (then Big 6 accounting firm). We worked mostly for banks with loans to over-leveraged companies. I traveled the country on assignments to terminate workforce and increase cash flow for creditors. I was 24 and had grown men crying in my hotel room after a job loss (not fun).
Chief Financial Officer, RetailCo Inc. (Shanghai). I co-founded this startup company and grew it into the leading athletic retailer in China with over 300 employees and 50 retail stores. We started with 7 people and grew the company from scratch, installing inventory and accounting systems, operation procedures, HR policies, and managing an army of employees, etc. It was my single greatest learning experience and forever instilled in me the mentality and unique culture of a business owner. We ultimately sold the business to the largest publicly listed footwear retailer in China. I went back to business school after this and surprisingly learned more.
EDUCATION:
Columbia Business School, New York, NY - Master of Business Administration | concentration: Finance
The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Chicago , IL - Certified Private Wealth Advisor Program
Georgetown University, Washington D.C. - Bachelor of Science Business Administration | concentration: Accounting
The Hotchkiss School, Lakeville, CT - High School Diploma
MEMBERSHIPS:
The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) Affiliate Member. STEP is the global professional association for practitioners who specialize in family inheritance and succession planning.
CERTIFICATIONS:
CFP® | CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional
CPWA® | Certified Private Wealth Advisor® Professional
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and CFP® in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements.
Investment Management Consultants Association® (IMCA®) is the owner of the certification marks "CPWA®" and "Certified Private Wealth Advisor®". Use of CPWA® or Certified Private Wealth Advisor® signifies that the user has successfully completed IMCA's initial and ongoing credentialing requirements for wealth advisors.