Gary Pulford, CTFA

Sr. Advisor

How I Arrived at Ritholtz

“I started in the investment industry in 1983 at Merrill Lynch in Downtown Long Beach. I was right out of college with a bachelor’s degree in Financial Management. After a few years at Merrill Lynch and Kidder Peabody, I decided that I wanted to get away from the commission side of the business and I put myself on the same side of the table as my clients, as a Fiduciary. I spent the next 35 years at several independent investment advisory firms and a regional trust company before I finally ended up at Ritholtz Wealth Management. While I had followed Barry Ritholtz and Josh Brown on social media for years, it was actually Josh’s interview with Michael Kitces in the spring of 2017 that told me that Josh really gets this business and Ritholtz Wealth was where I was meant to be.”

Favorite Part Of The Job

“I enjoy sharing what I have learned over my 40 years in the business, especially when clients need guidance on the complex area of trusts and estate planning, where it is important to be aware of any potential issues. Also, having seen a number of investment cycles allows me to help clients understand the importance of sticking with an investment program for the long term. I truly enjoy the wide range of interesting people that I get to work with as advisory clients. Often these people become good friends and we end up knowing a whole lot more about each other than you might in a typical business relationship. Whether it is helping them celebrate the birth of a new grandchild, or hearing about a new wine that they just discovered or their plans for an upcoming European vacation – these are all things which make each relationship unique.”

When I'm Not Working

“My wife, Elena, and I have raised our four children in the same family home in Costa Mesa. While we aren’t quite empty nesters yet, we enjoy taking hiking adventures, wine tasting trips and just spending time with family.”

MEET OUR EXPERTS
GUIDING YOUR FUTURE

Explore the profiles of some of our other experienced professionals, each bringing their own strengths and insights to support your success.

Back to team
Kyla Candelaria
Kyla Candelaria
Client Service Associate – Corp. Retirement
Kyla Candelaria
Jalen Randolph, CFP®
Jalen Randolph, CFP®
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Jalen Randolph, CFP®
Daniel Parra
Daniel Parra
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Daniel Parra
Mindy Giles
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Joey  Fishman
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Lisa Rosenstein, CPA®
Lisa Rosenstein, CPA®
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Alex Palumbo, CFP®
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Sr. Advisor
Alex Palumbo, CFP®
Ross Cohen, CFP®
Ross Cohen, CFP®
Advisor
Ross Cohen, CFP®
Cameron Rufus, CFP®
Cameron Rufus, CFP®
Advisor
Cameron Rufus, CFP®
Patricia Hatzfeld
Patricia Hatzfeld
Chief Compliance Officer
Patricia Hatzfeld
Lauren Spears
Lauren Spears
Client Service Associate
Lauren Spears
Anna Chaiken
Anna Chaiken
Vice President
Anna Chaiken
Alex Messer
Alex Messer
Sr. Trader
Alex Messer
Michael Batnick, CFA®
Michael Batnick, CFA®
Managing Partner
Michael Batnick, CFA®
Catalina Castillo
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Catalina Castillo
Patrick Haley, CFP®
Patrick Haley, CFP®
Sr. Portfolio Manager
Patrick Haley, CFP®
Daniel Baxter
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Client Service Associate – Tax
Daniel Baxter
Colleen Parker
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Paul Zodtner, CRPC®, RICP®
Paul Zodtner, CRPC®, RICP®
Sr. Advisor
Paul Zodtner, CRPC®, RICP®
Gisela Warner
Gisela Warner
Director of Operations
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Tyler Hillyer, CFP®
Tyler Hillyer, CFP®
Advisor
Tyler Hillyer, CFP®
Alan Brockhaus, CFP®, ChFC®
Alan Brockhaus, CFP®, ChFC®
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Alan Brockhaus, CFP®, ChFC®
Adam Niestradt
Adam Niestradt
Sr. Investment Analyst
Adam Niestradt
Duncan Hill
Duncan Hill
Creative Director
Duncan Hill
Eric Zipfel
Eric Zipfel
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Eric Zipfel
Joe Perna, CFA, CFP®
Joe Perna, CFA, CFP®
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Joe Perna, CFA, CFP®
Adam Day, CFP®
Adam Day, CFP®
Advisor
Adam Day, CFP®
John Grayson
John Grayson
Head of Post Production
John Grayson
Ian Cully, CFP® CFA®
Ian Cully, CFP® CFA®
Advisor
Ian Cully, CFP® CFA®
Nick Friedman, CFP®
Nick Friedman, CFP®
Sr. Advisor
Nick Friedman, CFP®
Brian Rosen
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Sr. Advisor
Brian Rosen
Matt Lohrius, CFP®
Matt Lohrius, CFP®
Advisor
Matt Lohrius, CFP®
Adam Gock
Adam Gock
Sr. Client Service Associate
Adam Gock
Gary Pulford, CTFA
Gary Pulford, CTFA
Sr. Advisor
Gary Pulford, CTFA
Nick Maggiulli
Nick Maggiulli
COO
Nick Maggiulli
Nate Jefferson, CFP®
Nate Jefferson, CFP®
Advisor
Nate Jefferson, CFP®
Jacobi Poesch
Jacobi Poesch
Sr. Client Service Associate
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Claire Galante
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Executive Assistant
Claire Galante
Sean Russo
Sean Russo
Investment Analyst
Sean Russo
Trevor Batt, CFP®
Trevor Batt, CFP®
Advisor
Trevor Batt, CFP®
Bill Artzerounian
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Director of Tax Services
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Nick Sapienza, CFP®
Nick Sapienza, CFP®
Advisor
Nick Sapienza, CFP®
Taylor Hollis, CFP® CFA®
Taylor Hollis, CFP® CFA®
Director of Family Office Services
Taylor Hollis, CFP® CFA®
Callie Cox
Callie Cox
Chief Market Strategist
Callie Cox
Benjamin Packer
Benjamin Packer
Client Service Associate
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Lisa Paul
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Client Service Associate
Lisa Paul
Dylan Kluender
Dylan Kluender
Sr. Trader
Dylan Kluender
Dina Isola
Dina Isola
Advisor
Dina Isola
Stephanie Baszner, CFP®
Stephanie Baszner, CFP®
Advisor
Stephanie Baszner, CFP®
Brianna Pintauro
Brianna Pintauro
Senior Client Service Associate
Brianna Pintauro
Matthew Papandrea, CFP®
Matthew Papandrea, CFP®
Advisor
Matthew Papandrea, CFP®
Blair duQuesnay, CFP® CFA®
Blair duQuesnay, CFP® CFA®
Lead Advisor – The Preserve
Blair duQuesnay, CFP® CFA®
William Sweet, CFP®
William Sweet, CFP®
Chief Financial Officer
William Sweet, CFP®
Susan Gray
Susan Gray
Sr. Client Service Associate
Susan Gray
Everett Taylor, CPA®
Everett Taylor, CPA®
Tax Manager
Everett Taylor, CPA®
Erika Mauro
Erika Mauro
Client Service Director
Erika Mauro
Nathan Gilmore
Nathan Gilmore
Estate Attorney
Nathan Gilmore
Dan LaRosa, AIF®, QPFC
Dan LaRosa, AIF®, QPFC
Sr. Advisor & Director of Corp. Retirement
Dan LaRosa, AIF®, QPFC
Jay Tini
Jay Tini
President
Jay Tini
Patrick Schwendeman, CFP® ChFC®
Patrick Schwendeman, CFP® ChFC®
Advisor
Patrick Schwendeman, CFP® ChFC®
Jonathan Novy
Jonathan Novy
Sr. Advisor
Jonathan Novy
Nicole Samoroukova
Nicole Samoroukova
Director of Experience & Media Producer
Nicole Samoroukova
Lauryn Lafferty
Lauryn Lafferty
Sr. Client Service Associate
Lauryn Lafferty
Andrea Diltz
Andrea Diltz
Client Service Associate
Andrea Diltz
Chris Carey
Chris Carey
Advisor
Chris Carey
Jordan D. Hanson, CFP®
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Advisor
Jordan D. Hanson, CFP®
Benjamin Coulthard, CFP®
Benjamin Coulthard, CFP®
Sr. Advisor
Benjamin Coulthard, CFP®
Angelica Andrews
Angelica Andrews
Paraplanner
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Travis Varga
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Creative Media Producer
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Ben Carlson, CFA®
Ben Carlson, CFA®
Director of Institutional Asset Management
Ben Carlson, CFA®
Matt Cerminaro
Matt Cerminaro
Data Research Associate
Matt Cerminaro
Tadas Viskanta
Tadas Viskanta
Director of Investor Education
Tadas Viskanta
Kevin Young, CFP®
Kevin Young, CFP®
Sr. Advisor
Kevin Young, CFP®
Blake Wohlwend
Blake Wohlwend
Client Service Associate
Blake Wohlwend
Barry Ritholtz
Barry Ritholtz
Chairman & Chief Investment Officer
Barry Ritholtz
Kris Venne, CFP®
Kris Venne, CFP®
Managing Partner
Kris Venne, CFP®
Michelle Katzen, CFP®, CDFA®
Michelle Katzen, CFP®, CDFA®
Sr. Advisor
Michelle Katzen, CFP®, CDFA®
Tony Isola, CFP®
Tony Isola, CFP®
Advisor
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Nelson Crane
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Trading Research Associate
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Josh Brown
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CEO
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