The Polk Wealth Management Group

Lyon Polk is the Founder and Managing Partner of The Polk Wealth Management Group at Morgan Stanley, a 39-person team. His areas of concentration include investment management, portfolio construction, and alternative investments. Notably, Lyon’s Team is helping develop a new Family Office Model at Morgan Stanley, which serves to deliver a unique experience to clients. This model focuses on select ultra-high net worth families, helping them to manage their investment portfolios, evaluate and seek to enhance processes for their Family Offices, and provide access to certain specialized investment opportunities.

Lyon has been recognized yearly from 2009 to 2024 as one of Barron’s top 25 financial advisors in the US, and in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2023 was ranked #1 in the country. Additionally, Lyon has been named to Barron’s Advisor Hall of Fame (2019), Barron’s Best-In-State Advisors (2020-2025), and Forbes’ Best-In-State Advisors (2019-2024).

He is a frequent speaker at events and conferences across the country, and he and his Team have been featured and/or quoted in the following publications: The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Financial Times, Barron’s, Forbes, and Worth Magazine.

Within the community, Lyon serves on the board of the New York Boys Club, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, and Xavier University of Louisiana. He previously served for 10 years as a board member of the Spence School, where among other things, he chaired the Investment Committee.

Lyon’s family has been involved in local and national politics for generations. A graduate of Hartwick College, Lyon lives in New York with his wife and two daughters.

2009 – 2024 Barron's Top 100 Financial Advisors (formerly referred to as Barron's Top 1,000 Financial Advisors: State-by-State). Source: Barrons.com (Awarded 2009-2024). Data compiled by Barron's based on 12-month period concluding in Dec of the year prior to the issuance of the award.

Barron's Hall Of Fame 2019 List. Source: The Barron’s “Hall of Fame” list, published throughout 2022. Based on Barron’s rankings received over the prior 10 years.

2020 – 2025 Barron's Top 1,200 Financial Advisors: State-by-State (formerly referred to as Barron's Top 1,000 Financial Advisors: State-by-State). Source: Barrons.com (Awarded 2020 - 2025). Data compiled by Barron's based on 12-month period concluding in Sept of the year prior to the issuance of the award.

2019 – 2024 Forbes Best-In- State Wealth Advisors. Source: Forbes.com (Awarded 2019 - 2024). Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based 12-month time period concluding in June of year prior to the issuance of the award.

Deborah Montaperto is a Partner of The Polk Wealth Management Group. She is responsible for strategic business development as well as executing liability management transactions for the Team’s clients. Additionally, she has developed the family advisory platform, a holistic approach to dealing with the interface between wealth, family dynamics, and the next generation.

Deborah began her career on Wall Street in 1986. As a Managing Director in Citigroup's Investment Banking division, she was responsible for fostering client relationships between the Institutional Clients Group and Global Wealth Management.

Deborah joined the Polk Group at Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management in 2008 and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™. Additionally, she is a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst^® professional.

Deborah has been named to Barron’s Top 100 Advisors (2019-2024), Barron’s Top 100 Women Financial Advisors (2010-2024), Barron’s Best-In-State Advisors (2020-2024), Forbes’ Top 100 Women Wealth Advisors (2018, 2022-2024), Forbes' Best-In-State Women Wealth Advisors (2022-2024), and Forbes’ Best-In-State Wealth Advisors (2019-2024). She is a frequent presenter at Morgan Stanley and industry conferences, such as Barron’s.

Deborah is an active member of The Lincoln Center Women’s Leadership Council, The National Arts Club, The Economic Club of New York, and Hunts Point Alliance for Children. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of Teen Cancer America.

Deborah graduated with a B.A. cum laude from Tufts University and earned an M.A. degree from the Villa Schifanoia in Florence, Italy.

2019 – 2024 Barron's Top 100 Financial Advisors (formerly referred to as Barron's Top 1,000 Financial Advisors: State-by-State). Source: Barrons.com (Awarded 2009-2024). Data compiled by Barron's based on 12-month period concluding in Dec of the year prior to the issuance of the award.

2010 – 2024 Barron's Top 100 Women Financial Advisors. Source: Barrons.com (Awarded June 2010 – 2024). Data compiled by Barron's based on 12-month period concluding in Mar of the year the award was issued.
​
2020 – 2024 Barron's Top 1,200 Financial Advisors: State-by-State (formerly referred to as Barron's Top 1,000 Financial Advisors: State-by-State). Source: Barrons.com (Awarded 2020 - 2024). Data compiled by Barron's based on 12-month period concluding in Sept of the year prior to the issuance of the award.

2018, 2022-2024 Forbes America's Top Women Wealth Advisors (formerly referred to as Forbes Top Women Wealth Advisors, Forbes America's Top Women Wealth Advisors). Source: Forbes.com (Awarded 2018, 2022-2024). Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on 12-month time period concluding in Sept of year prior to the issuance of the award.

2022-2024 Forbes Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-In- State (formerly referred to as Forbes Top Women Wealth Advisors, Forbes America's Top Women Wealth Advisors). Source: Forbes.com (Awarded 2022-2024). Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on 12-month time period concluding in Sept of year prior to the issuance of the award.

2019 – 2024 Forbes Best-In- State Wealth Advisors. Source: Forbes.com (Awarded 2019 - 2024). Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based 12-month time period concluding in June of year prior to the issuance of the award.

Edmund Agresta is a Founding Partner of The Polk Wealth Management Group, and the Team’s Head of Private Client Group, where he oversees approximately 75 ultra-high net worth family relationships.

Edmund focuses on providing customized solutions and guidance in the areas of wealth preservation and family lifestyle advisory services. Additionally, he is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and an Alternatives Investment Director.

He leads the Team’s Trust and Estate Advisory strategies and Financial Planning, tying together all aspects of clients’ financial and personal life goals. Some of the areas include: insurance analysis, spending analysis, retirement, charitable giving, and investment allocation.

Prior to starting his career at the Firm in 2001, Edmund was a Senior Financial Consultant in Wealth Management at Sanford Bernstein. 

In 2020, Edmund was named to The Financial Times’ Top Advisors ranking.
Edmund holds several licenses including the Series 7, 31, 63, 65, and Insurance.

Edmund graduated from The College of New Jersey with a B.S. in Finance, and lives with his wife and four children in Colts Neck, New Jersey.

Financial Times 400 Top Financial Advisors. Source: ft.com (Awarded Apr 2020) Data compiled by the Financial Times based on time period from 6/30/16 - 6/30/19.

Sandeep Belani joined The Polk Wealth Management Group in 2010, where he is currently a Partner, the Team’s Co-Chief Investment Officer, and Head of the Polk Institutional Group. He directs portfolio allocation, portfolio construction and risk analytics for the Team’s institutional and individual clients.  In addition, he also manages the Team’s discretionary equity portfolio, which is utilized by clients as well as other advisors within the Firm.  

Prior to joining the Team, Sandeep had been a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley since 2006.  Sandeep built his practice with a focus on managing discretionary portfolios for his clients and other advisors within the Firm. He has over 20 years of experience trading equities, options, and futures. During his career, Sandeep has developed an analytical framework to determine market and industry trends and uses this framework to add a tactical element to portfolio construction.

Sandeep is a member of the Firm’s Portfolio Management Group, and holds several securities licenses including the Series 7, 66, 31, and 3 (Commodities and Futures). He is also a member of The Economic Club of New York.

He graduated cum laude from Syracuse University with a B.S. in both Finance and Entrepreneurship. Sandeep lives in Long Island City with his wife and two sons.

Tallie Taylor is a Founding Partner of The Polk Wealth Management Group. He has been a member of the Firm since the start of his career in financial services in 1999.

Within the Team, Tallie serves as the Chief Operating Officer. His focus is covering institutional clients and large families. As a Family Wealth Advisor, Tallie helps families communicate about money and values in order to help them meet their goals and preserve wealth across generations. Additionally, Tallie is on Morgan Stanley’s Private Wealth Advisor Advisory Council.

Tallie holds numerous securities licenses, including the Series 3, 7, 63 and 65, and is currently a member of The Economic Club of New York. In 2020, Tallie was named to The Financial Times’ Top Advisors ranking.

Originally from Maine, Tallie graduated from St. John's College in Santa Fe, New Mexico with a B.A. in Mathematics and Philosophy. Upon graduating, he joined predecessor firm Salomon Smith Barney. While at Morgan Stanley, he received his MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business with a specialization in Finance. 

Tallie is Vegan and enjoys swimming in his free time. He lives in Old Tappan, New Jersey with his wife and four children.

Financial Times 400 Top Financial Advisors. Source: ft.com (Awarded Apr 2020) Data compiled by the Financial Times based on time period from 6/30/16 - 6/30/19.

Doug Anderson joined The Polk Wealth Management Group in 2019, where he is currently the Team’s Co-Chief Investment Officer. He is based in Morgan Stanley’s Oakland office. Prior to joining the Team, Doug was an Advisor and Research Director for BMO Family Office (formally CTC myCFO), where he led advisory relationships with several significant families.

Doug started his career with Ernst & Young in their audit practice and continued in their management consulting practice. He then joined an institutional investment consultant, Asset Strategy Consulting, where he served endowments and insurance companies. Doug was also a Product Manager with InvestorForce, developing an institutional online platform for sourcing and reviewing investment managers.

Doug holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Designation and a CPA (currently inactive), as well as the Series 7 and 66 licenses. He graduated from UCLA with a B.A. Doug and his wife Jenny live in the San Francisco Bay Area with their three children. Doug enjoys skiing, hiking, and paddle boarding.

Brian Del Vecchio joined The Polk Wealth Management Group in 2008, where he currently oversees UHNW client relationships in the Polk Team’s Private Client Group.

He has a focus on Team’s equity, currency, and alternative investments. Additionally, Brian is responsible for portfolio administration and manages the fixed income portfolios for the Team’s Private Client Group. Brian also spearheads Lending Services initiatives for clients.

Brian began his career at Morgan Stanley in 2004, where he gained experience working on solutions for high-net-worth individuals, hedge funds, and endowments. He has been quoted in renowned industry publications such as Barron’s, and he currently holds the Series 7, 63, and 65 licenses.
 
He graduated in 2002 from the Haub School of Business at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia with a major in Finance. He resides in Hoboken, New Jersey with his wife and two children.

 Michael Colagiovanni joined The Polk Wealth Management Group in 2001, where he currently leads the Polk Team’s Family Wealth Services group.

Leveraging his experience in alternative investments, outside money managers, and mutual funds, Michael co-directs investment allocation and reporting for the Team’s clients. Additionally, as a relationship manager, Michael focuses on delivering the full Firm to clients and overseeing day-to-day engagement.

Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Michael worked with Gabelli Asset Management Company in their Mutual Fund and Private Client departments.

Michael currently holds the Series 7, 31, 63, and 65 licenses. He graduated from Colgate University in 1998 with a B.A. in Economics. Michael currently resides in Rye, New York with his wife and family.

Joe Genzardi re-joined The Polk Wealth Management Group in 2019, where he currently leads the Team’s Family Office Investment Solutions. Prior to re-joining the Team, Joe worked in Morgan Stanley’s Institutional Equity Research Sales Group, where he covered sophisticated and well-known hedge funds, mutual funds and Family Offices for over 20 years; including 2003 – 2009 when he was a part of The Polk Wealth Management Group at Citigroup. Leveraging these experiences and his 30+ years in the industry, Joe brings a unique perspective to the Team’s Family Office structure.

Joe is a member of The American Society of Mechanical Engineers and holds several securities licenses including the Series 7, 63, 65, 4, 24, and 31. He graduated from The University of Rhode Island with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. Joe currently resides in New York, and enjoys the outdoors, fishing, and CrossFit.

Anthony Angilletta re-joined The Polk Wealth Management Group in July 2020, where he is currently a Private Wealth Advisor on the Polk Team’s Family Wealth Services group.

In his role, Anthony focuses on deeply understanding client’s goals and needs, and establishing tailored financial plans to achieve them. Anthony also contributes to the Investment Team’s research efforts, focusing on FX and Cryptocurrencies. In 2024, Anthony was named to Forbes Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors Best-in-State.

Prior to re-joining the Team, Anthony was a Senior Investment Consultant at BNY Mellon Investment Management where he was responsible for consulting Financial Advisors on BNY Mellon’s vast array of investment solutions including mutual funds, SMAs, private equity and private credit deals.

Anthony graduated with a B.B.A. from the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College with a major in Finance and a minor in Psychology. He currently holds the Series 7, 63, and 65 licenses. Additionally, he is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™.

Anthony resides on the Upper West Side. In his free time, Anthony enjoys playing electric guitar, golf, hockey and spending time with his family and close friends.

2024 Forbes Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors & Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors Best-In-State. Source: Forbes.com (Awarded Aug 2024) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on time period from 3/31/23–3/31/24.

Sam Polk joined The Polk Wealth Management Group in June 2020, supporting the Polk Team’s Family Wealth Services group.

His current focus is administering personalized investment services to high-net-worth individuals through a goals-based approach.

Within the Team, Sam also helps lead the Shareworks at Morgan Stanley initiative, supporting companies with equity administration. Combining our technology, client service, and wealth management capabilities, Sam and Team help simplify the complexities of equity plan management.

Kyle Siebert joined The Polk Wealth Management Group in May 2023, where he is a Private Wealth Advisor. Kyle has over a decade of experience working with ultra-high net worth families, with his practice primarily focused on creating long-term investment plans that account for his clients’ objectives and constraints within their specific time horizon.

Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Kyle was a banker at HSBC Private Bank catering to their international client base. He spent nearly nine years as a banker at J.P. Morgan Private Bank, focusing on hedge fund principals and family offices, providing holistic advice around banking, lending, investments, and trust and estate planning.

Kyle was born in Red Bank, NJ. He earned a BS in Finance from Fairfield University and currently chairs the Finance Council for the Advisory Board for the Dolan School of Business. Kyle is also a Trustee and chairs the Investment Committee for Preservation Long Island, a non-profit that advances the importance of historic preservation in the region through advocacy, education, and stewardship. He serves on the Advisory Board for the Viscardi Center, an organization on Long Island that educates, employs, and empowers youth, adults, and veterans with disabilities. Committed to improving the quality of healthcare in his local community, Kyle also serves on the Advisory Board for Huntington Hospital, a part of Northwell Health.

An avid golfer, Kyle resides in Cold Spring Harbor with his wife and two daughters.

Kana Nakajima joined The Polk Wealth Management Group in August 2006, where she is currently the Group Director and the Team’s Chief of Staff. Within the Team, she focuses on fostering communication between the partners and the staff, including discussion of coverage ratios, group dynamic, distribution of workloads, and firm policies. Additionally, Kana leads and implements the Team’s new hire and internship process, and provides Family Office services to the Team’s clients such as total wealth reports, Donor Advised Fund administration, health and travel concierge, and expense management. She helps the Team provide cash management and lending solutions including checking, credit cards, bill pay, and funds transfers.

She graduated cum laude from the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College in New York City in 2007, with a major in Finance and Investments and a minor in Industrial Organizational Psychology. Kana currently holds the Series 7 and 66 licenses, and is on the Board of Directors of Hunts Point Alliance for Children. She enjoys spin classes, traveling, attending live music shows, and spending quality time with her family and close friends.

Frank Cipollino joined The Polk Wealth Management Group in 2010, where he is currently a Portfolio Management Associate Director in the Polk Institutional Group. He started his career at Morgan Stanley as a Technical Due Diligence Analyst in the Global Advisor Research Department. He then went on to work at Ryan Beck and Prudential in their Managed Account and Mutual Fund Wrap Programs. In his current role, he co-heads the outside Money Manager analysis and asset allocation for the Team.

He is a member of the Investments & Wealth Institute and received his CIMA^® (Certified Investment Management Analyst^®) designation in August of 2008. He also holds the Series 7 and 66 licenses. Frank graduated from State University of New York at Albany with a B.A. in Economics. Frank enjoys playing sports and spending time with family and friends.

Tracy Lewis joined The Polk Wealth Management Group in 2010, where she is currently a Wealth Management Associate. Within the Team, her primary responsibilities include assisting the Private Wealth Advisors with their administrative logistics and the Team’s operations.

Tracy has been working in the financial services industry since 1997. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, she was the personal assistant and trader to the Founder and CEO of Westminster Securities. She began her investment career with TD Waterhouse as a Client Services Representative in their specialized high net worth client division. At TD Waterhouse, Tracy developed her skills in the financial field through everyday communication with clients and execution of team procedures.

Tracy graduated from Kingsborough College, and currently holds both the Series 7 and 63 licenses.

Tom Long joined The Polk Wealth Management Group in 2012 after interning for the Team during the summer of 2010.  Before returning to the Team, Tom worked as an ETF Sales Associate for TrimTabs Asset Management. In his current role as a Portfolio Management Associate Director in the Polk Institutional Group, Tom’s primary responsibilities include investment sourcing and research, performance attribution analysis and reporting.  He also serves as a member of Morgan Stanley’s Wealth Strategies Analysis Advisor Council. 

Tom is a graduate of University of Delaware with a double major in Finance and Mathematics & Economics.  He is a CFA^® Charterholder and holds both the Series 7 and 66 licenses.

Michael Heffern joined The Polk Wealth Management Group in June 2013, where he is currently a Director of Business Strategy in the Polk Institutional Group. Prior to joining the Team, Michael worked with the Morgan Stanley Premier Service Center, where he assisted Private Wealth Advisors and their clientele. His primary role as a Director of Business Strategy is to aid clients in their daily financial needs and supporting their investment strategy. Additionally, Michael provides support to clients with opening new accounts, handling disbursement requests, and trade executions.

Michael holds the Series 7, 63, and 65 licenses. He graduated from Ashland University in Ohio in 2011 with a major in Finance.

Faith Bartunek joined The Polk Wealth Management Group in 2012, where she is currently a Director of Business Strategy in the Team’s Private Client Group. She began her career on Wall Street in 1994 and started working at Morgan Stanley in 1997, where she held the position of Registered Associate and then Complex Service Manager for her branch. In her current role, Faith provides support to clients including opening new accounts, handling disbursement requests, and trade executions. Faith enjoys getting to know clients and helping them reach their goals.

She holds several securities licenses including the Series 7, 9, 10, 63, 66 and 3 (Commodities and Futures), and has a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting with an emphasis on Tax Accountancy from Purdue University. Additionally, she is a Certified Financial Planner. In her free time, Faith enjoys traveling, attending outdoor concerts, and spending time with family and friends.

Chris Simonson joined The Polk Wealth Management Group in January 2015, where he is currently a Portfolio Management Associate Director in the Team’s Private Client Group. Prior to joining the Team, he was a Research Analyst for Sintra Capital Corp., an Emerging Markets fund in Greenwich, Connecticut. Additionally, he spent some time overseas working for a Hedge Fund Advisor in London, England. His main role is serving as investment coverage within the Team’s Private Client Group, where he helps oversee approximately 50 households.

Chris is currently pursuing his MBA at New York University’s Stern School of Business. Chris graduated from Bucknell University in Pennsylvania, with a degree in Economics and minor in Finance. He holds the Series 7 and 66 licenses. Chris resides in Manhattan, but in his free time enjoys playing squash and golf as well as skiing.

Chris McConnell joined The Polk Wealth Management Group in 2017, where he is currently a Director of Business Strategy in the Team’s Private Client Group. He has over 15 years of experience servicing domestic and international ultra-high net worth families, foundations, public and private companies, senior level executives, and entrepreneurs. Chris assists in the development of tailored solutions that allow clients to manage and simplify their frequently complicated financial, cross-border, and family governance issues. He cultivates the Team’s existing relationships by engaging in a dialogue to determine investment objectives, risk tolerance, suitability, and philanthropic interests to craft a comprehensive financial strategy and portfolio allocation.

Chris currently holds the Series 7 and 66 licenses. He graduated from the University of Vermont with a B.A. in Economics. He later received his MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business with a focus on Corporate Finance and Luxury Marketing. Outside of work, Chris enjoys traveling, skiing, and cooking.

Carolina Mocorrea joined The Polk Wealth Management Group in August 2017 after graduating magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Dartmouth College, where she majored in Government with a minor in Spanish. She began her professional career as an intern for Fortress Investment Group in 2016.  Subsequently, Carolina interned at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in their Wholesale Credit Division, assisting with live deal executions for both the General Industries Group and Consumer & Retail Group. As a Business Development Director within the Team’s Private Client Group, Carolina’s focus is providing support in cash management and family advisory services. 

Carolina holds her Series 7 and 66 licenses, and in her free time, she enjoys playing tennis, hiking and spending time with her family in Long Island, NY.

Mercy Sierra Short joined The Polk Wealth Management Group in January 2019, where she is currently Business Development Director for the Team. Within the Team, Mercy serves as the Chief Technology Officer. Additionally, her primary responsibilities include leading the Team's Business Development initiatives, such as Prospect and Client Engagement, Marketing, Cybersecurity, and spearheading Wealth Education Programs focused on NextGen and Women.

Prior to joining the Team, Mercy worked for the Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management New York Complex as a Digital and Wealth Advisor Associate where she supported Management and Private Wealth Advisors in their business development and modern wealth management practices. Before arriving to Morgan Stanley, Mercy worked at Dell EMC in the company's Chief Customer Office.

She graduated from Babson College with a B.S. in Global Business Management and Strategic Management. Mercy is registered with FINRA and holds both the Series 7 and 66 licenses. Additionally, she is fluent in Spanish. Outside of work, Mercy is a part of the Babson Alumni Interview Program, and participates in various volunteer activities. She enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, and spectating professional tennis matches.

Jocelyn Pickett joined The Polk Wealth Management Group as a Team Administrative Assistant in February 2019.  Prior to joining The Polk Group, she worked for 20 years for Joan Rivers as her personal assistant and entertainment manager. During that time, Jocelyn managed Joan’s personal and professional life.  She coordinated all aspects of Joan’s comedy performances and television appearances, scheduled her public relations and marketing opportunities, and liaised with her agents and attorneys on her professional contracts and legal matters. In her current role, Jocelyn‘s primary responsibility is to assist the Team with its administrative needs.  She also seeks to create and maintain a strong relationship with clients by executing their requests.

Jocelyn graduated from Trinity College with a degree in Political Science.  She lives in Manhattan and enjoys spending time with her nieces and nephews, attending sports events, and playing golf.

Madlen Brusnikin joined The Polk Wealth Management Group in 2019, where she is currently a Director of Business Strategy supporting the Team’s Family Wealth Services group. Within the Team, Madlen focuses on providing client service and supporting operational functions of the business. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Madlen worked as an Investment Associate and Client Relationship Manager at JP Morgan Chase in the Private Client Group.

Madlen currently holds the Series 7 and 66 securities licenses. Madlen received her B.A. in Economics from Samarkand State University, and completed her Master's in Finance from Touro Graduate School of Business. Outside of work, Madlen enjoys music, theater, and sports.

Ashley Orias-Burkman joined The Polk Wealth Management Group in November 2019, and has been serving ultra-high net worth clients since 2014. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Ashley was a Senior Operations Associate at the Multi-Family Office division of the Bank of Montreal, specializing in Anti-Money Laundering compliance and risk solutions.

Ashley graduated from the California State University at East Bay with a B.S. in Health Sciences and currently holds the Series 7 and 66 licenses. Ashley also enjoys cooking, yoga, and spending time with her husband and their dog.

Adrienne Golfo joined The Polk Wealth Management Group in November 2019, and has been serving ultra-high net worth clients and significant families since 2014. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Adrienne began her professional career as an Operations and Performance Analyst at the Multi-Family Office division of the Bank of Montreal, providing expertise in delivering integrated solutions for investment implementation and business growth.

She is a graduate from the California State University of East Bay with a B.S. in Finance and Corporate Management and is currently working towards completing her Series 7 and 66 licenses. Adrienne is also a drummer in a band and enjoys attending live concerts, tailgates, and spending time with family and friends.

Matthew Bernacchia joined The Polk Wealth Management Group in May 2020 after interning since August 2019. Prior to joining the Team, he was an intern for Bluefin Trading, a privately-owned multi-strategy trading firm in New York City. Additionally, he spent time as an intern at UBS Financial Services within their Private Wealth Management division. His main role within The Polk Group is working directly with the investment team where he reports on daily portfolio figures, conducts both macro and equity research, and assists clients with basic financial services.

Matthew passed the CFA Level III exam in December of 2020, and graduated from Miami University in Ohio, with a degree in Finance and Actuarial Sciences. Matthew was accepted into the Johns Hopkins University Engineering for Professionals Master’s program where he plans to study Financial Mathematics & Engineering. He currently holds the SIE and Series 7 and 66 licenses. Matthew resides in Manhattan and in his free time likes to play golf and basketball.

Harrison Greenberg joined The Polk Wealth Management Group in December 2020, where he is currently a Business Development Director in Lending Services focused on driving liability management solutions for the Team’s clients. Prior to joining the Team, Harrison was a Business Development Associate in the Private Banking Group at Morgan Stanley where he led in strategic business development and data analytics to drive banking and lending engagement.

He is currently FINRA registered and holds both the Series 7 and 66 licenses. Additionally, he is a Certified Financial Planner. Originally from Portland, Oregon, Harrison graduated from the University of Montana with a B.S. in Finance where he played football for the Grizzlies. Outside of work, he is a tutor for The Fresh Air Fund and an active fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. In his free time, he enjoys running, hiking, snowboarding, and spending time with his friends and family.

George McLanahan joined The Polk Wealth Management Group in July 2021 as a Client Service Associate. Prior to his current role, George interned with The Polk Group during the summers of 2018 and 2020. He also participated in a summer internship at the Lefrak Organization in their Asset Management division. George’s primary role within The Polk Wealth Management Group, is supporting the Team’s Family Wealth Services group, providing client service and operational support.

George currently holds the Series 7 and 66 licenses. He graduated from Denison University with a BA in Economics. Outside of work, George enjoys playing tennis, squash, and golf.

Liz joined The Polk Wealth Management Group in April 2022 as a Business Development Director in Lending Services. Prior to joining the Team, she was a Private Banking Advisory Associate in the Private Banking Group at Morgan Stanley. Before this, she served as an Associate Private Banker and a Financial Advisor Associate at Morgan Stanley. Prior to joining the firm, Liz was a Sales and Analytics Specialist at Bloomberg LP.

Liz received a Bachelor of Business Administration in International Business from Loyola University Maryland. She currently lives in Manhattan in the East Village with her husband and daughter. When not at the office, Liz enjoys traveling, trying new restaurants, reading, and spending time with her family.

Courtney Carrabino joined The Polk Wealth Management Group in June 2023, and has been serving high net worth clients since 2016. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Courtney began her career at Cambridge Associates where she was a Senior Investment Associate in their Private Client practice and a member of the Venture Capital & Growth Equity research team.

She graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2023 with an MBA from the Sloan School of Management, and from Stanford University in 2015 with a BA in International Relations.

Carter Hoss joined The Polk Wealth Management Group in December 2023, where he is currently a Private Wealth Management Institutional Consulting Analyst. Prior to joining the team, he served as a Client Relationship Specialist within Morgan Stanley’s Institutional Infrastructure Solutions division and as a trader within Merrill Lynch’s Trade Elevation team. Carter is focused in working directly with the Polk Institutional Group to provide investment support and analysis for the group’s ultra-high net worth clientele.
 
Carter graduated from Oklahoma Wesleyan University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Financial Economics. He is currently registered with FINRA, holding his Series 9, 10, 7, and 66 licenses.

Katie Hill joined The Polk Wealth Management Group in February 2024. Prior to joining the Team, Katie began her career in Morgan Stanley’s Institutional Equities Group where she developed client strategies. Katie then worked as a Consultant at L.E.K. focused on Healthcare, MedTech, and Sustainability. Within The Polk Wealth Management Group, Katie is focused on impact investing across sectors and investment vehicles.

She graduated from the University of Michigan in 2019 with a BA in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics and a minor from the Ross School of Business.

Samantha Webster joined The Polk Wealth Management Group in June 2022 as a Summer Intern. While pursuing her undergraduate degree in Economics at New York University, she continued her internship with The Polk Group. After graduating from NYU in May 2024, Samantha transitioned into her current role as a Client Service Associate, where she provides client support and handles organizational and operational tasks for the Family Wealth Services team. Outside of work, Samantha enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, and playing tennis.

Jeffrey McDonnell joined The Polk Wealth Management Group in February 2024, where he is currently a Client Relationship Analyst. Prior to joining the Team, Jeffrey served as an Investment Analyst at The GEM Group, a New York-based Private Equity Firm. Jeffrey is currently focused on working with alternatives as well as providing investment support and analysis for the Polk Institutional Group and its ultra-high net worth clientele. Jeffrey graduated from The University of Wisconsin – Madison with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics. He is currently registered with FINRA, holding his Series 7 and 66 licenses. Outside of work, Jeffrey’s passions revolve around Golf, Tennis, and Bitcoin.

Vanessa Sacks joined The Polk Wealth Management Group in May 2024 and has been working in the Wealth Management sector of the financial services industry since May of 2021. Vanessa began her professional career at UBS in their Training Financial Advisor program. Following this experience, she was a Client Relationship Manager at Stifel in their Private Client Group.

In her current role, Vanessa focuses on providing operational support and white glove service to the group’s ultra-high net worth clientele.

Vanessa currently holds the Series 7 and 66 licenses. She graduated from the University of Miami, where she earned her B.B.A in Finance and spent a semester studying at the American University of Rome. Outside of work, Vanessa enjoys practicing yoga, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends.

Peyton Mobley joined The Polk Wealth Management Group in January 2024. As a Private Wealth Management Analyst within the Team’s Private Client Group, Peyton focuses on providing support in family advisory services and alternative investment analysis. Prior to joining the Team, Peyton was a Rotational Analyst within Morgan Stanley’s Wealth Management division where she worked on several teams, including Morgan Stanley Family Office Investments and Family Office Resources. Peyton began her career at Morgan Stanley in June 2021 as a Wealth Management Summer Analyst. Prior to that, she completed internships at Revere Capital, quip, and Prabal Gurung gaining a diverse range of experience across investment management, finance, and business development. Peyton holds the Series 7 and 66 licenses and graduated from Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business with a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Concentration in Alternative Investments. Residing in Manhattan, Peyton enjoys fashion, trying new restaurants, and spending time with her family and friends.

Samantha Kim is currently a Team Associate with The Polk Wealth Management Group. She joined Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management in 2022 as a Wealth Advisor Associate. Samantha concentrates on financial planning and is dedicated to working with clients and prospects to articulate and define goals that matter most to them throughout life’s milestones. She provides support across a suite of Morgan Stanley tools to assist in areas of wealth and estate planning, investment allocation, and risk management. Prior to joining the financial services industry, Samantha worked in the tech industry as a marketer and market research analyst. Samantha was born and raised in Los Angeles and graduated magna cum laude as a Presidential Scholar from Boston College. She holds the Series 7 and 66 licenses.