The Seminara Group

Drawing on more than 25 years of diverse financial services experience, Frank Seminara provides investment advice to a national clientele of high-net-worth individuals, as well as small- to medium-sized institutions. Frank leverages the resources and intellectual capital of both Morgan Stanley and third-party sources to create and maintain customized asset allocation strategies based on each client’s goals. In recognitions of his experience with hedge funds and private equity investments, Frank earned an internal designation as an Alternative Investments Director*. He is also a Morgan Stanley Global Sports and Entertainment Director, a designation earned through his work with professional athletes.

Thanks to the trust his clients have placed in him, Frank was recognized on the Barron’s Top 1200 Financial Advisor’s list in the State of New Jersey for the past nine years (2014-2023), reaching as high as #4 in 2021. He was also included among Forbes’ Best-In-State Wealth Advisors for North New Jersey (Private Wealth), ranking #1 from 2018 through 2021, #2 in 2022. He has recently moved to our Florida office, where he is ranked # 13 in 2024 Forbes Best in State Wealth Advisors

Prior to his financial services career, Frank spent nine years as a professional baseball player, including three years at the Major League level with the San Diego Padres and New York Mets. In 1996, he joined Salomon Smith Barney as a Financial Advisor, and later moved to UBS in a similar capacity.

A Brooklyn native, Frank received a B.A. in history from Columbia University in 1989 and graduated from Xaverian High School in 1985. He now lives in West Palm Beach, Florida, with his wife Annabel and his three children, Luke, Eliana and Benjamin. Frank is a member of the Major League Baseball Alumni “Swing with the Legends” charitable golf circuit and raises funds for the MS4MS charity. He enjoys traveling, reading and spending his free time with family and friends.

2014-2024 Barron's Top 1,200 Financial Advisors: State-by-State (formerly referred to as Barron's Top 1,000 Financial Advisors: State-by-State)
Barron's Top 1,200 Financial Advisors
Source: Barron's - Awarded Mar 2024. Data compiled by Barron's based on time period from Sept 2022 - Sept 2023. Awards Disclosures)

2018-2024 Forbes Best-In- State Wealth Advisors
Source: Forbes (Awarded April 2024) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on time period from 6/30/22-6/30/23.


*Alternative investments often are speculative and include a high degree of risk. Investors could lose all or a substantial amount of their investment. Alternative investments are appropriate only for eligible, long-term investors who are willing to forgo liquidity and put capital at risk for an indefinite period of time. They may be highly illiquid and can engage in leverage and other speculative practices that may increase the volatility and risk of loss. Alternative Investments typically have higher fees than traditional investments. Investors should carefully review and consider potential risks before investing.

Robert Knorr brings nearly three decades of professional investing and wealth planning experience to the service of his team’s clients. Working directly with Morgan Stanley Equity Research and various external partners, Robert helps create and maintain highly customized, value-based investment portfolios for high-net-worth families, foundations and corporations. Robert also works closely with the Morgan Stanley Private Bank to offer lending solutions to both private and corporate clients. His approach to comprehensive wealth planning also includes sophisticated intergenerational wealth transfer and philanthropy strategies. Thanks to the trust his clients have placed in him and his team, Robert was recognized by Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors for North New Jersey (Private Wealth) from 2021-2024.

Prior to joining Morgan Stanley in 2000, Robert served as a Senior Securities Compliance Examiner with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for six years. He graduated magna cum laude from Montclair State University with a B.S. in economics and finance, and he holds his MBA in Finance from Rutgers University’s Graduate School of Management.

Robert lives in Chester, New Jersey, with his wife, Kathleen, and their three children, Morgan, Connor and Ronan. He enjoys skiing, cycling and spending his free time with family and friends.

2021-2024 Forbes Best-In- State Wealth Advisors
Source: Forbes (Awarded April 2024) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on time period from 6/30/22-6/30/23.

Drawing on 25 years of wealth planning experience, Peter Seminara focuses on developing customized investment strategies for high-net-worth individuals and institutions. Peter works directly with Morgan Stanley’s Capital Markets desks to bring exceptional ideas and limited-access investments to clients. A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP^®) practitioner, Peter delivers investment strategies that become an integral component of a comprehensive wealth management plan based on each client’s specific needs and aspirations. Thanks to the trust his clients placed in him and his team, Peter was recognized in Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors for North New Jersey (Private Wealth) from 2021-2024.

Prior to joining The Seminara Group at Morgan Stanley in 2005, Peter spent five years working on Morgan Stanley’s fixed income trading desk. In that capacity, he was responsible for managing fixed income sales efforts to more than 1,500 financial advisors nationwide. He developed fixed income investment strategies and recommendations for high-net-worth individuals, as well as small to medium-sized institutional clients of the firm.

Peter graduated from Ramapo College of New Jersey with a B.A. in economics. He is a member of the Ramapo College of New Jersey Foundation Board of Governors. Peter also volunteers his time helping students find workplace internships and actively assists Ramapo College in fundraising initiatives. He currently lives in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, with his wife, Lauren, and their sons, Brian, Jonathan and Matthew. In his free time, he enjoys coaching youth sports, skiing, golfing and traveling.

2021-2024 Forbes Best-In- State Wealth Advisors
Source: Forbes (Awarded April 2024) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on time period from 6/30/22-6/30/23.

A member of The Seminara Group for seven years and equity partner since 2022, Mark Ciccarelli focuses on the creation of customized asset allocation solutions and planning for a select clientele of affluent individuals, families and businesses. Mark has dedicated his career to developing productive relationships with dynamic, high-achieving individuals who are game changers in their professional endeavors. His work with leaders in business and professional Entertainers and Athletes has made him one of the rare Advisors to earn designations in both Morgan Stanley’s Global Sports and Entertainment, and Workplace Advisor Divisions. Mark also known for his efforts to build deep relationships within the wealth management and institutional divisions of Morgan Stanley, enabling him to leverage the firm’s resources to deliver financial solutions to his clients. Working closely with Founders on pre/post exit planning and having crafted a focus specific to Ernst & Young Partners and C-Suite Executives Independence protocols has allowed Mark to become a unique resource in his industry.

Mark has been named as one of Forbes’ Best-in-State Next-Gen Wealth Advisors in 2022 & 2023.

Prior to joining Morgan Stanley in 2009, Mark founded a global nonprofit organization, Conquer Together Inc., in 2005. The online-based organization connects those who have been affected by an unexpected illness, both directly and indirectly. The organization was created to deliver the best resources to those in need, in a unique and efficient manner, by leveraging technology, a similar notion to his pairing with The Seminara Group to execute on across all verticals of the firm to provide best in class financial advisory solutions.

Outside of the office, Mark is active in the community, involved in organizations such as Goose Flights, Tomorrow’s Children Fund of New Jersey and the CLRC of Loyola Law School. He has participated in several motivational public speaking engagements in the New York Metro region and has been a guest speaker for professional groups, such as The World Strategic Forum, Life After Sports, Women in Music, AAWIC, and the ABA Sports and Entertainment symposium of Miami.

Mark resides in Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey, with his wife Birdie, daughter Olivia and son Monaco. In his free time, Mark enjoys traveling the world, networking amongst music and sporting events, attending Founder engagements, automobile racing events and spending meaningful time with his family.

2022-2023 Forbes Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors & Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors Best-In-State (formerly referred to as Forbes America's Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors, Forbes Top 1,000 Next-Gen Wealth Advisors, Forbes Top 500 Next Generation Wealth Advisors)
2023 Forbes Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors & Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors Best-In-State
Source: Forbes.com (Awarded Aug 2023) Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on time period from 3/31/22–3/31/23.

A financial services industry veteran of two decades, Jeff Goldsmith works with financially successful individuals and their families, helping them create, implement and maintain highly customized wealth management plans. As a Global Sports and Entertainment Director, Jeff has extensive experience helping professional athletes in the National Football League address the financial challenges and opportunities that are unique to their profession. Jeff also works with select companies, helping them provide benefits to their associates so that they can retain, recruit and reward their employees.

Jeff joined Morgan Stanley in 2008, following five years at Merrill Lynch as a senior partner in The GS Group. Prior to his wealth management career, he spent two decades in a family-owned and -operated manufacturing and wholesale distribution business.

A graduate of the Horace Mann School in Bronx, New York, Jeff received a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Michigan in 1978. A proud Wolverine, he is a mentor with the Michigan Athletic Academic Center, providing guidance and counsel to student-athletes as they prepare for their careers after sports. He served as Mayor of Woodcliff Lake (2012-2015) and sat on several nonprofit boards. Jeff and Amy, his wife, have a son and twin daughters, Justin, Samantha and Allison. They reside in Edwards, Colorado.

James Julich provides comprehensive advisory and wealth management solutions to successful individuals, families and businesses through a needs-based approach with each individual relationship.

Before joining Morgan Stanley in 2015, James was part of the pilot program at JPMorgan Chase, the national launch of the Chase Private Client platform, that focused on serving high net worth individuals, families and businesses with the full suite of investment management, banking and lending services.

James graduated from Rowan University with a BS in business administration with dual degrees in finance and marketing. He was a member of their swim team for four years, and a captain of his junior and senior years. He is also a three-time Ironman finisher. He currently lives in Wellington, Florida, with his wife, Amanda, and his sons, Hunter and Bruce. James enjoys cycling, triathlon, skiing, traveling, and spending his free time with family and friends.

Drawing on seven years of financial services experience, Robby Neill develops, implements and maintains customized financial plans that are tailored to the needs and goals of the individual, family or businesses. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley in 2017, Robby served as an Associate Vice President at Merrill Lynch, focusing on their Health Savings Accounts platform.

Robby is a 2011 graduate of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, where he was a four-year member of the varsity wrestling team and a national qualifier. After graduation, he was selected to serve in the United States Marine Corps as a supply officer. He continued his wrestling career by competing internationally as part of the All Marine Wrestling Team.

Robby lives in Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey, with his wife, Kelly, their daughter, Mackenzie, and their son, Bobby. He is active in the community, serving as both a member of the recreation committee and a volunteer coach with the high school's state championship wrestling team. Robby also volunteers his time as a mentor to student athletes who are interested in military service.

Drawing on more than 25 years of international banking and wealth management experience, Andrella Thomas focuses on relationship development and creating customized asset allocation solutions for founders and C-suite executives. Her goal is to help her clients organize their financial lives so they can focus on what they love to do, whether it is building their career or business or spending time with family. She takes a comprehensive approach to providing solutions for education, retirement, asset preservation and legacy planning, seeking to build long and productive relationships with each client she serves.

Andrella has received several awards and recognitions, such as CEO Culture Hero and Top National Branch and Relationship Manager. She also holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC^®) and Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) designations. She has a master’s degree in finance and commerce, and recently completed the Executive Leadership program at Stanford University. Andrella also speaks five languages and is engaged in Diversity and Inclusion causes in the community.

Andrella lives in Princeton, New Jersey, with her spouse of 25 years and two adorable daughters, ages 19 and 13. She enjoys giving back to the community through the Chamber of Commerce and the largest nonprofit Pan-Asian membership organization for business professionals and executives in North America, ASCEND. Her initiative within ASCEND is focused on making a positive impact in diversity and inclusion. She loves to read, yoga and creating new cuisine dishes with her daughters in her spare time.

Rebecca De Jesus started her career with Morgan Stanley in 2000 and has been with The Seminara Group since 2001. Rebecca gained extensive knowledge of the firm’s resources while running administration for the group, which she now draws upon to provide clients with customized financial planning and investment management solutions. These efforts include portfolio construction, providing access to cash management and lending solutions and delivering overall lifestyle management services.

Rebecca lives with her family in Westfield, New Jersey. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her large family and close friends.

Meredith Tierney runs administration for The Seminara Group, overseeing all aspects of account maintenance for both institutional and private wealth clients. Meredith’s primary focus is on delivering a first-class service experience by managing and responding to client needs and requests. Her areas of responsibilities also include initiating and servicing managed accounts on the consulting group platform.

Prior to joining the group in 2015, Meredith held accounting positions at a logistics company, a construction company and a local CPA firm. She earned her accounting degree from Lehigh University in 1998.

Meredith lives in Sparta, New Jersey, with her husband, Patrick, and their two children, William and Madison. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, scuba diving and spending time with family and friends.

Drawing on more than 10 years of experience as a Financial Advisor and Analyst, Anthony Farina is dedicated to delivering a first-class service experience to clients of The Seminara Group. Anthony works to gain a robust understanding of each client’s needs so he can leverage the resources of the firm to deliver appropriate solutions. He is proud to assist successful business owners, executives and their families in the pursuit of their most important goals.

Anthony lives in Randolph, New Jersey, with his wife, Jennifer, and his two daughters, Savannah and Milena. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, he is passionate about food and wine. One of his favorite things to do is dine out with his loved ones and cook on the weekends.

Responsible for a broad range of operational and administrative duties, Janine McCoy contributes to an outstanding overall service experience for clients of The Seminara Group. Janine serves as the team concierge, organizing client off-site events, family meetings and travel. She also prepares customized presentations for these events and manages all expenses incurred by the team.

Janine began her career with Morgan Stanley in 2015 as a Service Associate in the firm’s Operations department, and joined The Seminara Group in 2018. Earlier in her career, she spent many years working as an Administrative Assistant for a private investigator.

Janine received her associate degree from County College of Morris. She and her husband, Kevin, live in Mine Hill, New Jersey, and have five children, Brian, Erin, Luke, Jillian and Shane. Janine is passionate about anything relating to animals and music. She also enjoys spending time in the outdoors and anything that involves being with her family and friends.

Christina’s primary responsibilities include Alternative Investment Operations and managing key marketing initiatives for the team. She is dedicated to delivering top-tier service to our private wealth clients, addressing their unique needs and requests with care and precision.

Christina brings extensive experience from the financial services industry and has a strong track record of supporting clients with their financial needs and goals. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Kean University.

Outside of work, Christina enjoys traveling, dining, and volunteering at her local church. She also values spending time with her husband, family, and friends.

Jarett Greben is a Registered Client Relationship Analyst with The Seminara Group at Morgan Stanley. Prior to joining the team in February 2025, Jarett was a Virtual Engagement Associate at the 1 New York Plaza office in Manhattan, supporting 19 financial advisory teams across the country. Jarett has been with the Firm since 2022 and has built a strong reputation for his ability to synthesize his analytical and creative skillsets to help drive client engagement and strategy.

Jarett is committed to delivering a first-class experience to the clients of The Seminara Group, and he plays a key role in expanding client relationships, identifying new business opportunities, and enhancing the team’s growth strategy. With a strong background in financial services and client engagement, Jarett focuses on developing tailored solutions that align with each client’s specific needs and goals.

Jarett grew up in Great Neck, New York and attended Great Neck South High School. In 2019, he graduated from Hamilton College with a Bachelor of Arts in Literature and was a member of the varsity lacrosse team. Outside of work, Jarett enjoys spending quality time with family and friends. He is an avid New York Islanders fan and plays hockey several days a week; he also enjoys playing guitar and piano, photography, and collecting sports cards and memorabilia. Jarett is passionate about giving back to the community and spearheaded the video game therapy program for Oncology patients at Northwell Health.