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.”

Industry Experience

40+ Years

Education/Certifications

Bachelors Degree in Financial Management, California University at Long Beach. CTFA (Certifiied Trust and Fiduciary Advisor) designation through the ABA (American Banking Association).

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.

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