Michael has over 31 years of experience working with private clients in the investment management industry. In March of 2011, Michael and his colleagues joined Wells Fargo Advisors in Walnut Creek, California. Michael entered the investment industry in 1992 with Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., Inc., the firm with which he spent the majority of his career. While at Bernstein, Michael worked entirely within the Global Private Client Group in New York, Los Angeles, and ultimately San Francisco. In 1997, he became a Partner in the firm.
In San Francisco, Michael was integral in establishing and opening one of the firm’s most successful offices at the time. His practice while at Bernstein was entirely focused on helping private clients create, manage, and transition their wealth. During his time at Bernstein, Michael managed over $1.1 billion in client assets while serving clients in multiple states across the nation. In 2004, Michael joined Merrill Lynch’s Global Private Client Group. While at Merrill Lynch, he continued to serve his clients while also training a significant number of the firm’s top advisors on his approach to ascertaining client goals and translating those goals into the most effective wealth plan.
In 2009 and 2010, he was ranked among Barron’s Top 100 Financial Advisors in California (1). In 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 he was named to the Best in State Wealth Advisors by Forbes (2). Michael has been recognized as a Platinum Council advisor (3) each year since joining Wells Fargo Advisors from 2011-2023.
Michael is a 1988 graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles. He and his wife, Vicki, live in Diablo, California. They have two sons, Joey and Will, who also work in the finance industry. As a family, they enjoy playing and watching sports particularly baseball, basketball and tennis, hiking in the Sierras, and travelling to new places.
(1) 2009 Barron’s Top 100 Financial Advisors: Awarded April 2009; Data Compiled by Barron's based on the time period from Jan. 2008 - Dec. 2008 (Source: Barrons.com). 2010 Barron’s Top 100 Financial Advisors: Awarded April 2010; Data Compiled by Barron's based on the time period from Jan. 2009 - Dec. 2009 (Source: Barrons.com). The Barron's Top 100 Financial Advisors ratings are based on the previous year's assets under management, revenue generated for the advisors' firms, and the quality of the advisors' practices. Investment performance isn't an explicit factor because clients have varied goals and risk tolerances. Self-completed questionnaire was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria.
(2) 2023 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors: Awarded April 2023; Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on the time period from 6/30/21 - 6/30/22 (Source: Forbes.com). 2022 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors: Awarded April 2022; Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on the time period from 6/30/20 - 6/30/21 (Source: Forbes.com). 2021 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors: Awarded February 2021; Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on the time period from 6/30/19 - 6/30/20 (Source: Forbes.com). 2020 Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors: Awarded January 2020; Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on the time period from 6/30/18 - 6/30/19 (Source: Forbes.com). The Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors rating algorithm is based on the previous year's industry experience, interviews, compliance records, assets under management, revenue and other criteria by SHOOK Research, LLC. Investment performance is not a criterion. Self-completed survey was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria.
(3) The Platinum Council (previously known as Premier Advisor) distinction is held by a select group of Financial Advisors within Wells Fargo Advisors as measured by completion of educational components, business production based on the past year, and professionalism. Additional criteria, best practices and team structure, may also be used to determine recipients.