News & Press Releases

Four Wealth Management Experts from First Foundation Inc. Receive Prestigious Orange County Client Satisfaction Award

February 26, 2009

IRVINE, Calif. - Feb. 26, 2009 -- First Foundation Inc., a private Orange County financial firm, is pleased to announce four of its top wealth managers have been awarded the "Five Star: Best in Client Satisfaction Wealth Manager" distinction for 2009 by Orange Coast Magazine – a premier local lifestyle publication.

First Foundation’s award winners include Frank DiFerdinando, CPA, PFS and chief executive officer of First Foundation Advisors, and three executives from The Keller Group Investment Inc.: Neil Amor, CFA and principal, Victoria Collins, Ph.D, CFP, executive vice president and Mark Arblaster, CFP, vice president of The Keller Group Investment Inc.

"Congratulations to our four top executives. We are extremely honored and proud of Frank, Neil, Victoria and Mark, who have received such a prominent award," said Scott Kavanaugh, CEO of First Foundation Bank. "Our goal is to continue to deliver unsurpassed financial service to our clients all in one seamless environment."

With more than two decades of experience in financial planning, DiFerdinando has held executive management positions with well-known wealth management firms serving ultra high-net worth families and family offices. As the former chief operation officer of myCFO, Inc., he managed a team of more than 200 multidisciplinary client service professionals. Prior to myCFO, Inc., DiFerdinando was a partner with Deloitte & Touche, LLP.

A Chartered Financial Analyst, Amor has 15 years of professional experience in the investment field, the last 12 at The Keller Group. He previously worked for The Ayco Company developing comprehensive financial plans for corporate executives of Fortune 500 companies. He also worked in the pension investment area of Pacific Life Insurance Company developing investments for the largest corporate, union and governmental pension plans in the country. Neil serves on the Business Advisory Board of The Child Abuse Prevention Center and the Board of Directors of the Council on Aging of Orange County.

As a certified financial planner, Collins has been named among the Nation's 100 Most Exclusive Wealth Advisors by Robb Report’s Worth Magazine (October 2004). Previously, she was named for six consecutive years among the 250 best financial advisors in the country by Worth Magazine and is listed among the 100 Great Financial Planners (Mutual Funds Magazine, October 2001). She has been interviewed on major radio and TV shows including Good Morning America, Bloomberg; CNBC, MSNBC and CBS's new affiliations; and in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Money, Business Week, Investors Business Daily, The Los Angeles Times, The Orange County Register, and The New York Times.

For more than 22 years, Arblaster has designed and implemented client-specific strategies to meet his client’s unique financial goals. His vast experience includes retirement forecasting, investment portfolio design and financial planning. He joined The Keller Group in 1996 after eight successful years with Associated Planners, where he offered investment management, life/health/disability insurance, retirement plans and estate preservation services for closely-held businesses and trusts.

First Foundation Advisors is a combination of the firm's wealth consulting services that includes estate planning, philanthropic guidance and investment management consulting for families that have a net worth beyond $10 million.

The prestigious “Five Star: Best in Client Satisfaction Wealth Manager” award was conducted through an independent marketing research company on behalf of Orange Coast Magazine. More than 32,000 consumers in the Orange County area were asked to evaluate their wealth managers. In addition, 6,300 financial service executives were asked to evaluate wealth managers that they have worked with on a professional level. The evaluation categories included customer service, integrity, knowledge/expertise, communication, value for fees charged, meets financial objectives, post sales service, quality of recommendations and overall satisfaction. Information about the award winners is scheduled to appear in the March issue of Orange Coast Magazine.

About First Foundation Inc.

First Foundation Inc. is a private financial firm that offers seamless banking, estate planning, wealth management, philanthropic consulting and trust services. This full-service firm provides complete financial management through its affiliates:

First Foundation Bank - a federally chartered bank that offers FDIC-insured deposit accounts, business, personal and commercial lending, insurance services and trust management;

First Foundation Advisors - a national group of consultants offering estate, investment management and philanthropic planning services to families and individuals who have a net worth exceeding $10 million; and

The Keller Investment Group, Inc – a nationally recognized firm providing investment management and financial planning services to high net worth families, trusts and business entities with a minimum investment of $500,000.

First Foundation’s goal is to offer clients a single source to handle their investments, insurance, taxes, estate planning, charitable donations and other financial needs.

About Orange Coast Magazine

Orange Coast magazine is the premier local lifestyle magazine of the region, bringing together Southern California's most affluent coastal communities through smart, fun, and timely editorial content, compelling photographs and quality advertising. Each issue features an award-winning blend of celebrity and newsmaker profiles, service journalism, and authoritative articles on dining, fashion, home design, and travel. As Orange County's only paid subscription local lifestyle magazine with circulation figures guaranteed by the Audit Bureau of Circulation, Orange Coast is the definitive guidebook into Orange County's luxury lifestyle. www.orangecoastmagazine

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