IRVINE, CA--(Marketwire - March 8, 2010) - With more than two decades of experience in the investment industry, Louis P. Abel, CFA, CAIA, joins First Foundation Advisors (FFA), an Orange County-based wealth management firm, as a Managing Director. Abel is part of a team that will open a new full banking and advisory office for First Foundation in Pasadena. Prior to joining FFA, Abel was a senior vice president and senior portfolio manager with U.S. Trust in Los Angeles, Calif. His responsibilities included managing portfolios on behalf of family offices, high net worth clients, foundations and endowments, and corporate pension and profit sharing plans.
"I'm delighted to be joining FFA, particularly at this exciting time when the firm is expanding its presence in key markets," Abel said. "The firm is unique in that it provides the personalized service of a small boutique, but with a comprehensive wealth management offering and world-class investment platform. Few firms can match this successful combination that is so highly sought after by private banking clients today."
Abel's prior experience includes serving as a vice president and senior portfolio manager for Wells Fargo Private Asset Management in Beverly Hills, where he managed private client accounts for high net worth individuals, family offices, and foundations. He was a senior portfolio manager with Husic Capital Management in San Francisco, managing both institutional accounts and private client accounts.
In addition, for more than 10 years, Abel was a portfolio manager and analyst with Engemann Asset Management in Pasadena, California. While at Engemann, he spearheaded the development of the firm's international investment strategy. As part of this effort, he managed global mutual funds and private client accounts and was responsible for all of the firm's international investments. Subsequently, he served as a portfolio manager for the firm's small- and mid-cap investment strategies. He was also a member of Engemann's large-cap investment team with research responsibility for the consumer staples sector.
"FFA is extremely pleased to have Lou join our executives in building a first-class investment management team which manages in excess of $1.3 billion," said John Hakopian, president and CIO of FFA. "This allows First Foundation to expand its presence into the greater Los Angeles area."
Abel earned an MBA degree in international finance, graduating with honors, from The Anderson School of Management at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and received a bachelor's degree in economics with minors in political science and history from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). In addition, he attended the Stanford University Executive Program on Investment Management.
Abel holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and the Chartered Alternative Investments Analyst (CAIA) designation. He is a member of the CFA Institute, the CFA Society of Los Angeles and the CAIA Association.
About First Foundation
First Foundation is a 20-year-old financial institution that provides integrated wealth management, consulting, trust and banking services. For more information visit www.ff-inc.com.
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