Ben Carlson, CFA®

Director of Institutional Asset Management

How I Arrived at Ritholtz

“I followed Josh and Barry’s work for a number of years before I started writing and they had a huge influence on me. When I began my website I reached out to Josh to share my thoughts on what is wrong with the institutional asset management industry and how I would do things differently. We realized we shared similar values and principles which led me to get to know other team members at RWM. I loved the fact that everyone had a shared vision and I knew this was the perfect firm for me. I joined in late-2015 to build out our institutional and family office division.”

Favorite Part Of The Job

“My favorite part of the job is educating investors and helping them avoid the stress that comes along with money management. Our biggest role is really solving problems for individuals and organizations.”

When I'm Not Working

“Most of my free time is spent reading, and I love to escape in a good suspense novel. Exercise, like jogging, helps me take care of myself physically and clears the mind. My colleague, Michael Batnick and I host a podcast, Animal Spirits, that is some of the most fun I have all week. I love spending time with my wife and three young children doing fun things in my hometown of Grand Rapids, MI, like trips to the zoo and park.”

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.

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