Private Ocean Expands Leadership Structure

Wealth management firm defines new chairman and CEO roles

SAN RAFAEL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Marin-County-based wealth management firm Private Ocean has evolved its leadership structure to offer clients greater continuity of service, for themselves and future generations. As part of the move, co-founder Richard Stone, CFP®, CLU, has assumed the newly created role of chairman. Private Ocean co-founder Greg Friedman, MS, CFP® has taken the role of chief executive officer, effective January 1, 2013.

“This new leadership model is a pre-meditated part of that forward-looking vision.”

"We have worked for years to provide our clients with truly multi-generation wealth management," said Stone. "This new leadership model is a pre-meditated part of that forward-looking vision."

"At Private Ocean, we're always trying to anticipate our clients' future needs," said Friedman. "Now, in addition to exceptional planning and investing services, they can count on exceptional consistency and continuity."

About Richard Stone

Richard Stone began his career more than 40 years ago, when the financial planning industry was in its infancy. He graduated with the first class of Certified Financial Planners in 1973, and co-authored the industry’s first code of ethics. A tireless advocate for client rights and transparency, Stone has worked to establish the highest possible ethical standards for the financial services industry. His contributions to the industry were recognized in 2011 when he received the prestigious Schwab IMPACT® Leadership Award.

As Chairman, Stone will continue to serve Private Ocean and the community. He is a board member at Dominican University of California. He sits on the Global Business Council at San Jose State University, the U.C. Berkeley Extension Personal Financial Planning Advisory Board, and serves as a member of the North Bay advisory board of Presidio Bank. Stone also is a frequent speaker at universities and conferences.

About Greg Friedman

Greg Friedman is a 20-year veteran of the financial services industry. He is recognized nationally as an innovator in personal financial planning, and in the use of technology to create high levels of client service. In addition to his role as CEO of Private Ocean, Friedman is president and founder of Junxure, a practice improvement firm that combines technology, training and consulting to help financial advisors streamline operations, deliver new levels of client service and grow their practices intelligently.

Friedman created Junxure to satisfy his passion for maintaining the highest levels of personal service as his previous wealth management firm, Friedman & Associates, experienced rapid growth. First released in 2001, Junxure has become the industry standard for wealth managers. In 2007, Friedman & Associates earned the coveted Schwab IMPACT Award for Best-in-Tech. Friedman appears frequently as a featured speaker at major industry events.

About Private Ocean

Private Ocean is a wealth management firm deliberately structured to give clients the intimate experience of a small firm, while harnessing the power, depth and discipline of a much larger one. The 23-person Private Ocean team seamlessly integrates personal financial planning and institutional-class investing. Private Ocean clients interact directly with a tight-knit team of specialists led by recognized industry leaders and pioneers in planning, investing, ethics and technology.

Formed in 2009, Private Ocean (www.privateocean.com) combined two of the oldest privately-held wealth management firms in the San Francisco Bay Area – Salient Wealth Management and Friedman & Associates. Founded by Richard Stone and Greg Friedman, the firm has over $750 million in assets under management. Private Ocean works with business owners, senior executives, and other affluent individuals with a minimum of $2 million to invest.

Photos of Private Ocean executives available on request. Email [e-mail] or call 415-526-2904.