Threshold Names New Executive Leadership in Philadelphia Office

Dan Geary hired to oversee firm’s new East Coast office

June 21, 2010

PHILADELPHIA (June 17, 2010) – Threshold Group has hired veteran family office executive Dan Geary to head its East Coast office in Philadelphia. Geary, whose extensive experience has allowed him to build long-lasting, comprehensive wealth management relationships with families, joined Threshold Group as Client Advisor this spring.

Geary previously worked with Convergent Wealth Advisors, was principal of Copper Beech Advisors LLC, and was a senior vice president with the family wealth group at US Trust. Before working at U.S. Trust, Dan was director of client services and executive vice president at Pitcairn Trust Company. He is a graduate of Siena College and earned a law degree from Albany Law School.

Geary’s appointment as leader of the firm’s East Coast office comes several months after Threshold completed an asset acquisition in Philadelphia with Ashbridge Investment Management. In his new role, Geary will serve as client advisor to both his existing and new clients, and will oversee the full-service capabilities of the firm’s Philadelphia office. He will report to Ed Lazar, president of Threshold Group, and will join the firm’s Leadership Team.

“We are excited and proud to be introducing Dan to our associates and our clients,” said Lazar. “Dan brings the insight, technical skills, common sense and relationship-building that are so essential in our work with families. He understands our business and we how we work with our clients – and I know we can learn a few things from him.”

Threshold also has announced several additional staffing changes related to its Philadelphia office:

• Bill Knott, who helped manage Threshold’s transition from the previous Ashbridge office to its current operation, has decided to leave Threshold since the job requirements of his new role do not fully match his past wealth management experiences. “I am very comfortable in departing now that our transition is nearly complete, and I have great respect for Dan Geary’s knowledge, experience and history in dealing with high-net worth families,” said Knott. “I’m able make this change knowing that our office is in very good hands. “In the future, Knott said he expects to return to a professional role that aligns more closely with his past experience.” Prior to his role of managing the transition to Threshold, Knott served as senior client relationship officer at Ashbridge, and retired as a regional president at Wachovia Bank in 2008.
  
  “Bill’s clear-minded leadership during this transition has been invaluable,” said Lazar. “We will miss his contribution to our team, and we wish him continued success in his new endeavors.”


• Threshold has hired Tara A. Duffy as investment advisor in its Philadelphia office. Her role includes recommending, implementing and monitoring investment strategy for Threshold clients. With more than 20 years of experience in investment services, she joins the firm after serving two years as managing director and portfolio manager at Shelterwood Financial Services in New York, NY. Prior to working at Shelterwood, she combined six years as an executive and portfolio manager at Global Hedge Strategies LLC and, previously, the wealth management group at Citigroup Private Bank.

“We are excited to welcome Tara as a new addition to our Philadelphia office and we look forward to introducing her to many of our East Coast clients,” said David Rosenberg, chief investment officer at Threshold.


• Threshold also is working to fill a newly created position of Investment Relationship Manager, which will include responsibility for overseeing a distinct set of client investment strategies and service relationships. For information on this new Philadelphia-based position, refer to Threshold Group's Job Opportunities.

About Threshold Group
Threshold Group is a multi-client family office founded by George and Jane Russell to serve a select community of goal-oriented families. As an independent, family-owned firm, Threshold evaluates the needs of each client family to provide an appropriately customized investment and service plan. With a heritage based on the creation of Russell Investments (formerly Frank Russell Co.), the concept of open architecture and independent due diligence are foundational to Threshold’s culture. Services include a comprehensive range of investment and family wealth services, including global asset allocation; manager-of-manager selection and oversight; financial record-keeping and reporting; estate, tax, financial and philanthropic planning, and wealth education. Threshold originated as a single-family office in 1999, and began working with additional families in 2004. Today the firm employs 45 associates in three offices, and advises on assets of $2.4 billion.
www.thresholdgroup.com

Dan Geary, JD
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Dan draws on extensive experience within the financial planning and wealth management industry to help lead Threshold’s client service capabilities. Based in Philadelphia, he is known for building longlasting, comprehensive client relationships with an emphasis on integration of specialized wealth services. Dan worked previously with Convergent Wealth Advisors and was principal of Copper Beech Advisors LLC. He also was a senior vice president in the Family Wealth Division of U.S. Trust, advising families with substantial wealth and coordinating financial services including estate planning, asset allocation, investment management, financial planning, banking, philanthropic services and family governance. Before working at U.S. Trust, Dan was director of client services and executive vice president at Pitcairn Trust Company. BA from Siena College; JD from Albany Law School. He is a member of the New York State Bar and has held the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Series 7, 63 and 65 licenses.

In his community, Dan serves on the board of trustees and chairs the investment committee for the Chester County Council of the Boy Scouts of America.