Manhattan West

Angie Spielman is a Founding Partner and Managing Director at Manhattan West, where she provides wealth management services to high-net-worth private clients, corporations, and non-profit institutions. She has developed a focus on helping women secure financial independence, emphasizing financial education. She began her career at Bloomberg before joining J.P. Morgan Asset Management, and later worked in commercial and business banking at Bank of America and J.P. Morgan Chase. She holds a bachelor's degree in political science and economics from New York University.

Aram Adajian is Executive Director of Venture Capital at Manhattan West, with over a decade of experience across asset management, venture capital, and public/private partnerships. Before Manhattan West, he served on the Los Angeles Mayor's International Trade and Investment team, working with international delegations from the UAE, ASEAN, EU, and UK on global capital and public-private investment initiatives. He focuses on deep technology companies, particularly in AI/ML, defense, and space.

Francois Schramek is a Partner and Managing Director at Manhattan West who advises ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, and institutions on asset allocation, portfolio construction, and wealth planning. He has more than 15 years of experience at firms including J.P. Morgan, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, and a large multi-family office, and began his career in investment banking advising on M&A and capital markets transactions. He holds a bachelor's degree from the European Business School in Germany and an MBA from USC's Marshall School of Business, and is a CFA charterholder.

Matt Gibbons is Managing Director of Private Equity at Manhattan West, where he founded the Private Equity division in 2019 and oversees investment strategy, portfolio management, and deal selection. He previously managed private equity investments at Saban Capital Group across media, entertainment, business services, and consumer sectors, and earlier worked as an investment banker at Houlihan Lokey. He holds a degree in Economics from Harvard University.

Michael Galanowsky is Managing Director of Portfolio Management at Manhattan West, where he leads the portfolio management department with a focus on public equity and fixed income, working alongside the firm's financial advisors on client portfolio solutions. He previously served as a Director and Senior Portfolio Manager at One Capital Management, sitting on the investment committee and co-managing two exchange traded funds, and began his career at Promethean Asset Management, where he became Head Trader. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Villanova University and the CFA designation.

Kaden Funk is a Vice President on the Private Equity team at Manhattan West, where he leads industry and market research, evaluates investment opportunities, executes transactions, and handles portfolio management and operations. He previously worked in Mergers and Acquisitions at Wasserman Media Group and as an investment banker at Credit Suisse, focusing on leveraged finance for financial sponsors and real estate and gaming transactions. He holds a degree from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania with concentrations in Finance and Management.

Lorenzo Esparza is the Chief Executive Officer and Founding Principal at Manhattan West, where he oversees strategic direction and day-to-day operations while chairing the firm's Investment Committee. He has capitalized and led private investment funds across real estate, venture capital, and private equity/credit, and serves as general partner or managing member of over 30 investment funds. Before founding Manhattan West, he worked in financial services at AllianceBernstein and JP Morgan Securities; he holds a BA from UC Santa Barbara and a JD from Loyola Law School.

Head of Equities leading bespoke public-equity strategies across discretionary and advisory portfolios. He brings over two decades of banking and finance experience, including 18 years in asset management across Hong Kong, Singapore, and Tokyo.

Bill Ryan is the Chief Compliance Officer at Manhattan West, overseeing the firm's adherence to external regulatory and legal requirements as well as internal policies. He previously worked in the client service group at Nuveen Investments and held operations and compliance roles at Argosy Wealth Management and Steel Peak Wealth Management, serving as Chief Compliance Officer. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Arizona.

Investment Operations Associate who previously worked at Morgan Stanley as a registered client service representative.

Brandon Allen is an Executive Director and Financial Advisor at Manhattan West with over 18 years of experience advising high-net-worth individuals, families, business owners, and family offices on wealth management, portfolio construction, asset allocation, and risk. He has particular expertise with concentrated equity positions, tax-aware liquidity, and diversification. Before Manhattan West, he worked at RBC Capital Markets and Morgan Stanley, and he holds a BA in Economics from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Bryan Chay is a Senior Analyst on the Venture Capital team at Manhattan West, supporting the firm's investments in growth companies across technology and emerging industries. He started at the firm as an Alternative Investments Intern and previously worked in investment banking and private markets, including with Ant Group, with exposure to Asia-Pacific and Greater China markets. He earned a B.S. in Business Administration with a Finance concentration from the University of Southern California and previously served in the Singapore Armed Forces.

Calvin Bui is an Associate Portfolio Manager on the Portfolio Management team at Manhattan West, working with financial advisors to support client financial goals. He previously worked in banking and wealth management, overseeing portfolios exceeding $1.5 billion in assets under management. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from California State University, Fullerton, and is pursuing the CFA designation.

Carol Yee is a Senior Client Associate at Manhattan West, where she supports high-net-worth private clients and Financial Advisors with client onboarding, account setup, maintenance, and investment management. She previously worked at NWQ and several wealth management firms. She holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of Utah and a Master's degree from Emerson College.

DaNeisha Nichols is a Senior Director of Real Estate at Manhattan West, where she oversees the firm's real estate operations and provides operational support to the Real Estate Team and its underlying funds. Before joining the firm, she spent over a decade in management roles at a publicly traded retail company, handling sales, budgets, profit and loss, payroll, inventory, and operational audits. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Xavier University of Louisiana.

Gabriel Garcia is Chief Financial Officer at Manhattan West, overseeing accounting, financial reporting, audit, and strategic planning for the firm and its affiliated entities. He previously worked at Oakmont Corporation (handling finances for the Cabo del Sol development), Saban Capital Group, Silver Canyon, Platinum Equity, and began his career at KPMG in audit and transaction services. He is a CPA and holds a BA in Business Economics from UCLA and an MBA in Finance and Entrepreneurship from The Wharton School.

Jim McCoy is the Chief Operating Officer at Manhattan West, overseeing the firm's operations and business development, and serves on its Executive Committee. He began his career at J.P. Morgan providing research and capital markets support, later co-founded an alternative investment firm where he served as COO through the 2008 financial crisis, and has held senior roles at several investment firms. He holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in Business and English Literature from the University of Washington.

Justin McCurdy is a Managing Director and Financial Advisor at Manhattan West, where he offers wealth management services including retirement, tax, and estate planning, budgeting, cash management, and investment management. He holds the CFP designation and previously worked at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management and Advice Period. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Communications with a minor in Accounting/Finance from the University of Southern California, and founded Pro Skills, a youth basketball mentorship program in Southern California.

Larry Rollins, CFP®, is a Managing Director and Financial Advisor at Manhattan West, providing wealth management and investment services with more than 30 years of experience serving clients such as hedge fund managers, private equity partners, business owners, executives, and families. His work covers retirement, tax, and estate planning, cash management, and investment management. Before Manhattan West, he held leadership roles at A.G. Edwards & Sons and Fidelity Investments, and he holds a B.S. in Political Science and Government from California State University, Northridge.

Patrick McDonald is a Managing Director and Financial Advisor at Manhattan West, where he offers financial planning services to corporate executives, business owners, and high-net-worth clients. He previously worked as a Senior Wealth Advisor at MAI Capital Management and a Wealth Advisor at Goldman Sachs, and has a background in tax preparation. He holds a Bachelor of Science in finance from California State University, Fresno, and an MBA from the University of California, Irvine, and is a CFP professional pursuing the Enrolled Agent certification.

Rob Wussler is an Executive Director and Financial Advisor at Manhattan West, where he provides wealth management services to high-net-worth private clients. He previously held senior positions at several global media enterprises and serves as a Senior Advisor to two vertically integrated technology companies, with a background spanning media, technology, and analytics. He has been an investor with Manhattan West since its formation and has completed eight residential real estate development projects. He holds a bachelor's degree from Hobart College.

Simone Ysaguirre is a Client Service Associate at Manhattan West, where she manages asset movement, client onboarding, and ongoing client service. She previously worked as a Client Service Associate, Credit Specialist, and Financial Planning Analyst in financial services. She holds a B.A. in Economics from Loyola Marymount University and an MBA in Finance from California State University, Los Angeles.

Human Resources Business Partner managing HR functions and supporting stakeholders.

Terry Tsolakis is a Client Service Associate at Manhattan West, where he coordinates asset movements, handles new client onboarding, and supports ongoing client service needs. He previously spent more than fifteen years at Wells Fargo Advisors as a Senior Registered Client Associate and Branch Liaison, building experience in asset and wealth management, client service, and office administration. He was educated in Australia, graduating from Blaxland High School in New South Wales, and trained as an electrical apprentice at Mount Druitt Technical College.

Tiffany McGuirk is the Director of Operations at Manhattan West, joining from a boutique long volatility quantitative registered investment advisory firm where she served as Director of Trade Operations. She has nearly 30 years of buy-side and sell-side client service and operations experience, including roles at Nuveen, Steal Peak Wealth Management, Barclays, Pershing, and Bear Stearns. She holds a BA in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Southern California.

Tiffany Sum is a Client Service Associate at Manhattan West who works with financial advisors and cross-departmental staff to support the client experience. She started her career at a hedge fund and later held client-facing roles at two RIA firms, serving as a liaison between clients and advisors. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Entrepreneurship & International Business from Loyola Marymount University and is pursuing an MBA with a finance concentration at the same institution.

Vik Sasi is Chief Strategy Officer at Manhattan West, where he oversees corporate strategy, business development, partnerships, strategic investments, and acquisitions, and leads the firm's inaugural Digital Assets fund. He previously worked on deals at Dreamers, TMC Tech Fund, AmFam Ventures, and Healthbox, and serves as Chief Instructor of Venture Capital at Wall Street Oasis. Earlier in his career he advised Haiti's Ministry of Health and worked as an analyst with the Clinton Foundation. He holds a BA in Biology from Washington University in St. Louis and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Yolanda Hirang is the Real Estate Controller at Manhattan West, where she oversees real estate financial operations, investment accounting and reporting, and regulatory compliance. She has over 20 years of real estate finance and accounting experience, having previously worked at Staley Point Capital, MJW Investments, and Cohen Asset Management. She is a licensed CPA in the Philippines and holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Accounting from the University of Nueva Caceres.

CFA charterholder with 20 years in finance and 16 in private equity. She previously led the private market investment department at PICC Asset Management Hong Kong and held roles at GF Investments and Excelsior Capital Asia.