Roger B. Palley Joins First Foundation as Managing Director of Equity Investments

IRVINE, CA--(Marketwire - December 1, 2009) - Roger B. Palley brings experience and acumen honed by 45 years in the investment business to First Foundation, a 20-year-old financial institution providing wealth management, consulting, trust and banking services. At First Foundation's affiliate, First Foundation Advisors (FFA), Palley will serve as Managing Director of Equity Investments.

"Roger's tremendous background and excellent track record in managing equity portfolios will complement our experienced equity team. We are very excited Roger has chosen First Foundation Advisors," said First Foundation CEO Rick Keller, CFP®.

Before joining FFA, Palley was a managing director of Neuberger Berman Group, LLC, a leading asset management firm where his primary responsibilities included portfolio management, research and analysis of economic trends and industries for both equity and fixed income investments.

"First Foundation Advisors has been a successful money management firm for 20 years, has an excellent reputation and is known for its high quality team of investment professionals," said Palley.

"It is very exciting to be able to take my investment philosophy, capabilities and track record to First Foundation and combine our efforts to expand the investment research group with my economic research and portfolio management approach."

Previously, Palley was the Vice President and National Director of Value Strategies of Wells Fargo Asset Management, where he managed $15 billion in assets. His experience includes 14 years as president of Palley-Needelman Asset Management Inc. in Newport Beach, Calif., where he was the firm's senior investment officer and head of the investment committee.

"Roger's distinguished career in investment management stretches from Wall Street to Southern California," said Scott Kavanaugh, CEO and chairman of the Board of Directors of First Foundation Bank. "He brings a wealth of expertise and proven investment savvy to First Foundation."

Following his graduation from the University of Denver in 1964, Palley launched his career on Wall Street with Dreyfus and Oppenheimer & Co. He moved to Southern California in 1970 to become a portfolio manager and analyst with the Title Insurance & Trust Company.

In addition to his degree in business administration from Denver, Palley holds a master's degree in finance from California State Long Beach as well as a master's degree in accounting from the University of Southern California. He was awarded the CFA designation in 1974.

Married with three children, Palley was an active member of the board and of the investment committee of South Coast Repertory Theatre and currently serves on the endowment committee for Southern Methodist University.

About First Foundation Inc.

First Foundation offers wealth management, consulting, trust and banking products and services through its wholly owned subsidiaries, First Foundation Advisors, a registered investment advisor, and First Foundation Bank. First Foundation has been providing financial services to the California market for 20 years. For information visit www.firstfoundationinc.com.

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