Ultra High Net Worth Team Joins Fieldpoint Private

GREENWICH, CT--(Marketwire - Jan 19, 2012) - Fieldpoint Private, the fast-growing private bank & wealth advisory firm serving ultra high net worth families and institutions, announced today that Thomas J. Hakala, Al Jacobi, CFA®, and Joanne Schwind have joined the firm, following more than a decade at Wilmington Trust.

While at Wilmington Trust, the New York City-based team managed financial relationships with 75 wealthy individuals and families, and close to $1 billion in assets. The team is based in Fieldpoint Private's new offices at 400 Park Avenue, which were announced last week.

"Our team's priority over the years has been to provide wealth management advice across the full spectrum of our clients' financial lives, and to do it with complete objectivity and an extraordinary level of customization," said Hakala, who is now a Fieldpoint Private Managing Director.

His partner, Al Jacobi, also a Managing Director, added, "We take this priority very seriously, and we've come to Fieldpoint Private because we need to be sure our practice resides within the firm whose values and resources best match that objective."

Robert S. Matthews, President and CEO of Fieldpoint Private, said that the team represents the best of what the firm's founders -- which include four retired Chairmen of Merrill Lynch & Co. and UBS Americas -- envisioned. "They built this firm not only as a business, but as a source of objective advice for themselves, their families and the institutions they care about most. When you see people like Tom, Al and Joanne choosing to bring their practices here, it suggests that we are proving to be a home for like-minded professionals," Matthews said. "We're proud to welcome them as colleagues."

Thomas J. Hakala, Managing Director
Mr. Hakala is an attorney, CPA, and Personal Financial Specialist, focusing in the design and implementation of sophisticated financial strategies for high net worth clientele. His 30-year career includes roles with Coopers & Lybrand (now PricewaterhouseCoopers), KPMG, UBS and, most recently, Wilmington Trust. He has been published in Estate Planning and Private Banking Journal, and has earned repeated recognition by Worth Magazine as of one of the Top 100 Wealth Advisors in the United States.

Al Jacobi, CFA®, Managing Director
Mr. Jacobi spent more than a decade as Managing Director and senior investment advisor with Wilmington Trust, leading a team of investment specialists to develop highly customized client portfolios. Previously, he worked as a senior investment executive for a large national banking organization, heading a team of investment professionals focused on the needs of wealthy families. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation, an MBA, and is a member of the New York Society of Securities Analysts and the Association of Investment Management and Research.

Joanne Schwind, Vice President
Ms. Schwind joined Fieldpoint Private following more than a decade with Wilmington Trust, where she was responsible for managing significant client relationships throughout the New York region. Her experience includes overseeing the administration of all facets of each of her clients' financial pictures, requiring close coordination with portfolio management, legal, and tax professionals. Prior to Wilmington Trust, Ms. Schwind served in roles with the Private Client groups at UBS and Citibank.

About Fieldpoint Private
Fieldpoint Private Bank & Trust (www.fieldpointprivate.com), with headquarters in Greenwich, Connecticut, is a boutique financial firm providing the highest degree of personalized, confidential wealth planning and private banking services. Catering to highly successful individuals, families, businesses and institutions, Fieldpoint Private offers a powerful combination of wealth management and strategy, family office, private banking and business banking services addressing every financial need for each of our Members including: wealth transfer advice, tax planning, aggregation and performance reporting, risk management, goals-based investing strategies, sophisticated investment selection, discreet and personalized banking, highly customized credit solutions, custom custody and trust solutions, highly attentive/responsive service and concierge services.

Fieldpoint Private Bank & Trust was established in 2008 by 31 Founders with a specific vision and purpose. These extraordinary leaders of industry and community recognized the opportunity to create a financial firm totally attuned to people's individual circumstances. Our firm is built on a philosophy of exclusive Membership and client-centricity. Working with a limited number of relationships gives every person the experience of belonging to an extremely selective group. The result is a new breed of institution established on the basis of personalization, responsiveness, and exclusivity, and an ensured commitment to impeccable service and consistently flawless execution. Our Member-oriented service approach offers a unique client experience custom crafted to each Member's financial needs.