An independent investment firm continuing a 100-year legacy of wealth management.

William G. Spears, CFA

Chairman and co-founder of Spears Abacus, Bill is a portfolio manager and chairs our firm’s Investment Committee. He has long experience serving as trusted advisor to clients and managing portfolios over multiple market cycles. Bill facilitates the collegial exchange of ideas and effective execution of our investment process.

Bill began his career at Loeb, Rhoades & Company in 1962 and was named a General Partner in 1970. In 1972, Bill founded Spears, Benzak, Salomon & Farrell. After SBSF was purchased by KeyCorp, Bill became Chairman of KeyCorp Asset Management. In 1999, Bill founded Spears, Grisanti & Brown.

Bill received a BA degree from Princeton University in 1960, a MBA from Harvard Business School in 1962 and is a CFA charterholder.

T 212-230-9840
E wspears@spearsabacus.com

Robert M. Raich, CPA

Rob co-founded Spears Abacus in 2007, and continues as President and Chief Investment Officer of Abacus and Associates, Inc. He serves as our President and functions as a portfolio manager, analyst and client advisor. In addition to portfolio management, he has extensive experience in tax strategy, corporate finance, trust and estate administration, and financial planning.

Rob began his career at Price Waterhouse LLP, where he served on audit teams for a number of Fortune 500 corporations. He continued his practice in accounting as a Principal at Raich, Ende, Malter LLP from 1998-2000. Rob joined Abacus & Associates Inc. in 2001 and was named President and Chief Investment Officer in 2002.

Rob received a BS in Accountancy from Arizona State University in 1992 and a MBA from Columbia Business School in 1998.

T 212-230-9813
E rraich@spearsabacus.com

Paul F. Pfeiffer

Paul joined Spears Abacus as a Principal, portfolio manager and equity analyst in 2009. He has spent his entire career in the investment management business and has managed client portfolios since 1977. Paul’s long experience and growth-oriented perspective add depth to our team.

Paul began his career in 1972 as an analyst in the Investment Services Department of Goldman Sachs & Company. In 1977, the business was reorganized as an affiliate of Goldman Sachs called McCowan Associates. Paul was promoted to Partner and subsequently worked for the new entity as a portfolio manager and analyst for over 20 years. In 2002, after four years as a Partner with Eagle Growth Investors, Paul joined MB Investment Partners as lead manager of the firm’s Growth Equity Strategy.

Paul received a BA degree from the University of Washington in 1972 and a MBA from New York University Stern School of Business in 1975.

T 212-230-9845
E ppfeiffer@spearsabacus.com

Stephen H. Frank

Steve joined Spears Abacus in 2009 as a Principal, leading our business development and client services effort. He also serves on our Investment Committee. Formerly the senior partner of a multi-generation family business, Steve brings peer experience to our client services practice. His career has focused on public equity markets since 1991.

Steve began his career as a corporate finance Associate at Kidder Peabody in 1987. In 1989, he became a General Partner at Jacobson Partners, a New York private equity firm. In 1991, Steve joined Walter N. Frank & Co., his family’s New York Stock Exchange specialist business and was elevated to co-Managing Partner in 1995. In 2002, Spear Leeds & Kellogg Specialists (a division of Goldman Sachs) acquired Walter N. Frank & Co. Steve was subsequently promoted to Vice Chairman and appointed Floor Governor of the NYSE.

Steve received a BA degree from Duke University in 1985, and a MBA from Columbia Business School in 1987.

James E. (“Jeb”) Breece, CFA

Jeb is an original member of the Spears Abacus team and a Principal in the firm. He is a portfolio manager, equity analyst and a member of our Investment Committee. While Jeb’s primary focus is organizing our equity research efforts he is also a significant contributor to our corporate credit research. He became a CFA charterholder in 2009.

Jeb received a BA from Kenyon College in 2004.

T 212-230-9812
E jbreece@spearsabacus.com

Tej Ahluwalia

Tej joined Spears Abacus in 2021 as a trader and investment research analyst. Tej is responsible for executing portfolio trades and assisting in the implementation and management of the firm’s investment strategies. He prepares daily macroeconomic and research briefings on our portfolio holdings and monitored securities.

Prior to joining Spears Abacus, Tej was a Trader and Senior Investment Analyst at Bank of America Merrill Lynch starting in 2018. He began his career in 2016 at Stephens Inc in sales and trading.

Tej received a BS in Applied Mathematics from Emory University in 2015 and was awarded the Accredited Portfolio Management Advisor designation in 2018.

T 212-230-9857
E tahluwalia@spearsabacus.com

Michele Cleary

Michele Cleary joined Spears Abacus in 2013. She is a Principal and Director of Operations and Administration. Her primary role is to focus on our operations and client service function. She manages our trade, settlement and compliance operations. Michele began her career at Ark Asset Management. She worked in various roles there, and was the Director of Client Administration prior to her departure in 2009. Michele joined Lazard Wealth Management in 2009 as the Director of Operations where she was responsible for building and managing all operational aspects of the start-up wealth management business.

Michele received a BA from Rutgers University in 1983.

Check the background of this investment professional on FINRA’s BrokerCheck at http://brokercheck.finra.org

T 212-230-9865
E mcleary@spearsabacus.com

Marge MacLennan

Marge joined Spears Abacus in 2007. She is a Principal and Chief Financial Officer. Her primary role is ensuring clients continue to experience the competent administrative service they have come to expect from us. Marge and her staff fulfill requests for transfers, reports, and information with care and diligence.

Starting with Spears, Benzak, Salomon and Farrell in 1986, Marge has dedicated her career to investment management finance and administration.

Marge received a BA and a MBA from the University of Connecticut in 1982 and 1991, respectively.

T 212-230-9842
E mmaclennan@spearsabacus.com

John V. Raggio, CFA

John joined Spears Abacus in 2008 as a bond analyst and portfolio manager. He is a Principal in the firm. John’s credit background and perspective add value to the firm’s investment capability in stocks as well as bonds.

Prior to joining Spears Abacus, John was a Portfolio Associate at BNY Mellon starting in 2006.

John received a BA from the University of Richmond in 2006 and a Certificate in Investment Banking from New York University in 2008. He became a CFA charterholder in 2013.

T 212-230-9859
E jraggio@spearsabacus.com

Robert P. Morgenthau

Bob joined Spears Abacus as a Principal in 2011. His wide-ranging responsibilities include portfolio management, client advisory services, and business development. Bob is a member of the Investment Committee.

Bob started his investment career as a portfolio manager at Shearson/American Express in 1982 and moved to Lazard Freres & Co. in 1990 in the same capacity. He was named partner in 1993 and became global head of distribution of Lazard Asset Management. After a brief stint as President of Private Advisory Services at Bank of America, Bob founded NorthRoad Capital Management, an international and global equity manager, which he sold to Madison Investment Advisors at the end of 2010.

Bob received a BA from Amherst College in 1979.

T 212-230-9853
E bob@spearsabacus.com

Alina M. Carlson

Alina joined Spears Abacus in 2016 and is a Client Service and Planning Manager. She is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional. Her role includes working with clients on financial planning, tracking client data and client reporting.

Alina was previously a Client Administration Associate at The Permal Group, now EnTrust Global, beginning in 2011. She coordinated the onboarding and maintenance of funds and direct client accounts across the firm.

Alina received a BA from St. Lawrence University in 2011.

CFP Board owns the marks CFP^® and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ in the U.S.

T 212-230-9858
E acarlson@spearsabacus.com

Daniel J. Wetchler, CFA

Daniel joined Spears Abacus in 2020 as a Senior Analyst. His responsibilities span the entire investment process including idea generation, equity research, stock selection, and portfolio management for our Opportunistic Equity, MidCap Opportunities and Small Cap Dividend Growth strategies.

Prior to joining Spears Abacus, Daniel was a Senior Analyst at Integre Asset Management, LLC. He began his career in 2010 as an Equity Research Associate covering the financials sector at Evercore Partners.

Daniel received a BA in Economics from the University of Michigan in 2010 and became a CFA charterholder in 2014.

T 212-230-9862
E dwetchler@spearsabacus.com

Manny Weintraub, CFA

Manny joined Spears Abacus as a Principal in 2020. He is the portfolio manager for the Opportunistic Equity, MidCap Opportunities and Small Cap Dividend Growth equity strategies and has over thirty years’ experience on Wall Street.

Manny started his investment career as an analyst for Shelby Cullom Davis & Co. in 1990 and moved to the Davis Funds in 1993 in the same capacity. In 1998, he joined Neuberger Berman as a portfolio manager with the group that managed Roy Neuberger’s personal wealth. In 2000, Manny was promoted to Managing Director. In 2004, he founded Integre Asset Management, a domestic equity manager that joined forces with Spears Abacus in 2020.

Manny received a BA from the University of Pennsylvania in 1983 and is a CFA charterholder.

T 212-230-9811
E mweintraub@spearsabacus.com

Lisa Kennedy

Since joining Spears Abacus in 2014, Lisa has brought her skills to a wide range of projects and functions. In addition to her primary role as Executive Assistant to the Chairman and the Chief Financial Officer, Lisa keeps the office running efficiently and is involved in various aspects of client support.

Prior to Spears Abacus, Lisa’s career as an Administrative Professional encompassed various industries, including insurance, publishing, human resources and financial services.

Lisa was educated in Southern Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States. She graduated magna cum laude with a BA from the University of California, Irvine in 1998, and was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society the same year.

T 212-230-9841
E lkennedy@spearsabacus.com

Jeannie Woo

Jeannie joined Spears Abacus in 2020 with the role of Operations Manager. She oversees daily operations and client administration.

Jeannie started working as a Portfolio Administrator at Neuberger Berman, LLC in 2000, where she was a Client Liaison and Administrative Assistant. In 2004, she joined Integre Asset Management, LLC, working in various roles ranging from Senior Portfolio Administrator to eventually becoming Vice President of Operations. Integre joined forces with Spears Abacus in 2020.

Jeannie received a BA degree in Marketing Management from Baruch College in 1999.

T 212-230-9828
E jwoo@spearsabacus.com

Diana Massey

Diana joined Spears Abacus as a Portfolio Administrator in 2009. She has a pivotal role as a part of the operations and settlement team where she is responsible for a dedicated group of client accounts.

Diana began her career as a Portfolio Assistant at Hudson Capital Advisors in 1986. In 1997, she joined John Levin and Company and was a Senior Portfolio Administrator prior to her departure in late 2006. In early 2008, she joined MB Investment Partners as a member of the Operations and Settlements team.

Diana earned her AAS in Data Processing from the Borough of Manhattan Community College in 1986.

T 212-230-9850
E dmassey@spearsabacus.com