Our Team

212 667 4028

David.Schoenkin@opco.com

David Schoenkin is a Managing Director specializing in asset management and generational wealth transfer strategies. David leverages over 30 years of experience in the fi nancial industry to identify and quantify investment opportunities for his clients. David’s experience, coupled with Oppenheimer’s access to the world’s top tier investment teams provides his clients complete and thorough investment advice. David works closely with the Financial Planning Group of Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. and Corporate Executive Services to comprehensively address tax effi cient approaches to acquire, manage and transfer wealth for his clients.

David’s passion for his work is evident not simply in the long hours that he keeps, but in the quality of counsel that he offers his clients. He manages a concierge practice for a limited number of ultra-high net worth individuals, middle market institutions and foundations spread across four continents. David requires a minimum family net worth of $10 million for new business relationships or $50 million in net assets to advise foundations. By keeping his practice limited to a relatively small number of relationships he is able to offer an outstanding service model tailored to each of his client’s specifi c goals.

Through his relationships with many of the country’s top Trust and Estate attorneys, David focuses on multi-generational wealth preservation and family wealth management via the Oppenheimer Trust Company of Delaware. As a licensed insurance broker, David also works with both the Firm’s internal Insurance Department, as well as several outside allied fi rms on custom estate planning strategies. As an investor of his own capital he has followed the same principles for himself as he impresses upon his clients: the value of diversifi cation and a careful balance between risk and return.

David began his career with Oppenheimer as a trainee in 1986 at the Firm’s world headquarters in New York City. He advanced quickly and became a member of the Firm’s Wealth Management Roundtable and an equity partner just three years later. He currently is a member of the Firm’s elite Chairman’s Council. He is recognized by Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors* annual ranking. He is an advisory board member of the Meritage Real Estate Partnership and Olleyes, an ophthalmological medical device company. With a lifetime appreciation for Opera, David also serves on the board of New York City Opera.

Prior to entering the securities business David worked for his family’s scrap iron and metal business in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. He worked his way through the University of Wisconsin in Madison by selling his paintings, where he earned bachelor degrees with distinction in both History and International Relations in 1985.

David is an avid outdoorsman. He has hiked the Inca trail to Machu Picchu, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and driven the western spine of South America solo on a motorcycle. He lives in New York and Sagaponack with his wife Naomi, who is an attorney and member of the New York State Bar Association, and their four children: Sarrah, Akiva, Nathan and Noa. Together they support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the New York City Opera and numerous other causes.

^{*The ranking is based on an algorithm of qualitative and quantitative data for rating thousands of individuals on revenue produced, assets under management, compliance records, and industry experience. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. is not affi iated with Forbes or R.J. Shook Research.}

212 667 4027

Sandy.Lesser@opco.com

SEE ALL LICENSES

Sandy Lesser is a Managing Director at Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. in the firm’s New York City office. Sandy has been in the financial service industry for more than 30 years and he has gained specialized insights which he leverages for the benefit of his clients. His areas of focus are both in professional asset management and corporate executive services.

Sandy’s asset management background focuses on non-correlated market strategies such as alternative investments for qualified investors and fixed income strategies. He strives to achieve risk-adjusted returns that are aligned with each client’s unique goals and objectives. To accomplish this Sandy works in close collaboration with the Firm’s affiliate, Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc., and their financial planning department, as well as with clients’ trust and estate attorneys – helping clients manage and transfer wealth to future generations. Sandy requires a minimum Family Net Worth of $5,000,000 for new business or $25,000,000 in net assets to advise Foundations.

Sandy also works with senior executives of publicly traded companies to diversify their overly concentrated asset base. Through his corporate and executive services work he navigates the complexities related to the public sale of insider, restricted and control securities also sometimes known as 144 transactions. Additionally he assists public companies’ ESOP programs via rule 10B5-1 for affiliates and for non-affiliates of the company, using advanced software programs that are available to companies he works with. He also specializes in rule 10B-18 plans, known as stock buyback programs. Sandy works very closely with the Firm’s investment banking department when his corporate clients are looking for financing or to make an acquisition. Sandy also assists his corporate clients with cash management services as well as 401(k) advisory services.

Sandy started his career at EF Hutton in 1987 and he moved to Oppenheimer in 1991 where he has successfully developed his business.

Sandy attended Fordham University’s Graduate School of Business where he received his Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) in Finance in 1987. He graduated from the University of Maryland in College Park where he received a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Finance in 1985.

He resides with his family in Manhattan. He is passionate about his work with children who have special needs and supports the special needs school, Children’s Academy. He plays tennis and golf and is an avid fan of his favorite New York sports teams.

^{*The ranking is based on an algorithm of qualitative and quantitative data for rating thousands of individuals on revenue produced, assets under management, compliance records, and industry experience. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. is not affi iated with Forbes or R.J. Shook Research.}

212 667 4117

Jake.Moss@opco.com

Connect on LinkedIn

SEE ALL LICENSES

Jacob is an accomplished Financial Advisor with a unique combination of expertise in business strategy, financial planning, and wealth management. As a Director of Investments at Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., he brings along a wealth of experience, insight, and dedication to serving high-net-worth individuals, families, and institutional clients.

Jacob has a deep commitment to understanding and addressing the needs of his clients. With a keen sense of business strategy honed from years of management consulting, he recognizes the challenges and opportunities that arise from complex balance sheets and life-changing financial events. Jacob is adept at simplifying complex financial matters and providing tailored advice, leveraging his diverse background and analytical skills to create strategies that align with his clients' overall goals.

Utilizing analytical, economic, and technical tools, Jacob recommends proprietary wealth strategies that are comprehensive yet easily understandable. As a member of the Schoenkin Lesser Group Investment Committee, his responsibilities include overseeing investment manager selection, due diligence, model portfolio analytics, and enhancing the client experience with advanced technology and communication.

With Oppenheimer's extensive resources at his disposal, Jacob provides unique insights in areas of investment management, financial and retirement planning, corporate and executive services, trust and estate planning, and generational wealth transfer.

Committed to continuous learning, Jacob holds Bachelor of Science degrees in Management Consulting and Psychology from Tulane University, along with a Master of International Business and a Master of Business Administration from Hult International Business School.

Holding the Series 7 and 66 registrations with FINRA, Jacob is eager to bring his extensive skills and knowledge to Oppenheimer. With his own family's entrepreneurial journey as an inspiration, he is passionately dedicated to helping shape rewarding financial futures for other families and businesses.

Outside of work, Jacob spends his free time reading, hiking and gardening.

212 667 4076

Jan.Galvez@opco.com

Connect on LinkedIn

SEE ALL LICENSES

Jan is a seasoned wealth management professional with over fifteen years of experience, currently serving at the Schoenkin & Lesser Group. He has a deep understanding of his clients' financial challenges, anxieties, and concerns. He is particularly adept at handling the intricate needs of affluent families, recognizing the complex nature of wealth management. He designs and implements bespoke investment strategies, ensuring a perfect alignment with the clients' financial goals.

He works closely with his clients to understand their current and future needs, crafting highly customized strategies. He monitors these strategies continually to ensure their effectiveness. Jan not only assists individual clients but also corporate ones with their retirement planning and cash management needs. He is best known for his analytical planning skills and a strong, client-centric approach.

Jan's expertise and experience make him an excellent resource for a diverse set of clients, including attorneys, CPAs, professionals, and individuals in the entertainment industry. His client base ranges from first-time investors to high-net-worth individuals. He also provides counsel to families seeking sophisticated financial planning and investment management.

Jan offers a wide array of financial services, from insurance options and professionally managed portfolios. He holds Series 7, 63, and 65 licenses, and is licensed in New York for Life, Health, and Accident insurance.

Jan's professional journey began as a personal banker at JP Morgan Chase, transitioning later to Chase Investment Service Corp, and eventually becoming a Private Client Advisor at JP Morgan Private Client. In 2015, he joined Capital One Investing as a Senior Financial Advisor overseeing the Upper Manhattan territory. In 2018, he moved to Oppenheimer and joined the Schoenkin Lesser group. His clients value his deep analytical abilities and commitment to hard work.

Born and raised in Queens, where he currently resides, Jan enjoys golf, travel, sports, and aviation in his downtime.

212 667 4224

Eleni.Nikiforou@opco.com

Connect on LinkedIn

SEE ALL LICENSES

Eleni Nikiforou is a Financial Wealth Associate and is the Consultant responsible for all the retirement planning for the families and companies for The Schoenkin Lesser Group. She develops, invests and monitors 401(k) plans, profit sharing plans and group pension plans. She has been with Oppenheimer since 2015.

She earned her Master of Science degree in Finance in 2015 from Northeastern University’s D’Amore –McKim School of Business. She also earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Macedonia in Thessaloniki, Greece where she majored in Accounting and Taxation and minored in Finance. As a result of her academic excellence, she became a member of the distinguished Beta Gamma Sigma Business Honor Society and she was also awarded scholarships by the Karelia Foundation and the International Student Retention Fund of Northeastern University. She holds the FINRA Series 7 and 66 registrations.

Eleni has co-authored, published and presented two papers: “The Effects of Acquisitions on the Abnormal Returns of Both Bidders and Targets in the US Market” (2014 Northeastern University, Boston, MA) and “Profitability and Efficiency Analysis of the Main Greek Banks 2006-2011” (2012 4th ICAF, Corfu Island, Greece).

Eleni has traveled much of the world. Her interests include photography, painting and sailing. She is a very active member of the Greek-American community; and she sits on multiple committees of the Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Brooklyn where she is a member and supporter. Eleni is fluent in Greek and French.

212 667 4337

Ryan.Denault@opco.com

Connect on LinkedIn

SEE ALL LICENSES

Ryan Denault is a Financial Wealth Associate at The Schoenkin Lesser Group within the Private Client Division at Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. (“Oppenheimer''). With a focus on retirement planning and crafting personalized investment strategies for high-net-worth families, Ryan holds the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC®) designation from the College for Financial Planning.

Recognizing the distinctive nature of each family's financial situation, Ryan views his work as a collaborative journey. During initial interactions, he places a strong emphasis on building personalized relationships. Through active listening and a comprehensive understanding of financial goals, Ryan, in collaboration with our affiliate develops bespoke financial strategies aligning with clients' visions for wealth preservation, growth, and legacy planning.

Ryan's knowledge spans a broad spectrum of wealth management strategies, covering investment advisory, tax optimization, estate planning, and risk management. Considering the unique challenges associated with individual stock positions for many clients, Ryan closely collaborates with company Offices of General Counsel and the Corporate Services Department of Oppenheimer.

Originally from Massachusetts, Ryan is a graduate of the Frank G. Zarb School of Business at Hofstra University, holding a Bachelor’s degree in Finance. Currently residing in New York City, he, along with his fiancée Michelle and their dog Jax, actively supports the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network- PANCAN. Beyond his professional commitments, Ryan is an avid traveler, finding joy in staying active through golf, tennis, and football.

212 667 4374

Karen.Friedman@opco.com

Karen Friedman has spent over 30 years developing bespoke financial plans for a select group of affluent families associated with the Schoenkin Lesser group. Liquidity planning is at the center of Karen's approach and is where she leverages her diverse skillset and capabilities to help clients address tax efficiency and maximize value. She oversees the diverse planning needs that families require and she has differentiated herself by combining her deep analytical planning expertise with a strong sense of diverse managerial experience.

One of her core strengths is her ability to simplify her clients' financial lives by providing strategic advice and designing planning solutions that align with the client's long-term goals. This includes various areas such as retirement, education, estate planning, insurance needs, income, and estate tax support. Her specific client-driven planning process can range from finding a leading outsourced solution to automatic data aggregation across multiple firms. She also takes special care to establish a "big picture view" of clients' overall goals and develops the input of the client's other trusted advisors, such as their CPAs, estate and business planning attorneys, trustees, and banking professionals.

Karen's specific expertise and experience lend themselves well to senior executives, founders, fiduciaries, and entrepreneurs who are about to or just encountered an important financial change. With her proficiency, she can guide clients and help them navigate these pre and post-liquidity events. Throughout these engagements, she has developed a reputation for specialized work with individuals who have come into sudden wealth from inheritance, divorce settlements, stock sales, estate planning, the sale of privately owned businesses or the death of a spouse. With her depth of experience and knowledge, she can achieve maximum impact for individuals and families.

As wealth often brings complexity, Karen's depth of experience and analytical expertise is critical in navigating complex issues. Through her strategic and tailored approach, she delivers personalized financial plans designed to foster value and accelerate growth.

Karen holds the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. In addition, she also holds the Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) designation from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She has a BA from Dean College and an MBA in business and finance from the New York Institute of Technology. Karen previously worked at Prudential Bach Securities as a VP in the Financial Services Group before joining Oppenheimer in 1992. She has been acting in an exclusive, independent consulting capacity with The Schoenkin Lesser Group since 2019.

Outside of work, Karen enjoys skiing, cooking, competitive bridge, and reading Jane Austin and Ayn Rand.

212 667 4031

Tracy.Ascione@opco.com

SEE ALL LICENSES

Tracy is well versed in all aspects of a client’s potential needs and her list of responsibilities include communicating with the legal and tax representation of the families and foundations for The Schoenkin Lesser Group. She also creates and monitors client asset allocation models, and as a fully registered consultant she executes and records orders. She holds her FINRA Series 7 and 63 registrations and is qualified to trade all securities.

She has been with Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. since February, 1987. Her Wall Street career began at Thomson McKinnon when she was still in high school. As part of a work-study program sponsored by Totenville High School her career path began as a Teletype Operator and she advanced to Order Matching and eventually she was named Margin Clerk. She later moved to the client facing side of Wall Street and joined The Schoenkin Lesser Group.

Tracy is a committed patron of the Children’s Leukemia Foundation and she volunteers with her son’s Boy Scout Troop. She also enjoys reading and traveling to foreign capitals. She lives in Brick, NJ with her husband and her three sons.

212 667 5492

Joann.Klein@opco.com

JoAnn Klein is a Client Service Associate and she has worked with Oppenheimer since 2007. She is responsible for all facets of client interaction and prides herself on prompt, courteous and reliable service for The Schoenkin Lesser Group.

JoAnn is in her second tenure with the Firm having been a Sales Assistant for David Schoenkin from 1981-1990 where she first acquired her strong work ethic and business administration skills. Prior to returning to the Firm she raised her family and worked at Independence Saving Bank.

She enjoys spending time with her family, reading interesting novels, camping and playing long games of fetch with her dogs at the beach.