President and Chief Operating Officer and a Member of FLI’s Investment Committee
Ralph, along with Bob Rosenthal, founded First Long Island Investors in 1983 and currently serves as the President and Chief Operating Officer and is the Co-Portfolio Manager for the FLI Core strategy. As Co-Portfolio Manager, he directs all investment related activities including portfolio management, research, and risk management. Additionally, Ralph is the primary relationship contact for many clients and directs all of their wealth management needs, from asset allocation and investment guidance, to estate and tax planning, as well as philanthropic and real estate advisory, and more. He leads the team at First Long Island by creating a culture that puts clients first and strives for delivering an exceptional client experience through every interaction.
Prior to First Long Island Investors, Ralph worked at Entenmann’s rising to Chief Financial Officer. Ralph began his career with the international accounting firm of Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co., as a member of its audit staff in 1968. He was Chief Operating Officer of the New York Islanders Hockey Club, L.P. from 1993–1997 and was President of W. P. Stewart Asset Management (NA), Inc. from 1998 to 2003.
Ralph was the non-executive Chairman for Astoria Financial Corporation from 2012 until 2017, when it was acquired by Sterling Bancorp (NYSE: STL), the parent company of Sterling National Bank (now part of Webster Bank). Ralph is very dedicated to many philanthropic organizations which provide for and support children with disabilities. He is Director of The Viscardi Center as well as chairman of its Investment Committee, and Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of Variety Child Learning Center. Ralph graduated from St. John’s University in 1968 and is a Certified Public Accountant. Ralph was born and raised on Long Island, where he still lives with his wife Lucy. He is an avid Yankee fan.
To contact Ralph, please email him at ralph@fliinvestors.com.