From Merrill to Rockefeller: A Journey of Exclusive Access and Extraordinary Growth

With Neil Rubinstein, Private Advisor and Managing Director, RSA Family Wealth, Rockefeller Global Family Office

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NOTE: The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Diamond Consultants. Neither Diamond Consultants nor the guests on this podcast are compensated in any way for their participation.

About this episode…

Advisors often assume that staying at a wirehouse means access to the best products, the strongest brand, and the most “exclusive” opportunities. But what happens when you discover that “exclusive” can mean something very different – and far more powerful – outside the walls of a big firm?

That’s the story of Neil Rubinstein, an 18-year Merrill veteran who made the move to Rockefeller Global Family Office in 2019.

It was a decision driven by the realization that things were changing at Merrill. As Neil describes it, he and his team were spending more time checking mortgages and credit cards than they were managing their clients’ wealth potential.

Diamond Consultants had the privilege of helping guide Neil on his journey to identify what could be “better enough” to take on the hassle of moving a practice managing $600mm in assets. And while independence was intriguing, Rockefeller checked off many more boxes than Neil could have imagined.

Since then, Neil’s practice has more than doubled in both revenue and assets under management.

In this episode with host Mindy Diamond, Neil offers a perspective on life after Merrill, including:

• What changed at Merrill to prompt Neil to explore—and what options they considered in the process.
• The decision not to go independent—and why they instead opted for a firm that allowed them to be “independent enough.”
• The decision to join Rockefeller—and how the firm’s name and value proposition create a powerful connection with clients and prospects.
• The value of Rockefeller’s platform—and how being “purpose-built” for high and ultra-high net worth clients has unlocked avenues of growth Neil hadn’t imagined.
• The perception of what’s considered “exclusive” at a wirehouse—and how that definition shifted at Rockefeller.
• More than 2X growth—and why Neil believes he’s in abetter position than ever before to continue that trajectory.

For advisors considering their next chapter, this is a grounded look at access, alignment, and growth told by someone who’s lived on both sides—with a candid look at the heralded Rockefeller brand.

Want to learn more about where, why, and how advisors like you are moving? Click to contact us or call 908-879-1002.

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Neil D. Rubinstein
Private Advisor & Managing Director

Neil is a founding partner of RSA Family Wealth and joined Rockefeller Capital Management in June 2019. He is dedicated to providing financial planning, investment management, and wealth structuring services to successful families in North Texas and across the United States. Along with all members of RSA Family Wealth, Neil is committed to delivering a high-touch, professional service and enjoys working with great families every day.

Neil has more than twenty-six years of experience in the field of finance. He obtained his undergraduate degree in accounting and MPA (Master of Professional Accounting) from the University of Texas at Austin. Neil began his career in public accounting as a C.P.A. with PricewaterhouseCoopers. Neil was named to Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors” list in 2018, 2019, 2023, and 2024.

Neil is a Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA), awarded by the Investments & Wealth Institute™ (formerly Investment Management Consultants Association) through the Wharton School of Business.

Neil and his family reside in Plano, Texas. Neil and his wife, Dafna, are involved in the community, both serving on community Boards of Directors and committees. He is a graduate of Leadership Plano and a Past President of the Board of both Congregation Anshai Torah and Akiba Yavneh Academy of Dallas.

Both Neil and his family enjoy staying active and spending time in Breckenridge, CO, skiing in the winter and hiking in the summer.

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