“Fiduciary duty is the first principle of the investment
Adviser… Fiduciary comes from the Latin word for trust.”
Emerald Asset Advisors was founded in 1998 when its founders were motivated to find a flexible and adaptive way to manage money for their clients.
We provide fee-based, discretionary asset management to our private and institutional clients. Fee-based advisors minimize potential conflicts by not accepting commissions on products they sell. Our discretionary trading arrangement with our clients allows us to make changes to their portfolios in a timely manner.
We do not hold our clients’ assets. Your portfolio will be maintained at an unaffiliated firm that is a qualified account custodian. Your account custodian will provide you periodic account statements, confirmations and tax reports. We supplement these reports with our customized performance and holdings reports.
The Emerald Team
Professional Staff
Scot L. Hunter, ChFC
Chief Executive Officer, Principal
Allan M. Budelman
Managing Partner, Principal
Keith Stoloff, CIMA, CIMC, AWMA, AAMS, CMFC, CRPC
Senior Portfolio Manager
Daniel E. Furman, CFA
Portfolio Manager
Mark S. Fein
Director of Business Development
Operations Staff
Suzie Dean
Director of Trading
Denise Karp
Director of Operations
Leana C. Alu
Marketing Specialist
Scot L Hunter, ChFC – Chief Executive Officer, Principal
Mr. Hunter co-founded Emerald in 1998 and is responsible for the overall strategic and corporate development activity of the firm. He also represents the company in various charitable initiatives and civic organizations.
Mr. Hunter received his degree in Business Administration from the University of Nevada at Las Vegas, graduating in 1982 as an “Academic All-American.” In 1984, after two years as a tennis professional, he was recruited by a major insurance company to market their products. His determination, coupled with his business acumen, paved the way for the formation of The Emerald Planning Group (an insurance advisory firm) and later Emerald Asset Advisors. Mr. Hunter holds the designation of Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC). He has been a resident of South Florida since 1970.
Allan M. Budelman – Managing Partner, Principal
Mr. Budelman joined the firm shortly after its formation in 1998 and has over 15 years experience in the investment industry, serving both high net worth individuals and large institutions.
Prior to joining Emerald, Mr. Budelman served as an Associate in JP Morgan’s Private Bank for two years, working with the portfolio management team for ultra high net worth individuals. From 1996-1997, he was an Assistant Treasurer with Bankers Trust Company serving as a relationship manager for institutional banking clients. Previously, from 1994-1996, Mr. Budelman worked with Chase Manhattan Bank in New York, serving as an Administrator in the foreign exchange and global securities settlement department.
Mr. Budelman is a graduate of the University of Maryland at College Park, where he earned a degree in Business Administration in 1992. He also earned an MBA in International Business from the University of Miami in 2000.
Keith Stoloff, CIMA, CIMC, AWMA, AAMS, CMFC, CRPC -Senior Portfolio Manager
Mr. Stoloff joined Emerald in 2007 and has over 20 years experience working in the financial services industry. Prior to joining Emerald, Mr. Stoloff held portfolio management and financial advisory roles at Raymond James Associates, Great Western Financial Securities and Citicorp Investments.
Mr. Stoloff holds many professional designations, including: Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA), Certified Investment Management Consultant (CIMC), Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (AWMA™), Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS™), Chartered Mutual Fund Counselor (CMFC™) and Chartered Retirement Plan Counselor (CRPC™).
Mr. Stoloff is a graduate of the University of South Florida, where he earned a degree in Finance in 1987.
Daniel E. Furman, CFA – Portfolio Manager
Mr. Furman joined Emerald in early 2012 and has over four years experience in the investment industry. His prior experience includes positions held at Northern Trust Bank and several investment management firms. Mr. Furman is a Chartered Financial Analyst, earning that distinction in 2007. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Brandeis University in 1999 with a degree in Economics. At Brandeis, Mr. Furman was also a recipient of the Presidential Scholarship and a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. In 2003, he earned an MBA with a concentration in Finance from the Graziadio School of Business and Management at Pepperdine University.
Mark S. Fein – Director of Business Development
Mr. Fein joined the firm in 2011 and has over 15 years of experience in the financial services industry. Mr. Fein specializes in new opportunity development and cultivating relationships with prospective clients of the firm. Prior to joining Emerald, Mr. Fein worked as a Financial Advisor at both Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch.
Mr. Fein lives in Coconut Grove, FL and graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology.
Suzie Dean – Director of Trading
Ms. Dean joined Emerald in 2004 and is responsible for directing and supervising trading for the firm’s investment strategies. Ms. Dean has been in the brokerage industry since 1989 and has held various trading/operational roles at major institutions including Barnett Bank, Prudential Securities and Smith Barney.
Ms. Dean earned an associates degree from St. Augustine Community College in St. Augustine, FL in 1986.
Denise Karp – Director of Operations
Ms. Karp joined Emerald in 2008, and is responsible for all operations and administrative functions. She is also the firm’s Technology Specialist and is responsible for the coordination of our technology services. Ms. Karp has held similar positions at both financial services and legal firms for over ten years.
Ms. Karp graduated New York University with a B.A. in English.
Leana C. Alu – Marketing Specialist
Ms. Alu is responsible for supporting the overall sales, marketing and business development efforts of the firm.
Prior to joining Emerald, Ms. Alu served as a Sales Executive in the dental care industry for over two years, where she held responsibility for proactive sales, client service and administration. Ms. Alu also has experience as an Operations Accountant and has worked with Financial Analysts under the Student Work Experience Program at Lockheed Martin during her studies.
Ms. Alu earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus on Finance from the University of Central Florida and is currently pursuing her MBA with a concentration in Management from the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship at Nova Southeastern University.