Mario Nardone, CFA

Mario began his investment career in 1999 with Vanguard
mutual funds in Valley Forge, PA, where he consulted institutions and financial
advisors on investment policy, portfolio construction, and Exchange-Traded
Funds (ETFs). He also held roles as a research analyst, a municipal bond fund
specialist, among others during his tenure. 
In 2003 he earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation, and he
continues to mentor aspiring Charter candidates and young investment
professionals.

Mario relocated to Charleston in 2010 to serve as Chief
Investment Officer for a financial planning firm before establishing East Bay,
the collaborative partner firm of (insert firm name), in 2013. As a Partner at
East Bay, Mario serves a select group of Registered Investment Advisor firms as
their outsourced Chief Investment Strategist.  Responsibilities of this
role include continuous oversight of advisor clients’ investments, bespoke
strategies for unique situations, client communications, and more.

Mario is Past President of CFA Society South Carolina and
Former Chairman of the College of Charleston Finance Department Advisory Board.
His approach to investments and the industry has been featured in Investment
News, NAPFA Advisor Magazine, South Carolina Public Radio, and other
publications and media outlets. 

Mario enjoys early morning basketball games, the Charleston beaches
and restaurant scene, and spending summers in coastal Maine.  He is an avid world traveler and SCUBA diver,
but also enjoys the simpler joys of life with his wife Piper, their daughter
Pepper, son Santino, and Simba the cat.

Learn more and connect with Mario on LinkedIn

 

Eric Stein, CFA

Prior to joining East Bay, Eric worked for a variety of firms, both large and small.  This includes 7+ years with Goldman Sachs Asset Management where he held roles in areas such as performance measurement, client service, risk analysis, and portfolio construction.  During his tenure there, Eric had the opportunity to cover many different types of asset classes, vehicles, and client types.  Eric also worked at RSM U.S. Wealth Management for 10+ years, serving as the Chief Investment Officer while providing strategic leadership and solutions for their national investment platform.

As a Partner at East Bay, Eric serves a select group of financial advisory firms as their outsourced Chief Investment Strategist.  Responsibilities of this role include continuous oversight of advisor clients’ investments, bespoke strategies for unique situations, client communications, and more. 

Eric is a proud graduate of Indiana University where he earned a B.S. in Finance.  Eric also earned the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation in 2001 and continues to stay involved in the local CFA society.  Eric has been quoted several times in the Wall Street Journal and has written extensively on topics covering asset allocation, manager due diligence, financial markets, and economic events.

Eric enjoys traveling with his wife, Laura, and their two sons, Scott and Jack.  In his spare time, Eric is an avid cyclist and includes finishing a Half-Ironman as one of his greatest athletic accomplishments. 

Learn more and connect with Eric on LinkedIn.

Alex Kluesner, CFA

Prior to joining East Bay, Alex worked for a variety of firms, both large and small.  This includes 5+ years with Focus Partners Wealth (formerly Buckingham Wealth Partners) where he held both front and back-office roles such as Advisor to institutional clients and Manger within the Investment Strategy team.  During his tenure there, Alex had the opportunity to cover many different types of asset classes, vehicles, and client types while focusing on manager research, due diligence, and client-education efforts.  Alex also worked at Wells Fargo Advisors for 3 years, serving as a Performance Reporting Analyst.

As a Senior Investment Strategist at East Bay, Alex supports firm leadership as they serve a select group of financial advisory firms as their outsourced Chief Investment Strategist.  Responsibilities of this role include continuous oversight of advisor clients’ investments, bespoke strategies for unique situations, client communications, and more. 

Alex is a proud graduate of the University of Missouri—Columbia where he earned a Bachelor of Journalism as well as an MBA with an emphasis in Finance from the University of Missouri—St. Louis.  Alex also earned the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation in 2023 and continues to stay involved in the local CFA society.

Alex enjoys spending free time with his wife, Abby, and two children, Russell and Eleanor, exploring the outdoors, going to sporting events, and traveling the globe. Alex’s ideal weekend day consists of an early morning workout, a round of golf, taking the family on a field trip, and sitting by the bonfire on calm summer’s evening.

Learn more and connect with Alex on LinkedIn.