New York City-based Mariaca Wealth Advisory has maintained a focus on providing clients with top-tier service since 1982. As a multi-generational family-owned practice, we deeply understand the importance of family and have helped generations in their endeavors to protect their assets and find happiness. With over 100 years of combined investment management and client service experience, we take a fee-based holistic approach to managing client assets, primarily serving ultra-high-net-worth clients while also considering those in the wealth accumulation stages.
Alberto began his career in financial services in 1960 at Bankers Trust. In 1982, he joined Bear Stearns, where he founded International Investment Management Services and was appointed President of the firm’s newly established Latin America division. Over the years, the wealth management team he built and led has evolved under several distinguished names, including The Mariaca Group at Citi Smith Barney and Morgan Stanley. Today, that legacy continues as Mariaca Wealth Advisory at Stifel.
Finance and the markets have always played a central role in Alberto’s life. As a child, he lived above the bank where his father worked as a senior officer. He vividly remembers looking out the window, watching bankers and clients speak with one another. After his father became the bank president, Alberto regularly visited his office, becoming increasingly interested in investing in marketable securities and explaining to others how these markets moved.
Alberto built his practice to address the unique needs and goals of successful Latin American families, business owners, and executives requiring investment guidance and estate planning strategies surrounding their offshore investments. He has decades of experience and knowledge serving multiple generations of the same family, allowing his services to expand to risk mitigation strategies, generational succession, wealth transfer planning, and more. Today, he and his team serve affluent high-net-worth individuals and families, specializing in business owners who don’t have time to manage their liquid long-term reserves properly.
He prides himself on providing clients with professional guidance and excellent service, helping them pursue their long-term investment objectives.
Hugh has more than 25 years of experience as a successful entrepreneur and financial advisor. He joined Bear Stearns & Co. and Mariaca Wealth Advisory (then known as International Investment Management Services) in 1998 and has remained an integral part of the team through the group’s journey to Citi Smith Barney, Morgan Stanley, and now Stifel. During the group’s time at Bear Stearns & Co., Citi Smith Barney, and Morgan Stanley, he served as an Associate Director and Portfolio Manager.
Hugh gained exposure to the industry at a young age, which ended up being the perfect fit. Not only does he enjoy providing clients with general financial services, but he also loves the investment side. He truly cares about his clients and takes pride in providing top-notch service. For Hugh, that starts with speaking to clients to understand their needs. Then, he uses clients’ financial goals to determine the proper asset allocation and incorporate investments with the ultimate goal of helping clients pursue those financial goals and make important life decisions.
Hugh’s commitment to understanding and addressing clients’ individual investment needs, combined with his long-standing record of client service, investment knowledge, and portfolio management skills, make him an experienced financial advisor and Senior Portfolio Manager in Stifel’s Solutions Program. He can adapt strategies designed to combine customized investment management with the ability to react quickly to market conditions for clients who choose discretionary advisory services.
Hugh strongly advocates for a healthy work-life balance, believing people should do what makes them happy because no one says, “I wish I worked more” at the end of their life. For him, true wealth lies in enjoying life’s moments rather than merely accumulating money.
The Solutions program requires a minimum investment, which varies by strategy. Ask your Financial Advisor for a Disclosure Brochure, which further outlines the fees, services, exclusions, and disclosures associated with this program. Since all investment decisions in a Solutions account are made by the Financial Advisor without having to receive prior client approval, it is important that Solutions clients have detailed knowledge of the Financial Advisor’s individual investment philosophy and decision-making process before entrusting him or her with their portfolio. You should consider all terms and conditions before deciding whether the Solutions Program and any particular strategy are appropriate for your needs.
As the son of founder Alberto Mariaca, Kristian grew up around the business – and his passion led him to earn a B.S. in Finance from Siena College. Beginning his investment industry career, Kristian wanted to carve his own way. However, he realized his father’s connections with his work and clients were special. When the opportunity arose for Kristian to join Mariaca Wealth Advisory, he took it.
Kristian joined Mariaca Wealth Advisory (then known as International Investment Management Services) in 1996 as an Associate Director at Bear Stearns & Co. In 2008, the team, operating as The Mariaca Group, transitioned to Citi Smith Barney, which was later acquired by Morgan Stanley. During this time, Kristian served as an International Client Advisor and Family Wealth Director. Following the team’s move to Stifel in 2024, he continues to serve clients in his current role as Senior Vice President/Investments.
Kristian takes the time to learn about each client and their ideas, beliefs, and concerns before crafting a personalized wealth management strategy. This commitment to comprehensively addressing his clients’ individual investment needs, complementing their investment knowledge and portfolio management skills, and maintaining an outstanding client service record over the years led to Kristian becoming a Senior Portfolio Manager in the Stifel Solutions Program alongside Hugh. In this role, Kristian offers discretionary strategies, customized structured investments, and holistic wealth management for clients who choose advisory services.
For Kristian, helping others isn’t just part of his job. It has been deeply ingrained in him from a young age – and he takes every opportunity to extend a helping hand. He is particularly passionate about promoting women and creating more opportunities for them, especially in the business world, as he has experienced the power of diversity and inclusion firsthand and benefitted from the strong, capable women in his life.
When he’s not in the office, Kristian loves spending time outdoors. Not only is he an avid hiker, downhill skier, and snowshoer, but he also loves open-water swimming and has been professionally trained in scuba diving for nearly 30 years. He also enjoys spending time with his family and has recently designed and built his own home with his wife.
With a long-standing career in the financial services industry, including a significant tenure at JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley, Diany brings a deep understanding of the needs of ultra-high-net-worth clients across global markets.
Since joining Mariaca Wealth Advisory in 2016, Diany has been instrumental in the team’s continued growth, driving business development while strengthening its reputation for developing enduring client relationships built on trust. In close collaboration with the team’s senior financial advisors, Diany helps develop comprehensive wealth plans and tailored investment strategies designed to address each client’s unique goals, family dynamics, and long-term vision while supporting them through evolving market environments and life transitions. Known for her thoughtful, client-first approach, Diany strives to ensure that every client engagement is grounded in clarity, mutual trust, and strategic foresight. Her work continues to be driven by a passion for helping individuals and families navigate complexity while mitigating risk to their wealth across generations.
Rocio M. Andrade
Assistant Vice President/Client Service; Business Development Associate
Rocio M. Andrade
Assistant Vice President/Client Service; Business Development Associate
Rocio brings more than 30 years of experience and a commitment to delivering top-tier service to the team’s international clients. She has been a service leader since joining the group at Bear Stearns in 1987, seamlessly navigating the transition to Morgan Stanley in 2008 and the shift to Stifel in 2024.
However, Rocio’s experience predates even 1987, as she worked with international clients at J. Henry Schroder Bank and Barclays Bank prior to joining the team.
Since 1997, Sandra has been hard at work in the financial services industry. She launched her investment industry career at the Republic National Bank of New York. As part of the International Private Bank division, she worked with high-net-worth clients from Brazil, Mexico, and the southern cone of South America. She then continued her work with HSBC Brokerage after the 1999 acquisition of the Republic National Bank of New York.
In 2004, she served as a Senior Registered Client Service Officer at American Express Bank International, working with a team of Relationship Managers serving Latin American high-net-worth clients. Later, Sandra moved to Morgan Stanley International Wealth Management, delivering high-caliber service to high-net-worth Mexican, South American, and European clients before joining Mariaca Wealth Advisory in 2022.
Luz joined Mariaca Wealth Advisory in 2022. With more than 15 years of experience working with international and domestic clients at JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo Advisors, and Morgan Stanley, Luz brings a wealth of experience and insight to her role as she supports the team in deepening existing client relationships and growing the business.
Outside the office, Luz loves getting lost in books and spending quality time with her family.
Put simply, Stifel is a growth company. Since our founding in 1890, Stifel has grown to become one of the nation’s largest wealth management firms, ranking No. 7 in terms of number of financial advisors.
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