Brian Werdesheim
Managing Director - Investments | The Summa Group | Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.
Brian Werdesheim is a founding member of The Summa Group of Oppenheimer & Co. Inc (“Oppenheimer”), a private client financial advisory team that provides wealth management services for affluent individuals and families, as well as owners and executives of private and public companies, family estates, charitable entities and some of the top tax and legal professionals who serve the business, athletic and entertainment communities. Brian serves on the Summa Group’s Investment Committee that oversees investment policy and due diligence. In addition, he heads the team’s coordination of fiduciary services, which provides comprehensive wealth management services to the clients of leading accountants, attorneys, business managers and family offices. Day-to-day, he continues to manage the team’s largest, most complex and dynamic client accounts.
During Brian’s 23 year career, he has learned much about the challenges, anxieties and concerns his clients share. With wealth comes a profound level of complexity that requires a financial advisory team equipped with the experience, resources, humility and know-how in order to deliver strategies and advice that can make qualitative and quantitative differences in the game of life. The Summa Group is staffed with highly-trained, well-credentialed and experienced professionals who are dedicated to providing their clients with a wealth management experience that transcends the industry norm. Clients are initially attracted to the breadth of asset management talent and experience when it comes to investing capital across all areas of the financial markets, including equity, fixed income around the globe. But it is The Summa Group’s total dedication to the bigger issues they face in the areas of family succession, philanthropy, education, health and life success that adds another level of expertise and differentiation.
Forbes, Barron’s, Research Magazine, and Los Angeles Magazine have recognized Brian and his team in their annual top advisor rankings for the quality and success of the practice, client retention, and business growth.* Brian is a long time Asset Management Roundtable participant and Chairman’s Council member, which is comprised of the Firm’s top 40 Financial Advisors.
Passionate and committed to improving the lives of at-risk youth, Brian has dedicated much of his time and resources during the past 20 years to educational, social and health related causes. Serving on the Board of Governors of The Fulfillment Fund since 2003, he is proud of the work done to level the playing field when it comes to college access. Wanting greater control of how his philanthropic capital was being deployed, Brian Co-founded The Summa Children’s Foundation in 2004. Today, that Foundation has allocated millions of dollars to deserving, lesser-known non-profits committed to improving the lives of our most at-risk youth. Brian served on the Board of Trustees for The Buckley School from 2016-2019, where he served on the Investment and Advancement committees. Having graduated from USC, he continues a close association with the school. Brian was elected to the Advisory Council for the Lloyd Greif School of Entrepreneurial Studies, the leading program of its kind in the U.S. He served in this capacity through 2019.
Brian graduated from the University of Southern California in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He also attended the University of California, Santa Barbara and Richmond College in London, England.
Brian and his wife Janelle live in Studio City with their daughter Isabel and son Grant. In his off time, he likes to travel, golf, run and participate in other outdoor activities.
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