Broad Investing Expertise. Dedicated to Clients.
With a broad array of collective experience investing and advising across asset classes globally, our team is distinguished by the experience and depth applied to the identification of investment opportunities and the management of portfolio and firm risk.
Investment & Advisory Team
Jeffrey E. Bernardo, CFA
President & CEO, Portfolio Manager
Mr. Bernardo has over 25 years of investment experience, and his responsibilities include managing Augustine’s global equity, emerging market equity, and fixed income strategies. His prior experience includes global equities advisor at Trinity Capital; Vice President and senior global equity portfolio manager at J.P. Morgan Asset Management, London; equity research analyst at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette and at Kidder, Peabody & Co; and consultant at McKinsey & Co. Mr. Bernardo graduated with a BS in Economics with honors from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. He is a CFA® charterholder, a Past President of CFA Society Jacksonville, Chairman of the City of Jacksonville Retirement System Board of Trustees, a Director of the World Affairs Council of Jacksonville, a Director of the Sontag Foundation, and an investment committee member of the Jacksonville Symphony Association.
Email Jeff at jbernardo@augustineasset.com
Milena D. Spasova, CFA, CIPM
Vice President, Portfolio Manager
Ms. Spasova has over 10 years of investment experience, and her responsibilities include managing Augustine’s fixed income strategies and overseeing the firm’s compliance with the CFA Institute Global Investment Performance Standards. Her prior experience includes associate and senior operations analyst at Deutsche Bank. Ms. Spasova graduated with masters degrees in accounting and in economics / international relations from the University of National and World Economy and an MBA from the University of North Florida. She is a CFA® charterholder, has earned the CFA Institute Certificate in Investment Performance Measurement, is a Past President of CFA Society Jacksonville, and serves on the finance committee of the Women’s Giving Alliance.
Email Milena at mspasova@augustineasset.com
Neil J. Sullivan, CFA
Investment Analyst
Mr. Sullivan has over 45 years of investment experience, and his responsibilities include contributing research across Augustine’s equity and fixed income strategies. His prior experience includes Founding Partner and senior investment officer at Moody, Aldrich & Sullivan, Boston; Managing Director of Equities and senior portfolio manager at Dewey Square Investors, Boston; and Vice President and senior portfolio manager at Bank of Boston. Mr. Sullivan graduated with a BS in Finance from Northeastern University and an MBA from Boston College. He is a CFA® charterholder and a member and past Director of CFA Society Boston.
Email Neil at nsullivan@augustineasset.com
Franco Cirelli, CPA, CFP
Financial Planning Advisor
Mr. Cirelli has over 25 years of experience delivering knowledge on financial matters to individuals and businesses, and his responsibilities include financial planning and client-related financial analysis. His prior experience includes Financial Operations Principal for Motif Investing, Co-founder and Chief Financial Officer of SeatSub, Chief Financial Officer of Phacil, and positions at Microsoft, the National Basketball Association, and Deloitte & Touche. Mr. Cirelli graduated with a BS in Business Administration from the Haas School of Business, University of California Berkeley and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. He is a Certified Public Accountant and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional. Mr. Cirelli is an active community member who has served on several nonprofit boards and advisory councils in the Bay Area and is past Chairman of San Francisco’s Quality Teacher and Education Act Oversight Committee.
Email Franco at fcirelli@augustineasset.com
Sergio A. Saavedra, CFA
Investment Operations Analyst
Mr. Saavedra has 10 years of investment and data analytics experience, and his responsibilities include portfolio analysis, equity trade execution, and portfolio accounting and reporting. His prior experience includes Director of MSR Transaction Management for Homepoint Financial, MSR Portfolio Manager at SLS Computershare, and Compensation Analyst at Ascension Healthcare where he focused on transaction management, valuation and interest rate modeling, portfolio reporting, and macroeconomic and capital market analysis. Mr. Saavedra graduated with a BBA in Finance & Economics from the University of North Florida. He is a CFA® charter holder.
Email Sergio at ssaavedra@augustineasset.comOperations & Client Service Team
Ashley L. Cox
Development & Operations Manager
Ms. Cox has over 20 years of experience in securities custodian relationship management, business development, and operations, and her responsibilities include overseeing the firm’s business development and operations activities. Her prior experience includes Vice President and Senior Relationship Manager at BNY Mellon Pershing and Support and Relationship Specialist roles at Charles Schwab & Co. Her areas of expertise include custodial operations, technology integrations, compliance and regulation, and business development.
Email Ashley at acox@augustineasset.com
Frederick M. Blum
Client Portfolio Manager
Mr. Blum has over 20 years of investment experience, and his responsibilities include managing private client portfolios and overseeing special operations projects. His prior experience includes Chief Operating Officer at Koss‐Olinger Financial Group and a 25 year career in general management, business development, and marketing in the chemical industry. Mr. Blum graduated with a BS in Chemistry with honors from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and received an MBA from Syracuse University. He is past Board Chairman of Beaver Street Enterprise Center.
Email Fred at fblum@augustineasset.com
Donna A. Petrina
Operations Analylst
Ms. Petrina has over 20 years of experience in global securities operations, and her responsibilities include a wide range of the firm’s business and client operations. Her prior experience includes Technical Business Analyst, Client Services & Business Partners Manager, and Brokerage Services Manager at Bank of America where she
focused on fund trading, settlement, and reporting, training customer service professionals, and development of fixed income trading technology solutions. Ms. Petrina graduated with a BS in Accounting at Belmont Abbey College.