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, 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 a board member of the Jacksonville Symphony Foundation.
Email Jeff at jbernardo@augustineasset.com
Gregory M. Estes, CFA
Vice President & CCO, Portfolio Manager
Mr. Estes has over 20 years of investment experience, and his responsibilities include managing Augustine’s yield equity strategy, contributing research across Augustine’s equity strategies, and overseeing the firm’s regulatory compliance. His prior experience includes Portfolio Manager at Intrepid Capital Funds and Portfolio Manager at Bank of America’s Private Wealth Management group, US Trust. Mr. Estes graduated with an MA in Financial Economics from the University of Florida and a BBA in Finance from the University of Notre Dame. He is a CFA® charterholder and a past director of CFA Society Jacksonville.
Email Greg at gestes@augustineasset.com
Milena D. Spasova, CFA, CIPM
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 Vice 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
Client Portfolio Manager
Mr. Sullivan has over 45 years of investment experience, and his responsibilities include managing private client portfolios and 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.comOperations & Client Service Team
Frederick M. Blum
Client Portfolio & Operations 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
Courtney J. Teschner
Investment Operations Analyst
Ms. Teschner has over eight years of experience in financial and investment operations, and her responsibilities include portfolio accounting and equity trading. Her prior experience includes trading operations, data management, and analytics at Bank of America Securities, New York. Ms. Teschner graduated with a BS in Finance with honors from Pennsylvania State University.
Email Courtney at cteschner@augustineasset.com
Kimberly A. Lewis
Client Operations Associate
Ms. Lewis has over 15 years of experience serving private clients and in development and client/donor relations in the nonprofit sector, and her responsibilities include client relations and implementing the firm’s client and marketing activities. Her prior experience includes Director of Development with the YMCA of Florida’s First Coast and Director of Development and Interim Executive Director with the American Diabetes Association. Ms. Lewis graduated with a BS in Business Management from the University of Phoenix. She has earned the CFA Institute Investment Foundations Certificate.
Email Kimberly at klewis@augustineasset.com