Business alumna named to ‘Forbes’ list

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Fern (Grossman) Schwartz

Merrill Lynch financial advisor Fern (Grossman) Schwartz ’77 (business administration) has been named to the Forbes list of “America’s Top Women Wealth Advisors” for 2017.

The list compiled by the business magazine features the leading 200 female financial advisors from around the country based on their success in working with clients to achieve their financial goals. Schwartz, of Pittsburgh, has been working at Merrill Lynch for 34 years.

After graduating from RIT, the Rochester native worked in transportation—for Conrail and Schneider Transport—before entering the financial services industry in 1982 as a Merrill Lynch Wealth Management financial advisor.

Her husband, Steve, helped her become a leader in transforming the business from pens and yellow legal pads to smart phones and computers, going paperless in 1998.

She is honored to receive the Forbes designation, she said, in part because researchers took into account the process she uses to get to know her clients and their financial goals. She is mentoring others at Merrill Lynch on how to connect with clients.

“I love working with my clients and their families,” Schwartz said. “That’s my fuel, helping them achieve their dreams and goals, as well as sometimes helping them through difficult issues.”

To see the list, go to the Forbes: America's Top Women Wealth Advisors webpage.