About Us

Stephanie Lynn Ackler is the co-founder, President and Managing Partner of AKD Wealth Partners of Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network.  A Chartered Financial Analyst, Stephanie has over 35 years of experience in financial services and the discipline to stay abreast of market cycles, changes, and trends. Her deepest satisfaction comes from helping clients manage not just their financial futures, but to live the lives they've always wanted, support the causes they are most passionate about, and protect their legacies.

Stephanie works in an investment advisory relationship, and, as a Senior PIM Portfolio Manager, manages investment portfolios with discretionary control. Stephanie and her team use a comprehensive approach to wealth management that curates and simplifies complex investment opportunities and provides them with clarity, confidence, and a clear path to the future.

From 2019 through 2023 Stephanie has been recognized by Forbes as Best in State Wealth Advisor. Prior to founding AKD Wealth Partners in 2023, Stephanie ran Ackler Wealth Management of Wells Fargo Advisors, which she established in 2001.  Previously Stephanie worked at Tucker Anthony, LLC for 17 years.

Deeply committed to organizations whose missions focus on empowering women and girls, Stephanie is a member of the Financial Women's Association of New York, where she has held multiple leadership positions, and the Women Presidents Organization.   Stephanie graduated from the Northfield Mount Herman School and Franklin and Marshall College with a BA in Chemistry.  She holds Series 7, 63 and 65 securities registrations, and applicable insurance licenses.

Stephanie lives in Manhattan with her husband, Peter; their two sons, Sam and Will and Abbey, her Labradoodle.

*The Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors rating algorithm is based on the previous year’s industry experience, interviews, compliance records, assets under management, revenue and other criteria by SHOOK Research, LLC, which does not receive compensation from the advisors or their firms in exchange for placement on a rating. Investment performance is not a criterion. Self-completed survey was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria.

A founding partner of AKD Wealth Partners of Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network and 21 year Wells Fargo Advisors veteran, Robert leads his Wells Fargo Advisors team's Planning and Private Wealth Management practice.  With 30 years+ in the business, Robert has served the financial interests of both active and retired Corporate Executives, Directors and Institutions, helping them with their intricate Planning, Family Dynamics, Wealth Management and Wealth Transfer needs. 

Robert is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner,  Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor(SM), and Accredited Investment Fiduciary®. 

Robert's Industry History:

• Prior to joining Wells Fargo Advisors, Robert ran a Municipal Bond consulting team at Oppenheimer & Co. from 1992-1997.
• In 1997, Robert's team joined UBS, adding executive planning to his team's offering.
• In 2001, Robert and his team joined Wells Fargo Advisors, expanding the group's planning and executive services capabilities. The Karp Executive Group is the largest provider of Corporate and Executive Services within Wells Fargo Advisors.
• In 2023, AKD partners is formed through the tactful merger of  two of the largest WFA NYC teams, Ackler and Karp, adding additional  breath, experience and leadership to the practice. With $1 Billion under management, AKD stands at the pinnacle of Wells Fargo Advisors  

Robert's Process

Robert and his team organize and structure their clients' financial affairs, combining family office and personal CFO strategy’s. Through sophisticated planning tools, Robert tracks his clients' personal planning progress including Financial Goals, Asset Allocation, Charitable Planning, Family Gifting, Estate Planning Strategies and Liability Management. 

In collaboration with Wells Fargo Advisors' research team, Robert's team provides due diligence for each professionally managed account. Robert's techniques and team approach gives him the time necessary for daily client contact and comprehensive client reviews. His affluent group of investors realize the benefits of a structured process and team approach. Having experienced some of the best and worst financial markets over the last 30 years, Robert's process has proven resilient.


Personal and Family life

Robert graduated from the State University of New York with a bachelor's degree in Accounting with a Finance concentration. For the past 30 years, Robert has been an active member of his community, North Battery Park City/Tribeca in lower Manhattan. Robert also enjoys splitting  time and work between Southampton, NY and Miami, Fl with his wife Stacey and their three children: Holyn, Hutch and Kruse.  His two oldest children attend Poly Prep Country Day School.

Robert enjoys starting each day with physical fitness training.  Tennis is his family’s primary sport and Robert’s oldest daughter Holyn is a USTA nationally ranked  Jr tennis player. As such, Robert enjoys traveling the country with her to various national tennis events. 

Robert also enjoys mentoring his peer and provides investment planning to several not-for-profits. 

Robert holds his Series 7, 31, 63, and 65 securities registrations as well as insurance licenses.

Vincent is a cofounder of AKD Wealth Partners.  For almost twenty years, he has assisted clients and their families with achieving their long term goals.  Leveraging his expertise as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner, he helps clients navigate the many decisions and solutions necessary to achieve financial wellness.  His holistic approach includes investment planning, wealth management, insurance analysis, legacy and estate planning strategies, retirement planning and next generation planning.

Vincent also oversees corporate and executive services for the group.  With his comprehensive knowledge of equity and executive compensation, Vincent works with vast resources available through Wells Fargo Advisors Private Financial Network to coordinate equity compensation plan solutions for corporate clients.  He enjoys helping corporate executives with market insights and long term planning including trading strategies, Rule 10b5-1 trading plans, hedging ideas and concentrated position analysis.

Vincent’s strong organization skills, work ethic, dedication and client-centric approach allow both individual and corporate clients to fully realize the group’s extensive services and capabilities.

Vincent holds his Series 7, 9, 10, 63 and 65 securities registrations as well as insurance licenses.  He is a CFP® practitioner, Chartered Retirement Planning CounselorSM  and Accredited Investment Fiduciary®.

He graduated with top honors from the Stern School of Business at New York University with a double major in Finance and Marketing.  Vincent lives with his wife Marisa, their daughter Mariana and their son Miles in Ridgefield, CT.  Outside of work, Vincent enjoys physical fitness, distance and trail running, golf and cooking with his family.

Andrew Bennett is committed to meeting clients where they are on their financial journey and serving as a navigator to help them reach their goals. He understands the importance of educating and assisting investors as they develop investment strategies and implement tactics. A sailboat racer for over half his life, he values the ability to adapt to prevailing conditions and having the right people and resources around you.

A graduate of George Washington University, Andrew earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Economics and Public Policy. He learned how properly deployed money can improve individual lives and communities. As a member of Ackler Wealth Management Group, he shares their commitment to helping clients manage not just their financial futures, but in living the lives they’ve always wanted, supporting the causes they are most passionate about, and protecting their legacies.

Since joining Ackler Wealth Management and Wells Fargo Advisors, Andrew has proven himself as a team player. He conducts intense analysis on opportunities to strengthen the portfolios for clients and prospects, and he holds Series 7 and 66 registrations.

A native of Portland, Oregon, Andrew grew up in a family of artists. His minor in Art History expanded his appreciation of their creativity and provided him space for his own efforts. His father has a passion for classic cars, and in helping him restore them, Andrew saw the rewards of creating a plan and patiently following it through to completion.

In middle school, Andrew fell in love with dinghy sailing. He then joined his high school team and became captain. He took this forward to the collegiate level, where he sailed on the nationally ranked team for which he was fleet captain for three years. Always eager to share his love of the sport, he coached high school sailors in Portland and in Christmas Cove, ME. Now a resident of New York, he spends his free time exploring the many museums and galleries, cycling in and outside of the city and looking for ways to become involved in supporting local sailing.

Patricia (Patty) joined Ackler Wealth Management of Wells Fargo Advisors as a Senior Registered Client Associate in 2021. She is responsible for marketing, client management, and team support.

With over 15 years of experience in financial services, Patty’s career has focused on supporting the wealth management needs of clients, their families, and their goals. At Ackler Wealth Management she oversees all aspects of the day-to-day operations for the clients. From distribution requests to new account administration, Patricia delivers attentive and personalized service to support every client.

After earning her bachelor’s degree in Economics from Baruch College in New York City, Patty began her career at MassMutual/Fifth Avenue Financial. After twelve years, she moved to Merrill Lynch, followed by Janney Montgomery Scott. In each role, she had the same goal: provide each client with exceptional, individualized service in the administration of their accounts. Now with Ackler Wealth Management, she appreciates the in-depth, personal approach to understanding clients’ needs and goals and aligning investment strategies to help meet those goals.

With a love for the heart of New York, Patty lives near midtown Manhattan with her husband. She loves to cook and explore new restaurants in the city and likes to try the worldwide cuisine the city has to offer. She enjoys going to the theater, traveling, photography and spending time with friends and family.

Kelly-Ann grew up on the Caribbean island of Dominica, where she began her financial services career with Barclays Bank.  After migrating to the US, she joined Morgan Stanley as a Client Associate in 2010 before transferring to Axiom Capital and then to Wells Fargo Advisors in 2012, where she has been working with the Karp Executive Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors. As the Senior Registered Client Associate, Kelly-Ann brings a wealth of service and operational excellence to the Team. 

Kelly-Ann attended the University of the West Indies and earned an MBA from the University of Phoenix.  In addition to life and health insurance licenses, she holds FINRA licenses 7, 9 and 66.

During her leisure time, she enjoys reading, traveling and being outdoors. Together with her husband, Ivor, she is always keen on exploring all that New York City and its environs have to offer.