First Foundation Adds Accomplished Private Bankers to San Diego Team

Veteran Financial Executives to Serve Wealthy Families, Businesses in Region with Highly Personalized Banking Alongside Integrated Trust and Estate Planning, Money Management

SAN DIEGO--()--First Foundation Inc., a financial services company that provides investment management, wealth planning, consulting, trust, banking and insurance services primarily to high-net-worth individuals and businesses, today announced the hiring of two private bankers in its San Diego office, bolstering its team of experienced financial professionals.

“This strategic expansion of our team strengthens our expertise and enables us to further deepen relationships with clients while providing our signature customized approach to banking,” said David Rahn, President of First Foundation Bank. “These appointments will enhance our private banking capabilities by bringing decades of financial experience and a multicultural perspective to our local team.”

The appointments are:

Joubin Rahimi, with nearly 15 years of financial services experience, will serve as a private banker at First Foundation Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of First Foundation Inc. Mr. Rahimi’s clients will include successful individuals, families, businesses and nonprofits in the region. He is a past board member of the Association of Iranian American Professionals and is fluent in Farsi. He was named Wealth Manager of the Year by San Diego Magazine in 2007.

Prior to joining First Foundation, Mr. Rahimi was a private banker at First Republic and Comerica Bank in San Diego. Mr. Rahimi earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from California State University, San Diego.

Neel R. Pujara, a former entrepreneur and wealth management advisor as well as banker, brings more than a decade of broad-based financial and business expertise to his new role as private banker at First Foundation Bank. His experience in advising businesses as well as high-net-worth individuals regarding financial issues and opportunities will be utilized in serving the local San Diego office’s expanding client base. Invited to be featured on CNBC’s Young Turks for his entrepreneurial accomplishments, Mr. Pujari also possesses international financial experience and is fluent in Gujarati.

Before joining First Foundation, Mr. Pujara co-founded a stock brokerage firm that helped investors in India gain access to the US markets. Previously, he was a relationship manager at Bank of America and wealth management advisor at Merrill Lynch. Mr. Pujara earned a Bachelor of Science, Finance from San Diego State University.

“Joubin and Neel are not only consummate financial professionals, but engaged community leaders with deep ties to the diverse businesses and high-net-worth families of San Diego,” continued Rahn. “As we continue to expand in San Diego to meet the demand for both banking and wealth management services, these private bankers will play a key role in delivering the exceptional service for which we are known.”

Both bankers will work from the First Foundation San Diego office located in the La Jolla region at 4510 Executive Dr, San Diego.

About First Foundation

First Foundation, a financial institution founded in 1990, provides integrated investment management, wealth planning, consulting, trust and banking services. The company is headquartered in Irvine with offices in Irvine, Newport Beach, Pasadena, West Los Angeles, San Diego, Palm Desert and the Imperial Valley in California, and Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, please visit our website at www.ff-inc.com.

Contacts

First Foundation
Carrie Huntley
(800) 224-7931
(949) 732-6272 – Direct Line
(949) 732-6282 – Fax

Contacts

First Foundation
Carrie Huntley
(800) 224-7931
(949) 732-6272 – Direct Line
(949) 732-6282 – Fax