James Sahagian is a Managing Director and Partner of Steward Partners. He provides comprehensive planning and investment advice. He prioritizes a personalized approach in working with each of his clients and tailoring his recommendations based on their individual goals and risk-tolerance. If a working relationship is developed, he can work with you to help achieve your investment planning and financial goals.

For more than 26 years, James has helped his clients address their financial concerns by developing investment and financial planning strategies focused on each of his clients’ specific needs and risk tolerance. With extensive experience throughout major shifts in the markets, James has dedicated his career to delivering the personalized investment planning services his clients deserve. He is focused on taking a holistic, long-term, planning-based approach to assist his clients in achieving their personal financial goals.

James began his career as a Financial Advisor with Smith Barney in Paramus, New Jersey in 1999, where he developed his fundamental investment knowledge. After ten years at Smith Barney, he joined Wachovia Securities, a predecessor firm of Wells Fargo Advisors, in 2009, to take a team approach in providing personalized financial advice for individuals and families. From 2012-2021, James has earned the Premier Advisor designation. This designation is held by a select group of Financial Advisors within Wells Fargo Advisors as measured by business production, completion of educational components and professionalism. James also earned his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® designation, a mark earned by only a minority of advisors in the industry due to the rigorous qualification criteria. In 2022, James joined Steward Partners to provide his clients with the benefits of a forward-thinking multi-custodial, independent Registered Investment Advisor (RIA). 

James has a diverse set of lifetime experiences ranging from serving six years in the New Jersey Army National Guard, to having owned and operated a successful shipping and logistics franchise business – Worldwide Express. He attended Rutgers College as an undergraduate, having earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and continued his studies at the Rutgers Graduate School of Management earning a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance. After earning his undergraduate degree, James worked for Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon division as a Financial Analyst.

James lives in Mahwah, New Jersey with his wife Maral and their two children Ari and Seta. He is a lifelong member of the Armenian Presbyterian Church of Paramus, NJ, where he currently serves as an Elder. He enjoys travel, sports and spending time with his family and friends. He particularly enjoys providing financial literacy education to audiences of all ages. He is actively involved in several community organizations promoting cultural activities, youth programs, and educational endeavors.

Office: (201) 904-2332
Fax: (201) 904-2338
E-mail: [email protected]

Peter T. Gordinier is a Director and Partner of Steward Partners. He has worked in the financial services industry for over 35 years and has been a Financial Advisor for more than 25 years. Peter feels strongly that financial advice and planning should be as unique as the individuals and families that have entrusted him. With many years of experience helping clients navigate all varieties of market conditions, Peter understands that the strategies and plans he tailors to suit you and your family must not only be durable enough to last for your lifetime and potentially for future generations, but also be flexible to adapt to the inevitable twist and turns life has to offer. In order to accomplish this, Peter will listen carefully to learn about your previous investment experience, he will make sure to understand your tolerance for risk, and will discuss with you your future goals. He will then develop a plan of action and review it with you to make sure it is in alignment with your views. Lastly, he will implement your plan and continue to work with you to make adjustments as needed and monitor your progress.

Peter graduated from Bucknell University in 1985, with a BA degree in Economics. His first job out of college was working for Morgan Guarantee Trust Company in New York City, where his last position was Assistant Treasurer in the firm’s Institutional Securities Lending department. Peter’s entry into the wealth management business came in 1996 when he was accepted into Smith Barney’s brokerage training program, where he became securities and insurance licensed as a Financial Advisor, working in the firm’s Paramus, NJ office. After growing his practice for almost 13 years with Smith Barney, Peter accepted the position of Vice President with Wells Fargo Advisors, working in a team setting with colleagues from the firm’s Private Bank and the Retail Bank, helping clients maximize their potential, utilizing both the lending and investment sides of their balance sheet. In March 2022, Peter and former colleagues from Smith Barney and Wells Fargo Advisors decided to take their vast industry knowledge and fulfill a lifelong desire to own their own practice, by forming a team and affiliating with Steward Partners Global Advisory. We chose Steward Partners because they share our entrepreneurial spirit, are similarly aligned with always putting the client’s interests first, and offer a very broad array of services through a multi-custodial approach, which will allow us to service our clients in the manner they deserve.

Peter lives in Bergen County, NJ with his wife and two sons. He and his family are active parishioners in Our Lady of Mercy church in Park Ridge. Peter is a sports enthusiast, having played many sports through high school and into college, and he spent many years coaching youth recreational league sports (football, baseball, basketball and lacrosse) in town and at his church. His current passion is fresh water fishing, particularly in the Adirondack regions of upstate New York.

Office: (201) 904-2348
Fax: (201) 904-2338
E-mail: [email protected]

David Puccia is a vice president at Steward Partners with over 25 years of experience as a financial advisor. David is passionate about relationship building and understands the relationship between an advisor and his client is more than financial assets. He has helped his clients develop sound financial strategies by focusing on each client's needs and helping them identify their life goals and investment objectives. David understands that communication and trust are essential components not only in developing a financial strategy but in maintaining any relationship.

David worked for Wells Fargo and its legacy banks since 1979. The chance to partner with James and Peter, along with the opportunities offered by Raymond James, made an otherwise difficult decision easy to make. David and his team at Steward take seriously their financial and ethical responsibilities. They understand what it takes to manage wealth for individuals and families and pledge to provide objective financial advice and investment management services.

David graduated from Lafayette College with a degree in Economics and earned his MBA from Seton Hall University with a concentration in Finance.

David lives in Kinnelon with his wife Julie and has 2 adult children. He is an active member at Our Lady of the Magnificat Church in Kinnelon and is currently an officer with the Knights of Columbus.

Office: (201) 904-2382
Fax: (201) 904-2338
E-mail: [email protected]

Russell Meccia is a Wealth Advisor and Partner at Ramapo Wealth Advisors. He has over 10 years of experience in financial services and over 15 years in management. Prior to joining the firm, Russell was an Assistant Vice President at Wells Fargo, holding Series 7 and 66 securities licenses along with his life insurance license. Beginning at Wells Fargo as a branch manager and then transitioning to the Senior Branch Premier Banker, Russell focused on building client relationships and providing investment and advisory services to individuals and businesses with his team at Wells Fargo Advisors. While partnering with colleagues in the Private Bank he gained experience in portfolio management and custom credit lines.

Prior to starting his career in financial services, Russell gained additional work and life experiences working in the restaurant business. He was a manager of a fine dining restaurant in Bergen County for 6 years. He also worked at a waterfront seafood restaurant in the Outer Banks of North Carolina for a few seasons. With this diverse background, Russell has dedicated his career to serve his clients by taking a detailed approach to understanding his client’s priorities and long-term goals.

Russell graduated from Coastal Carolina University with a BA in Political Science. He resides in Hackensack, NJ with his wife Erin and two young boys RJ & Max. Russell enjoys spending time together with his wife tending to their vegetable garden. He also stays active by jogging and continues to play baseball and softball. Russell also relishes boating and surfing while at the beach with family and friends.

Office: (201) 904-2396
Fax: (201) 904-2338
E-mail: [email protected]

Ritu Bhayana is a Wealth Advisor and Partner at Ramapo Wealth Advisors. With 23 years of experience in financial services, in various capacities, Ritu brings a strong background of client service and wealth management experience to her role at Ramapo Wealth Advisors. Ritu has had a diverse set of professional and life experiences, continuing to grow with every new role. She started her career as a teller at PNC bank and worked her way up through different positions including assistant branch manager. branch manager, financial specialist, and finally a senior premier banker at Wells Fargo prior to joining the Ramapo Wealth Advisors team. Ritu often connects with her clients on a personal level and therefore retains a deeper understanding of their situation and investment needs. This helps her process a customized plan to fit their financial goals. Holding Series 7 and 66 securities licenses along with her life insurance license, Ritu is very passionate about helping her clients. She always makes sure to go the extra mile for them. Ritu has been married to her husband Gautam for 25 years and they have two daughters, Charvi and Nainika. When she is not working, Ritu enjoys spending time with her family traveling, and exploring new destinations. She also enjoys quiet time at home working in her garden and cooking and trying different recipes.

Office: (201) 255-4341
Fax: (201) 904-2338
E-mail: [email protected]

Alex Tirso is a Wealth Advisor and Partner of Steward Partners. He helps successful individuals demystify the financial puzzle with the financial planning process. As a CFP® Practitioner, Alex works alongside his clients to help them flesh out their specific long-term needs and craft a holistic plan to get them there.

With more than a decade of experience in the financial industry, Alex brings expertise in financial planning and asset management. His career journey began at UBS and Merrill Lynch, where he honed his skills in advising individual clients on their financial goals and investments. For the past 8 years, Alex has excelled as a Vice President at Invesco, one of the largest asset managers in the industry, where he consulted financial advisors on investment strategies.

Alex holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from The University of Maryland. As a believer in lifelong learning, Alex earned his Certified Financial Planner designation in July 2022 and attained his Certified Investment Management Analyst designation via Yale Executive Education Program in November 2018.

Alex lives in Union City, New Jersey with his wife Cristina and their son, Sebastian. He is an avid runner, having completed two New York City marathons, as well as the Chicago marathon in October 2024. He loves to read or listen to podcasts on personal development and health & wellness. He and his wife are avid travelers, having visited more than 20 countries. They enjoy blending adventure vacations, having hiked Machu Pichu, the W-Trek in Patagonia, and spending 3 days in the Amazon jungle.

Office: (201) 942-1503
Fax: (201) 904-2338
E-mail: [email protected]

Yan is a Registered Client Services Manager at Ramapo Wealth Advisors. She has more than 8 years of experience in financial services and holds the Series 7 and 66 securities licenses. She also holds life and health insurance licenses. Yan provides operational and administrative support to the financial advisor team and their clients.

Yan graduated from Binghamton University in 2012, with a BA degree in Mathematics. She has worked in various roles in the banking industry moving over to Wealth Management at Wells Fargo Advisors in 2020. Yan lives in Mahwah, NJ with her husband Ryan and two children Emma and Liam. She enjoys traveling, hiking and spending time with her family.

Office: (201) 904-2386
Fax: (201) 904-2338
E-mail: [email protected]

Maral came to the United States as an international student and after graduating from the Chubb Institute of Technology, she started her career as a programmer for the Market Data Department of the New York Stock Exchange in 2000. After surviving 9/11 and giving birth to her son Ari, she left Wall Street and started her first Worldwide Express (a privately held global logistics company) franchise in Rockland County NY. She ran the company for 15 years during which, as one of three women franchisees in a pool of 150, she grew her business by expanding throughout the Hudson Valley, parts of New York City and into the Harrisburg PA markets. Over the years, she used her background in IT and networking to support the various changing needs of her companies, as well as the clients she serviced.

When her husband James decided to embark on this new chapter of his career by establishing Ramapo Wealth Advisors and affiliating with Steward Partners, it was a natural progression for her to play a very strategic role of support in helping him realize his vision.

Maral brings to Ramapo Wealth Advisors a diverse professional background and a unique skill set. Her IT knowledge, entrepreneurial background, strong understanding of customer service and client support makes her a valuable member to the team.

Maral resides in Mahwah NJ with her husband James, her son Ari & daughter Seta. In her spare time she volunteers and serves on the board of various non for profit organizations. She enjoys organizing fundraisers, cooking and entertaining friends, traveling, going to the movies and cheering at her daughter's gymnastics competitions.

Office: (201) 904-2339
Fax: (201) 904-2338
E-mail: [email protected]

Michelle is a Marketing Client Associate at Ramapo Wealth Advisors. Michelle coordinates event planning along with marketing and promotional campaigns for the entire Ramapo Wealth Advisors team.

She graduated from Ramapo College in 2023, with a BA in Marketing, as well as her MBA in 2024. She currently lives in Elmwood Park, NJ. She enjoys going to the beach, traveling, cooking, and spending time with family.

Office: (201) 255-4347
Fax: (201) 904-2338
E-mail: [email protected]