Peter Ruhlin, who had been with Steward Partners, the New York-based wealth management firm, for about five years, passed away on July 27 after a battle with cancer, according to published reports. The 64-year-old was serving as chief legal officer and head of strategic initiatives at Steward.
Steward has hired Debra Achkire, who leaves Lido Advisors after less than two years in the general counsel role, to serve as general counsel, the firm confirmed. Achkire joined Lido in 2023 from First Republic Bank, now part of JP Morgan Chase, where she served as vice president and associate general counsel for six years. Prior to that, she was an executive director at Morgan Stanley.
A spokesperson for Lido did not respond to a request for comment on Achkire’s departure.
Ruhlin was surrounded by his family when he passed away in Hilton Head Island, S.C., according to his obituary. He leaves behind his wife, Holly, their four children and one granddaughter.
He attended Brown University, earning a mechanical engineering degree, and then Boston College Law School, where he earned his J.D.
Prior to joining Steward, he was a managing partner and chief financial officer of The Private Wealth Partners, formerly FallLine Group. Prior to that, he was president and chief operating officer of Samoset Capital Group. He spent the first 20 years of his career in private law practice.
He was diagnosed with cancer in 2024.
As of June, Steward Partners had over $40 billion in total assets, 590 partners, 296 advisors and 73 offices. This follows news this month that Steward brought on a $481 million North Canton, Ohio-based firm formerly with Ameriprise. Longbridge Wealth Advisors will join Steward’s legacy advisor division with 10 people.
The firm is majority-owned by its partners and has minority interests from the Cynosure Group and the Pritzker Organization.
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