Wealth Advisor Briefing - New York - December 6, 2017

Ruth Easterling, Managing Director, Member Services

Ruth Easterling is Managing Director, Member Services, for Family Office Exchange (FOX). In her role, she provides relationship management for family and advisor members by aligning FOX services with the unique needs of each member. Ruth also co-moderates the Private Family Trust Company Network and works with the team at FOX to develop programming and insights for the Network.

Prior to her current responsibilities, Ruth led all FOX member services activities, and oversaw the delivery of conferences, educational forums, webinars, website resources and member communications annually. She has overseen marketing and drove the redesign and brand initiative that differentiates FOX today.

Under Ruth’s direction, FOX has integrated member feedback processes through satisfaction surveys and advisory boards to guide the development of new programs and services. She played a lead role in the design and delivery of the first comprehensive program for wealth owners known as the FOX Learning Academy.

Prior to joining FOX, Ruth worked with the professional services firm Smith, Bucklin & Associates, which provides management and consulting services to more than 180 associations. She served as executive director to professional associations ranging in size from 300 to 4,000 members, re-engineering membership structures and planning processes to better enable organizations to maximize their potential through efficient governance structures and member participation. In addition, Ruth often consulted with international and national organizations on strategic planning and governance design. 

Ruth holds a bachelor’s degree in Management and Leadership from Judson College. She is a volunteer leader in organizing her community’s food collection and distribution initiative that aids 350 families and volunteers at the Breakthrough shelter for women.

Charles B. Grace, III, Managing Director, Family Office Exchange

Charles B. Grace, III is Managing Director at FOX. Charlie works on strategic planning projects for families and family offices as well as wealth management advisor clients. Assignments have included work on advisor selection, education of the next generation, leadership and succession, governance, family office structuring, among others.

Charlie has been active for over twenty years in the family office community advising ultra-wealthy families and serving as a resource to ultra-wealthy families and family offices. He advised on investment portfolios and general wealth management for almost 10 years, working day-to-day at the multi-family office Ashbridge Investment Management LLC and the single family office Ashbridge, LLC. Charlie has been quoted in various publications on the subject of private wealth management, including The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, and Worth Magazine and presented at many conferences focused on private investors and family offices.

In addition to his responsibilities at FOX, Charlie has been active on the Board of the single family office Ashbridge, LLC since 1992 and in 2010 was named President. He is a Trustee and member of the Investment Committee of the non-profit Tuttle Fund, Inc. in New York City.

Charlie graduated from the Washington College of Law with a J.D. and is a member of the New York State Bar. He received a B.A. and M.A. in history from Bates College and the American University, respectively.