Leigh Ferst is a Director, Private Wealth Advisor at Morse Towey White at Hightower. She brings more than 25 years of experience in investment management, research, and strategic communications to our team. Leigh possesses a deep knowledge of the stock market, with robust experience in equity research on the consumer sector. She was an early investor in several startup companies via Golden Seeds Angel Investors.  She advises our individual, family and charitable clients on all their financial matters.

Prior to joining Hightower in 2018, Leigh held a similar role at Wellington Shields, where she also contributed investment research on the consumer sector. Her previous research experience includes positions at SG Warburg (now UBS) and Prudential Securities. She was named to the Institutional Investor All Star team in 1994 and recognized for equity research excellence by The Wall Street Journal in 1993 and 1996. Leigh also was an investor relations executive of Unilever and Sara Lee Corporation.

Leigh formerly served as President of the Consumer Analysts Group of New York and currently holds the Series 7, 63, 65, 86 and 87 licenses. She earned a Master of Business Administration degree from New York University’s Stern School of Business, a Master of Science degree in Landscape Design from Columbia University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Comparative Literature from Brown University. 

In her free time, Leigh volunteers at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where she helps educate those with special needs. She recently served on the board of her NYC residential co-op. Leigh is a dedicated artist and often travels abroad to hone her craft, painting or sketching new landscapes. A native of Atlanta, Leigh is a long-time New Yorker who takes full advantage of the city’s culture—particularly its music, dance, visual arts, and food.