On February 27, more than 20 SAR Seniors donned their business casual outfits and boarded a Hudson Yards bound bus to AllianceBernstein’s New York City corporate headquarters. The students, accompanied by their teacher, Ms. Gloria Schneider, headed to the mega money manager to apply the knowledge and skills learned in their AP Macroeconomics class to the real-world domains of private client and fiduciary management.
The trip began with a warm welcome to AllianceBerstein’s impressive offices in Hudson Yard’s newly constructed Spiral building. Spanning 189,000 square feet across four floors, AllianceBernstein’s New York City office was magnificent, featuring vibrant colors, coffee shops, plush lounges and private meditation rooms with floor-to-ceiling panoramic city views.
The visit kicked off with a marathon-paced informational session with AllianceBerstein’s Senior Research Analyst, Mr. Chris Brigham. He provided an overview of the firm’s global presence and niche private client services, delving into current market dynamics. Mr. Brigham discussed factors influencing today’s markets, such as tariffs and decreased consumption, and emphasized the challenges of predicting geopolitical impacts on the macroeconomy. While Mr. Brigham said he constantly consumes information, he stressed the importance of making informed, calculated investment decisions rather than reacting impulsively to market trends.
Reflecting on the session, one student commented. “I really enjoyed hearing Chris’s macro breakdown of the economy. He was clearly very smart and educated, and the way he tied everything together was really great to hear.”
Following the introduction, the students heard from three SAR alumni, Ms. Sarah Rebarber (’16), Mr. Ariel Smith (’16) and Mr. Sammy Marcus (’14). The three panelists work in different parts of the conglomerate, giving the students insights into various opportunities and careers in AllianceBernstein. Ms. Rebarber, a Senior Associate Portfolio Manager, discussed her day-to-day role and her niche experience as the only woman and Jew in her department. Mr. Smith, an Assistant Vice President for AllianceBernstein’s private client division, shared insights into the relationship-driven nature of private client management and the importance of networking early in one’s career. Meanwhile, Mr. Marcus, a Senior Associate for Foundational and Institutional Advisory Services, discussed the rewarding work of coordinating non-profit funding, highlighting AllianceBernsteins’ dedicated branch of nonprofits as one of its standout aspects.
All three alumni highlighted AllianceBernstein’s religious acceptance—enabling Ms. Rebarber to leave early on Fridays despite her job’s dependency on market hours, Mr. Smith’s ability to teach his many colleagues about the beauties of Judaism and allowing Mr. Marcus to leave work to daven three times a day.
The visit left a lasting impression on the students. “I really enjoyed it and was impressed that they didn’t know what they wanted to do [in high school] but ended up getting to their current position. Also, they’re all so knowledgeable and know the economy well,” one student exclaimed. Other students appreciated the career advice given by the panelists. “My first takeaway is how important it is to start networking young, as you will never know what doors it will open for you in the future,” another student said.
As the students left the Spiral Building excited and inspired, they huddled together for a class selfie with the iconic vessel structure, a perfect ending to their morning at Hudson Yards.
