About Next Level Private

• 2022 #8 Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisor New York State 
• 2021 #9 Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisor New York State 
• 2020 #14 Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisor New York State 
• 2019 #15 Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisor New York State 
• 2018 #17 Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisor New York State 

Barry embarked on his journey to change the face of the financial services industry in 1987.  During his 35-year career, Barry has proven to be eminently qualified to help clients and their families in his role as their trusted advocate.  He has helped them navigate every type of market environment helping them sleep at night since 1987, as they march towards financial independence.  He takes great pride in his ability to add value by providing clients with a high standard of support, collaboration and knowledge. 

Barry founded Next Level Private with his team in 2021 as a registered independent advisor to serve their clients and community in a better way as fiduciaries.  It is important to recognize and understand that NXT is not a broker dealer, and because of that Barry, the firm and all of its employees are held to a higher standard of care, known as the fiduciary standard. 

Barry is a 1983 graduate of Iona Prep and in 1987 graduated from Boston College Carroll School of Management with a B.S. in Finance and Marketing.  His belief in continual learning has earned him multiple industry designations including the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC®), the Chartered Retirement Plan Specialist (CRPS®), and the Chartered Advisor of Philanthropy (CAP®).  Since 2018, Barry has been recognized annually as a Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisor for New York State.  He is currently ranked #8.  Next Level Private has recently been recognized on Financial Advisor magazine’s list of America’s Top RIA’s in 2022.  Next Level Private has also been featured as “The Face of Financial Advocacy” in 914 Inc and Westchester Magazine.  Westfair Communications has also recognized Barry as a Top Wealth Advisor for Westchester/Fairfield counties since 2018.  Next Level Private and Barry currently advise on and manage in excess of $750 million of assets and liabilities. 

Barry’s ethos for Next Level Private, and the way he and his wife Elisabeth live their lives encompasses helping others and continuously finding ways to give back to their communities.  Barry is often heard saying “Do something for someone today that will change their life tomorrow,”  a simple and tremendously powerful way to live.  Barry, Lis and the Next Level family are keenly focused on giving back to many charitable organizations and philanthropic causes.  Barry has recently joined the boards of Hospice of Westchester and Meals on Main Street (a soup kitchen in Port Chester formerly known as Caritas.)  He is a member of Elizabeth Seton’s Children’s Leadership Council and the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick.  Barry and Lis are also National Co-Chairs of the Crusader Athletic Fund for the College of the Holy Cross.  Barry has supported and participated in Swim Across America for over 15 years and is the sponsor and captain of the Next Level Private SAA team which raised $37,000 in 2021.  Barry, Lis and NXT are also passionate supporters of Bronx Lacrosse, Soul Ryders, Buying Time, Each One Counts, Iona Prep Father’s Council, The Picture House (Pelham and Bronxville), Don Bosco Community Center, and many other important community organizations.  Barry and Next Level Private are also now sponsors for the New York State Trials Lawyers Association and actively participate, educate and support many of the PBA’s here in Westchester County.  

The Mitchells raised their three children in Rye, New York.  The oldest two are college graduates – Barry III, Boston College ’21, and Margaret, College of the Holy Cross ’22.  John ’25 is currently attending the College of the Holy Cross and playing on the lacrosse team.  Both Barry and Margaret played lacrosse in college as well.  Barry is an avid golfer and open water swimming enthusiast. 

Jenny is co-founder of Next Level Private and is responsible for our robust client engagement model. She started in the client services end of the financial services industry right out of college, and teamed up with Barry in 1999. Jenny’s interactions with clients for more than two decades have led her to create the experience our clients benefit from today.

Overseeing all service and operation for Next Level Private, her team’s commitment to excellence begins with communication, fairness, and a deep understanding of the priorities and needs of each client. She treats our clients like family and is always enthusiastic and eager to help. While Jenny is good at many things, she is extremely good at one in particular—making sure our clients know they are in the most trustworthy and efficient hands. Jenny is a consummate problem solver. She doesn’t just embrace the culture of community here at Next Level Private—she created it.

Jenny graduated from Connecticut College with a B.A. in art history. She grew up at the Jersey Shore and enjoys spending summers there with her family. She lives in Purchase, New York, with her husband and two children, Nora (10) and Theo (6).

As our chief operating officer, Kate is responsible for all back office operations. Her diligent oversight empowers the team to focus on and deliver an exceptional client experience. She brings more than 30 years of experience helping companies improve operations in order to grow. 

Registered as a CPA in New York and New Jersey, Kate received her MBA in finance from Columbia Business School. She also earned an undergraduate degree in accounting from the University of Delaware. As a Partner in the audit practice at PwC, Kate eloquently balanced excellent client service and independence while serving Fortune 500 companies and small start-ups. More recently she worked in a consulting capacity, advising companies accessing the public markets and leading the technical accounting practice at MorganFranklin Consulting. 

Kate lives in Rye, New York where she and her husband David raised three children. Kate and David are active supporters of a number of not-for-profit organizations in the Westchester community. Since 2016, they have worked with the Don Bosco Scholars Program in Port Chester, NY mentoring first generation high school seniors through their college application process. Kate and her children spent many Saturday mornings at the Don Bosco Community Center helping, and ultimately running, the Read Aloud Program. The whole family brings their energy and enthusiasm to The Sharing Shelf, which addresses clothing insecurity and meets the basic material needs of low-income children and teens in Westchester County. The Bluvols have also supported the Soul Ryeders organization over the years. They assist with the annual TieTheTownPink Campaign, which highlights Breast Cancer Awareness month but also supports anyone impacted by cancer.

Gary has an unparalleled passion for helping others design the life they always envisioned. He prides himself in building lifelong relationships with each and every one of our clients, considering them an extended part of our family. Whether meeting at your kitchen table or your office, Gary enjoys nothing more than getting to know our clients on an intimate level and thoroughly understanding their unique goals, passions, aspirations, and hopes and dreams. Through these meaningful conversations, he is able to outline a financial roadmap that has a “real” purpose—allowing clients to take their financial health to the next level. One of Gary’s greatest pleasures is helping others turn their dreams into a reality, striving towards financial independence so they are able to live a much more fulfilled and rewarding life. 

Gary brings over a decade of experience in the financial services industry in both personalized financial planning and risk management, which are key priorities for our clients. He truly believes in investing in one’s self, and through advanced training has earned the Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) designation. With this extra layer of education, Gary helps clients and other business owners take their companies to the next level. He implements a plan that strives consistently to improve their overall value and ultimately places them in the best position for a future monetization event.

Gary graduated from Fairfield University with both a B.A. and M.A. in finance. He was a member of their NCAA Division I lacrosse team where he was also a team captain his senior year. He is currently the co-president of the Fairfield University men’s lacrosse alumni association. Gary grew up in Yorktown, New York and is a member of the Yorktown Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He is also an active member of the Mamaroneck/Harrison Rotary Club. Gary is an owner of the Predators Lacrosse Club, where he currently oversees the Youth Program. He and his wife Danielle live in Fairfield County with their daughter, Sienna Rose. 

After leaving a career in finance to raise a family, Maggie joined our team in 2013. She currently spearheads our marketing efforts and leads our team in finding ways to continually enhance the client experience. 

Maggie understands client needs and focuses on helping to provide the highest levels of exemplary service and attention to detail. She is also responsible for introducing our team to successful people who are looking to make more informed financial decisions. Her strong finance background combined with her warm and engaging personality make Maggie a welcome member of our team and an invaluable partner to our clients.

Maggie graduated from Boston College in 1995 and began her career at Morgan Stanley Investment Management. She is also licensed as an investment advisor representative. Maggie lives in Port Chester, New York with her husband Scott and their four children, Ryan, Morgan, Sean, and Casey.

Jennifer joined the team in 2017. She brings incredible commitment to each client relationship with her genuine passion to help people. She aims to exceed expectations for assisting all clients efficiently and effectively. With Jennifer on our team, we are strongly positioned to deliver the advice our clients need to progress towards financial independence.

Jennifer is a 2009 graduate of Western New England College with a B.A. in psychology. In her free time, she enjoys snowboarding and cycling.

Phil joined our firm after 28 successful years in the investment management business at Citi. He started his career at Shearson Lehman Brothers, transitioning through several roles and mergers. These culminated in his position at the Citi Private Bank as a senior portfolio manager. Phil brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in helping clients achieve their financial goals.

A 1986 graduate of the State University of New York in Albany, Phil holds a B.S. in economics. He also earned an MBA in finance from Iona College. Phil is a certified USA Swimming Official as well as a board member and treasurer of the Westchester County Swim Conference. An active volunteer, he has coached youth sports as well as serving on the Village of Larchmont Budget Committee and the Church of St. Augustine Parish Council. Phil grew up in Larchmont, New York where he and his wife Lucy raised their four children.

Nick joined our firm in 2020. He brings experience in relationship management along with a strong commitment to each and every client. Nick will be an essential part of introducing successful people to our practice. His addition to the group adds depth to our team, and helps deliver even more value for our clients every day. Nick is laser focused on enhancing the client experience. The entire team’s ultimate goal is helping clients improve their financial wellness, allowing for financial freedom and the ability to live life on their terms.

Nick graduated from Syracuse University Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics in 2017. While at Syracuse, he was a two-time lacrosse All-ACC selection and was recognized as a first team All-American lacrosse player during his senior year. Nick’s athletic background has instilled leadership and passion for hard work as well as teamwork. In his free time Nick can be found on a lacrosse field either coaching or playing. He also enjoys golfing with friends and family. Nick currently resides in Upper Westchester.

Kaitlyn joined Next Level Private in 2021. She enjoys engaging with all of our clients to help with service and operational needs. She is incredibly efficient and client focused. Kaitlyn finds one-on-one interactions with clients to be the very best part of any day.

A graduate of Loyola University in Maryland, Kaitlyn earned a B.A. in communication with a specialization in advertising and public relations. She loves to travel, but being home with family is where she is happiest. Kaitlyn loves coffee, changing seasons, and country music.

Russ Baker joins Next Level Private after a successful 35-year career in the financial services industry trading securities at various big banks. Russ’s most rewarding days did not come from getting the market correct. Rather, Russ realized his sense of worth came from contribution. This unnegotiable desire to help others pulled him to help build a business at C-19 Safety First where he served as the Director of Operations and Client Services. During this time Russ was dedicated to bringing New York back to work and school safely from Covid-19 managing testing programs for Westchester Schools, NYC Charter Schools, as well as the U.S. Tennis Open and the Metropolitan Opera. As a client for over 20 years, Russ knew providing for others was a way of life here at Next Level Private. Russ and his wife Jennifer value the many evening kitchen table conversations with Barry to navigate life’s happy and challenging curves. Russ knew first-hand the importance of what Next Level Private gives to their clients and was compelled to be part of something this unique in the wealth management and planning business.

Russ lives in New Rochelle with his wife, Jennifer. He is extremely proud of the family and life they have built. They raised 4 children—Meghan, Brian, Lauren and Kevin—and became grandparents in 2021. Russ is very proud that through thoughtful planning, his children all went on to receive their college degrees. That commitment to planning is yet another reason that Russ is such a great fit for the team as his passion is to help successful regular people plan for, and continue to build toward, financial independence. Russ brings professional and family life experience along with the understanding that in life, things change. He appreciates the need for a strong financial plan to help with life’s changes and a healthy financial future. 

Russ and his family are longtime supporters of Swim Across America—as donors and as swimmers. Outside of the office, you can find Russ out for a swim or on the paddle tennis courts. Russ is a 1983 Graduate of Chaminade High School and earned a B.S. in Finance from Villanova University 1986, where he was a member of the Villanova Rugby Club and LXA Fraternity.

Following an exciting sales role at an international export-management company Melissa joined Next Level Private in 2022 as a Client Advocate. Her addition to our Next Level Team offers yet another incredible level of client service and care. Melissa prides herself on finding efficient solutions for every client and she prioritizes making clients feel comfortable and confident in all of their interactions.  Her goals align perfectly with our team’s mission of putting clients’ interests above all else.   

Melissa is a 2019 graduate of Iona University in New Rochelle with a B.A. in Business Administration, specialization in International Business. She is lifelong resident of Harrison, New York although her family roots stem from Colombia and Peru.  Melissa is fluent in Spanish and passionate about discovering her family’s history and culture through travel. Melissa loves animals and when she is not in the office you can find her reading, writing, and cooking.