Joseph Torres

Joe has 34 years of experience advising affluent families, small businesses, institutions and endowments. He has obtained the prestigious CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^® certification. A thorough understanding of concepts concentrated within the categories of banking, estate planning services, taxation, philanthropy and liability management are part of Joe’s practice.

Joe is currently a member of, and holds committee positions with, the boards of The Noble Maritime Collection, The Staten Island Economic Development Corporation, Richmond University Medical Center, Project Hospitality, The Staten Island Chamber of Commerce Foundation, The Richmond County Country Club, Community Board 2 and The South Shore Rotary. A graduate of Msgr. Farrell HS, he earned a BA in Economics from NYU, prior to entering his career in Wealth Management.

Joe lives in Staten Island with his wife and daughter. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with family, golf, collecting vinyl records and Beatles memorabilia, entertaining guests, volunteering and community activism.

What Matters Most
“Most importantly, I’ve cultivated a skill for listening. Listening to where a potential client feels he/she needs to be in five, ten, thirty years…Listening for risk tolerances and comfort levels…And listening to my strategic partners in discovering new ways to improve my service platform and keep abreast of new developments from Washington, Wall Street and Main Street. When I choose a practitioner, I look for someone who is a product of his or her practice. I became such a “product” when I realized that becoming totally immersed in a trade is inevitable when one truly enjoys their craft.

“I believe investors should not be making important financial decisions in a vacuum and their best decisions result from organized collaboration among highly qualified, credentialed advisors.  Before a wealth management decision is made, a relationship is required. I have collaborated with each of my clients, their accountants, attorneys, strategists, advisors and for that matter, anyone with a hand in their financial well-being. A collaboration involves identifying objectives, establishing a plan and working together to assess and maintain the result of well informed decisions. Having a strong core value system has placed me in the advantaged position of organizing technicians, whether they be attorneys or accountants, in a committee to best serve the affluent client.”



*Merrill, its affiliates, and financial advisors do not provide legal, tax, or accounting advice. You should consult your legal and/or tax advisors before making any financial decisions. 
I follow the deep-seated Merrill tradition of participating in the communities we serve. This drives my interest in spending time volunteering with organizations in our community.