History

Established in 1983, FLI was the first local wealth management company to provide comprehensive and sophisticated investment advisory and financial services primarily for affluent Long Island individuals, families and select institutions. Until then, these investors either sought guidance from New York City based firms, local banks or brokerage firms, or attempted to self-direct their wealth management needs.

The evolution of FLI began in 1975 with the relationship of a small group of advisors, led by FLI Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Robert D. Rosenthal, to the well-known Entenmann bakery family. These experienced professionals developed a plan to grow the bakery business, designed and implemented an exit strategy and, subsequently, provided the appropriate wealth management services to different generations of the Entenmann family.

This plan included strategic enhancements to the business, an initial public offering and the ultimate sale of the company to the Warner Lambert Company. The sale created significant liquid wealth, which was prudently invested and administered for the family. Mr. Rosenthal and his colleagues found that the lessons they learned operating and growing this business provided an excellent foundation for the creation of sound, long-term investment strategies.

In October 1983, Mr. Rosenthal, along with Ralph F. Palleschi (FLI President and Chief Operating Officer), established First Long Island Investors. Today, approximately one quarter of a century later, our objective remains the same: to provide a practical range of investment and wealth management solutions for a select group of high net-worth individuals, families and select institutions drawn primarily from the metropolitan New York area.