BNY Mellon Wealth Management's Ridgway Powell has been named a 2010 FIVE STAR: Best in Client Satisfaction Wealth Manager. The list, created by an independent research firm for Boston magazine, identifies the top wealth managers for client satisfaction in the greater Boston area. Less than 7% of wealth managers in the region made the list of 400 professionals, according to research firm Crescendo Business Services.

"Client satisfaction is one of our highest priorities at BNY Mellon; and it's gratifying to see talented individuals like Ridge recognized for their professionalism and diligence," said David F. Lamere, chief executive of BNY Mellon Wealth Management, which is based in Boston. 

"Our Family Office business has been one of the fastest growing segments within wealth management at BNY Mellon and client focus helps us to attract and retain these clients," added Donald J.  Heberle, Executive Director - Family Office and International Businesses.

As  director of investments for BNY Mellon Wealth Management's Family Office Services group,  Powell works directly with clients to establish and implement portfolio strategies.  Prior to joining the Family Office Services group, he was a team leader and senior portfolio manager responsible for $1.7 billion of client assets.  Before becoming a client portfolio manager in 1997, Powell was responsible for Mellon Private Asset Management's taxable bond group.

In addition to participating in several strategic teams within the company, he is a member of the Boston Security Analysts Society and member of the board of the Joslin Diabetes Board of Overseers.  Powell earned his Bachelor of Arts in economics from Denison University and is a CFA charter holder. He lives in Concord, Mass., with his wife and two children.

Crescendo said the list was based on its surveys of as many as 200,000 high net worth individuals (identified by the company) and 10,000 financial services professionals who were asked to name and evaluate up to three wealth managers.

Recipients were asked to comment only on wealth managers they personally knew and to evaluate them on customer service, integrity, knowledge/expertise, communication, value for fee charged, meeting of financial objectives, post-sale service, quality of recommendations and overall satisfaction. Only wealth managers with five years of experience in the industry were considered, Crescendo said.

Other factors that determined the results were whether the manager had been the subject of regulatory actions, or complaints. According to Crescendo, a panel of top financial services professionals also reviewed the list.

BNY Mellon Wealth Management is among the nation's leading wealth managers, with more than 225 years of experience in providing investment management, wealth and estate planning, and private banking services to financially successful individuals and families, their family offices and business enterprises, charitable gift programs, and endowments and foundations. It  is  among  the top 10 U.S. wealth  managers  with  about  $151 billion  in  private client assets and an extensive network of offices in the U.S. and internationally.  BNY Mellon Wealth Management products and services are provided by subsidiary banks and trust companies of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation.

BNY Mellon is the corporate brand of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation.  BNY Mellon is a global financial services company focused on helping clients manage and service their financial assets, operating in 34 countries and serving more than 100 markets. The company is a leading provider of financial services for institutions, corporations and high-net-worth individuals, providing superior asset management and wealth management, asset servicing, issuer services, clearing services and treasury services through a worldwide client-focused team. It has $19.5 trillion in assets under custody and administration, $881 billion in assets under management, and processes global payments averaging $1.8 trillion per day. Additional information is available at www.bnymellon.com.