Choosing your professional financial team is one of the most important decisions in your financial life. While no introduction offers the same insights as meeting in-person and having a real conversation, knowing some of the details about who we are can help you better understand if our team is best suited to provide the education, tools, and professional guidance you need to achieve your financial goals. Here’s a quick snapshot of who we are:
We invite you to read more about Who We Serve, our Services, and how we think—and to learn more about our history and every member of our team below. And when you’re ready to have that all-important in-person introduction, we look forward to meeting you!
Leisure Capital was founded in 2002 when Marr Leisure opened shop with Gideon Bernstein and Ray Robinson. In his blog post, “In the Beginning…“, Marr shares their reasons and thought process around going independent.
Marr Leisure is the Founder and Principal of Leisure Capital Management. He takes great pride in the difference Leisure Capital has made in our clients’ lives for nearly two decades. (You can read more about how the firm began in Marr’s blog post here.)
His personal commitment to helping our clients—many of whom have become close friends—is reflected in every decision he makes at the firm. In addition to working one-on-one with clients to help them grow and protect their wealth, Marr is responsible for managing and setting the investment policy for Leisure Capital Management clients. His goal: to have the majority of holdings in the right place at the right time—even as what is ‘right’ shifts over time.
Prior to founding Leisure Capital Management, Marr served as Principal of a registered investment advisory firm. Earlier in his career, his work with Trust Services of America and US Trust of California helped him build valuable knowledge in the world of trust and estate planning.
Marr earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and an MBA in finance at USC, and he has been a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) since 1985. He has served as President and on the board of directors of the CFA Society of Orange County (CFASOC), as President of the Planned Giving Roundtable of Orange County; and as President of the Orange County Chapter of the American Society of CLU & ChFC and President of the Chancellor’s Club of the University of California, Irvine.
Marr lives in Irvine with his wife, Anne. Their older son, John, is currently a PhD candidate at UCLA. Their younger son, Charlie, spent more than a decade on Wall Street after graduating from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
Gideon Bernstein is Principal and Chief Investment Officer of Leisure Capital Management, an independent, fee-only wealth management firm based in Orange County, California. He brings nearly three decades of experience advising affluent families, business owners, and private foundations, and leads the firm’s investment research and portfolio strategy.
As a founding partner of the firm, Gideon oversees asset allocation, risk management, and long-term investment planning, guiding the disciplined, evidence-based approach that underpins client portfolios. He has deep expertise in both equity and fixed income, shaped by prior experience as an analyst and portfolio manager at an investment firm managing more than a billion in assets.
Gideon is also deeply committed to philanthropic and charitable planning. He works closely with nonprofit boards and multigenerational families to design giving strategies aligned with personal values and long-term legacy goals. In 2021, he published, Giving: A Handbook to Happiness for the Modern Philanthropist, reflecting his belief that thoughtful philanthropy can be both purposeful and deeply meaningful.
In recognition of his leadership and service, Gideon was named a ‘Distinguished Leader’ in Wealth Management by the Orange County Business Journal in 2022. He has served on the boards of numerous charitable organizations, including Vice President of Investments and Chairman of the Board for the Jewish Community Foundation of Orange County.
Gideon earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology, with honors, from the University of California at Santa Barbara, and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®) designations. In his free-time, Gideon travels, works on charitable projects, plays pickleball, and visits his children in San Diego and the East Coast.
Raymond Robinson is Principal and Portfolio Manager at Leisure Capital Management, where he helps oversee investment strategy and portfolio implementation for high-net-worth individuals and foundations. A founding partner of the firm, Ray has a deep fundamental understanding of portfolio construction, asset allocation, and runs firm’s financial operations.
Ray brings nearly three decades of experience in investment research & analysis, account management, and trading within the wealth management industry. He earned his bachelor’s degree in finance, with an emphasis in securities, from California State University, Long Beach. He received the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation in 2006 and is a member of the CFA Society of Orange County.
Committed to service and mentorship, Ray spent 15 years volunteering, coaching, and mentoring in youth athletics. Today, he supports charitable initiatives connected to his love of fishing and the ocean, including OpenWater and War Heroes on Water, reflecting his dedication to community and veteran support.
Ray resides in Huntington Beach, California, with his wife Andrea, and their children, Bryan, John, and Kathryn.
A Principal and Senior Investment Officer for Leisure Capital Management, Patrick has been working in investment management since 2007. As a member of the firm’s Investment Committee, he is responsible for research across the breadth of the firm’s investment portfolios. He also handles trading and marketing for the firm, and manages numerous client accounts.
Patrick earned a bachelor’s degree in economics with an emphasis in accounting from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst, Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst, and Chartered SRI Counselor designations. He is also a member of the CFA Institute, the CFA Society of Orange County, and the CAIA Association.
Patrick lives in Laguna Niguel with his wife Nicole. His hobbies include motorsports, craft beer, and spending time with he and Nicole’s golden retrievers, Molly and Goose.
Often the first smiling face our clients see when they walk in the door is Sandra’s. As our Client Services Manager, Sandra oversees multiple facets of the firm’s operations, including database management, compliance, client services, and reporting.
Following her personal experience navigating her mother’s end-of-life care, Sandra wanted to find a way to help others in similar situations. Toward that goal, she completed the Corgenius Transition Master Class. Her work in this area makes her uniquely qualified to help guide our clients through the grief that comes with life’s most difficult transitions and losses.
Sandra attended St. Petersburg College and Long Beach City College, and she has completed preparation courses for her Series 7 license. Her extensive knowledge in administration and financial services is a great asset to the firm.
Sandra is an active participant in the California Race Series in Seal Beach and the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. She lives in Orange County with her husband Rob. They have a son, Hunter, and a daughter, Robyn. Robyn is currently a student at UC Berkeley. Sandra’s son Robert is the current Chief Financial Officer of Lazy Dog Restaurants.
Avery Wenck is a Financial Advisor and member of the Investment Committee at Leisure Capital Management. He joined the firm in 2019 after beginning his career at Mercer Advisors, one of the nation’s leading independent advisory firms.
As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional, Avery brings a disciplined financial planning perspective to portfolio strategy and client decision-making. His work includes supporting investment research, portfolio implementation, and ongoing strategy review to ensure client portfolios remain aligned with long-term financial objectives.
Avery is actively involved in the community, serving as a mentor for the Earl Woods Scholar Program through the TGR Foundation, is a member of the Young Professionals Committee at KidWorks Orange County, and supporting the Pacific Life LIFEvest Financial Literacy Program.
Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, Avery earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He now resides in Manhattan Beach, California, with his wife and two dogs.
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Eric Shute joined Leisure Capital Management in 2023 as a Financial Advisor and Investment Analyst. As a member of the firm’s Investment Committee, Eric plays a key role in portfolio management, trading execution, investment research, and the design and implementation of portfolio strategies. He also works closely with the advisory team to support the evolving needs of the firm’s growing client family.
Eric brings more than a decade of experience in the financial services industry. Prior to joining Leisure Capital, he spent ten years at UBS Private Wealth Management, where he advised ultra-high-net-worth individuals, family offices, foundations, and institutional clients. During his tenure at UBS, Eric held multiple roles, including Financial Advisor, Equity Portfolio Manager, Head of Trading, and Research Analyst. His experience spans equities, fixed income, derivatives, commodities, portfolio construction, and financial planning.
Eric earned a Master’s degree in Accounting and a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Southern Methodist University. He is currently preparing for the CFA Level II examination.
An Orange County native, Eric returned to California in 2019 and settled in Newport Beach in 2023. Outside of the office, he enjoys staying active and spending time outdoors, including snowboarding, wakeboarding, golf, beach volleyball, as well as following football, and baseball.
Christina Todd serves as a Senior Client Service Associate at Leisure Capital Management, where she plays a key role in supporting client relationships and operational excellence. Since joining the firm in 2015, she has brought a deep client-service mindset and more than 17 years of experience from Charles Schwab & Co.
Christina supports clients and advisors with professionalism, responsiveness, and attention to detail. Her background in financial services and investment operations enables her to help deliver the high level of service and care clients expect from a fiduciary wealth management firm.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration, with an emphasis in marketing, from Cal State University, Fullerton, and previously held the Series 7 & Series 66 licenses.
Christina resides in Irvine, California, with her husband, Mark, their children, Nathan & Jaxx, and their dogs, Pongo & Bambi. Outside of work, she enjoys travel, especially to Hawaii, and exploring new cultures and cuisine, and supporting the Susan G Komen OC, Race for the Cure for Breast Cancer Awareness.
Barbara Salamoff joined Leisure Capital Management in 2022 and supports the firm’s operations and client service functions. She works closely with advisors and staff to help ensure a seamless, efficient, and thoughtful client experience.
Known for her attention to detail and proactive approach, Barb contributes to ongoing process improvement and daily operational support. She brings more than 25 years of professional experience from a Los Angeles‑based educational company, where she specialized in sales, marketing, and product development—skills that translate naturally to financial services.
A Southern California native, Barb earned her Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies from California State University, Long Beach. She resides in Orange County with her husband, Adam, their children Sydnee and Kyle, and their rescue dogs. Outside of work, she enjoys volunteering, yoga, beach time, and baking.
Brooke joined Leisure Capital Management in 2024 as a Senior Client Service Associate, bringing extensive RIA experience from her prior position at Knightsbridge Wealth Management. She will be working alongside Sandra to handle critical and complex tasks like distributing trusts to beneficiaries. She also supports compliance, reporting, and other key operations.
Growing up with two parents in finance, Brooke often jokes that she learned GDP before her ABCs! She earned her bachelor’s degree in finance from Charleston Southern University, where she was the only female finance major in her graduating class. Since returning to California, Brooke has held various roles in financial reporting, sales, and client service.
A standout tennis player in college, Brooke was a full-scholarship recipient and Division I starter and earned Big South Conference Player of the Year honors in 2010. Her competitive spirit, dedication to excellence, and strong financial background make her a key asset to the team.
Originally from Laguna Niguel, Brooke now lives in Tustin with her husband Kevin, the head baseball coach at Corona del Mar High School, and their daughter, Marlee, who is currently learning her ABCs… and, yes, a bit about GDP, and their newest addition to the family, Easton!
