Financial planning firm hires first COO

SARASOTA — Former Wall Street analyst and hedge fund manager Paul Cantor has been named chief operating officer of Kerkering Barberio Financial Services.

It's the firm's first-ever chief operating officer, according to a release. The Sarasota-based company is one of three businesses under the Kerkering Barberio brand. The others are KB Pension Services Inc. and Kerkering, Barberio & Co., one of the largest independently run CPA firms on the Gulf Coast.

Cantor will be a part of a team to develop and implement business and growth strategies for Kerkering Barberio Financial Services, the release states. He has 30 years experience on Wall Street, the firm says, in roles including trader, analyst and hedge fund manager principal.

“The chief operating officer position was created to enhance our ongoing effort to make the firm more efficient and effective,” Kerkering Barberio Financial Services President Marty Kossoff says in the release. “With Paul's diverse set of skills, expertise and successful track record, he will add industry depth and talent to the strong core that currently is KBFS.”

Kerkering Barberio Financial Services was founded in 1997. It provides fee-based asset management for individuals and organizations. The accounting side of the business, Kerkering, Barberio & Co., was recently named a top public accounting firm for women leaders in the country.