Manuel Gonzalez Hinds
Senior Vice President ǀ Branch MANAGER
Manuel Gonzalez Hinds is a seasoned financial advisor with over 25 years of experience in equities, fixed income, mutual funds, insurance, and retirement services. Mr. Gonzalez joined the firm in 2017 as Senior Vice President and Branch Manager. He brings to First Southern a strong understanding of retail management and sales. Mr. Gonzalez began his career in wealth management in 1994. In 1997, Mr. Gonzalez joined Popular Securities as Vice President and Assistant Sales Manager and in 2006 he joined Santander Securities as Vice President of Investments.
Mr. Gonzalez earned his BBA in Management with a concentration in Finance from the University of Sagrado Corazon in 1996. He is FINRA Series 4, 6, 7, 24, 53, 63 and 65 licensed and holds life, disability, health and variable insurance licenses by the Puerto Rico Insurance Commissioner.
Jaime Santiago Echandi
Senior Vice President / Financial Advisor
Jaime Santiago Echandi brings to First Southern over two decades of experience in wealth management. Mr. Santiago joined First Southern in 2018 as Senior Vice President and brings to the firm extensive knowledge in asset allocation strategies, portfolio risk management, annuities, and retirement services. Mr. Santiago began his career in wealth management at Popular Securities in 1998 as an investment advisor. In 2006, he successfully transitioned his practice to Santander Securities.
Mr. Santiago received his BBA is Finance in 1996 from Interamericana University of Puerto Rico. He is FINRA Series 7 and 66 licensed and holds life, disability, and variable insurance licenses by the Puerto Rico Insurance Commissioner.
GERMAN RAMIREZ DE ARELLANO
MANAGING DIRECTOR ǀ SALES MANAGER
German Ramírez de Arellano brings to First Southern over 35 years of financial services industry experience, which includes a strong understanding of retail management and sales. Prior to joining First Southern, Mr. Ramirez was the Branch and Sales Manager for Santander Securities and HJ Sims in Puerto Rico.
Mr. Ramirez is part of the Ramirez de Arellano, Lugo Wealth Management Group of First Southern which serves the financial and wealth management needs of high-net-worth individuals and corporations. He is currently FINRA Series 3, 7, 24, 53, 63 and 65 licensed, as well as holds insurance licenses in life, variable and disability insurance by the Puerto Rico Insurance Commissioner.
GERMAN RAMIREZ DE ARELLANO FREESE
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
German Ramírez de Arellano joined First Southern in 2021 after starting his career in wealth management at HJ Sims in 2017. Mr. Ramirez brings to the firm a strong understanding of asset allocation and portfolio management. Mr. Ramirez is part of the Ramirez de Arellano, Lugo Wealth Management Group of First Southern which serves the financial and wealth management needs of high-net-worth individuals and corporations.
Mr. Ramirez graduated from Suffolk University (Boston, MA) in 2015 where he majored in Finance. He is currently FINRA Series 7 licensed and holds life and variable insurance licenses by the Puerto Rico Insurance Commissioner.
ERNESTO CARLOS MARTINEZ
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
Ernesto Carlos Martinez is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and has provided professional financial accounting, external and internal audit services for over 20 years to State and Federal Credit Unions in Puerto Rico. He started his career in 1999 as a senior software consultant to local banks in the Dominican Republic and Jamaica. In 2002 he became the Chief Information Officer for the PR Government Employees and Judiciary Retirement Systems. Prior to joining First Southern in 2020, Mr. Martinez was a financial advisor with Mass Mutual and New York Life Insurance Company.
Mr. Martinez earned his BBA in Accounting from the University of Puerto Rico in 1996 and his MBA in Ethical Management and Leadership at Instituto para el Desarrollo Humano in 2016. He is currently FINRA Series 7 licensed and is licensed to sell life, disability and variable insurance in Florida, Tennessee and Puerto Rico.
ALEJANDRA DELGADO VICENCIO
VICE PRESIDENT ǀ FINANCIAL ADVISOR
Alejandra Delgado Vicencio brings to the firm over 10 years of financial services experience. Ms. Delgado began her career at Santander Mexico within the Corporate Banking division. In 2013, she joined Santander Puerto Rico where she worked in both corporate and retail banking, as well as Santander’s insurance division.
Ms. Delgado attended Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, where she graduated in 2007 with a degree in Public Accounting and Finance. In 2010, Ms. Delgado earned her master’s degree in Banking and Risk from The University of Alcalá in Madrid, Spain. Ms. Delgado is currently FINRA Series 7 and 66 licensed, as well as licensed in life, disability, and variable insurance by the Puerto Rico Insurance Commissioner.
Hector Adolfo Martinez
Senior Vice President
Hector Adolfo Martinez is an industry veteran with over 20 years of wealth and portfolio management experience for private and institutional investors. Mr. Martinez started his career in 1998 in New York with AXA/ Equitable and in 2000, he joined Smith Barney as a financial advisor. In 2007, Mr. Martinez joined UBS Financial Services as First Vice President and Portfolio Manager. In 2019 he joined First Southern and transitioned his practice to Overture Asset Management, a division of First Southern.
Mr. Martinez earned a BBA in Marketing from Interamerican University of Puerto Rico in 1997. He is FINRA Series 6, 7, 63 and 65 licensed. Additionally, he holds portfolio management certifications from Portfolio Concepts, Inc.
GUILLERMO J. MACHUCA BATISTA
VICE PRESIDENT
Guillermo J. Machuca Batista is a financial advisor with over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. Mr. Machuca joined First Southern in 2020 as an annuities and insurance specialist. Guillermo has extensive knowledge in asset allocation and portfolio management with a focus on financial planning. He began his career in wealth management at Gruntal & Co. in New York, with prior tenures at Morgan Stanley and UBS.
Mr. Machuca earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from Seton Hall University in 1996 and has he FINRA Series 7, 66 and 31 licensed. In addition, Mr. Machuca holds life and variable insurance licenses by the Puerto Rico Insurance Commissioner.
WILSON COLBERG TRIGO
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Wilson Colberg Trigo brings to First Southern over 35 years of wealth management experience, specializing in high-net-worth private clients and business entities. He began his career as a financial advisor in 1984 and prior to joining First Southern in 2020, he served clients at Merrill Lynch, UBS Financial Services and HJ Sims. He is currently FINRA Series 7 and 63 licensed.
José Antonio Colberg
FINANCIAL advisor
José Antonio Colberg joined First Southern in 2020 as a financial advisor. Mr. Colberg started his career in wealth management in 2018 at HJ Sims. He is a 2016 graduate of Saint Louis University with a Bachelor’s in International Business. Mr. Colberg is presently FINRA Series 7 licensed.
LUIS E SANCHEZ PAREDES
Senior Vice President
Mr. Sanchez brings to First Southern over 20 years of financial services experience. He started his career as sales assistant with Wachovia Securities in 1997 while in college.
Prior to joining First Southern, Mr. Sanchez was a financial advisor with RG Investments, UBS Financial Services and HJ Sims where he focused on income producing products, retirement plans and annuities.
Mr. Sanchez earned a BBA from the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico in 1999. He is FINRA Series 7 licensed and holds life, disability, and variable insurance licenses by the Puerto Rico Insurance Commissioner.
FLORA ROSADO
OPERATIONS MANAGER
Flora Rosado brings to First Southern more than two decades of experience in the areas of operations and customer service. Mrs. Rosado began her career in 1997 with Paine Webber. Since then, Mrs. Rosado has worked in several broker/dealer operations departments, including Santander Securities. Mrs. Rosado’s organizational skills, strong work ethic and hands-on customer service bring an indispensable array of talent to the firm’s wealth management team.
CYNTHIA AYALA CAMINERO
OPERATIONS ASSOCIATE
Cynthia Ayala Caminero brings to First Southern over 15 years of customer service and operations experience. Mrs. Ayala began her career with Santander Securities in 2004. Mrs. Ayala has a BBA in Management with a Marketing focus from the University of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras.
LARA M. LUGO LOPEZ
CLIENT SERVICES ASSOCIATE
Lara M. Lugo López brings to the firm over 20 years of wealth management client services experience. Lara began her career at Paine Webber which was acquired by UBS Financial Services. After several years with UBS, Mrs. Lugo moved to Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and in 2016 transitioned to HJ Sims as a Client Services Associate, as well as the assistant to the Branch Manager. Today, Mrs. Lugo works with the Ramirez de Arellano, Lugo Wealth Management Group of First Southern and Mr. Luis Sánchez Paredes in providing clients an excellent experience with great customer service.
NEYSA BRADY
COMPLIANCE OFFICER
Neysa Brady has a 24-year career in the securities industry with a solid background in compliance. Mrs. Brady joined the firm in 2021 as Compliance Officer. Ms. Brady brings to First Southern a strong understanding in regulatory risks and financial analysis with an emphasis in sales practices. Ms. Brady began her career with Santander Securities in 1997 serving in various roles, including Sales Supervision Officer. In 2011, Ms. Brady joined Popular Securities as Compliance Officer and in 2017 she joined Equitable Advisors as Senior Operations Manager.
ANDRÉS ARABÍA
Analyst
Mr. Arabía works as an Analyst with Phorcys Real Estate Fund I, LP. Mr. Arabía has worked on various deals and transactions, completing duties such as valuation, industry research and outlook, due diligence, and financial modeling for real estate deals. Mr. Arabía obtained his bachelor’s degree in management with a minor in economics from Emmanuel College in Massachusetts. Mr. Arabía holds the Series 7, 66, and 79 FINRA licenses.
PEDRO A. COLÓN
Senior Vice President / Financial Advisor
Mr. Colón has been registered as a financial consultant since 1987. He obtained his bachelor’s degree from University of Puerto Rico in 1974 with an economics and finance major and postgraduate’s studies in econometrics. During his career in the brokerage industry, he has had the privilege to be the President of Puerto Rico Securities Industry Association in two consecutive terms. Mr. Colón holds 7 and 63 FINRA licenses.
Raúl Juan Escudero, ESQ
Managing Director
Raúl Juan Escudero is a licensed attorney with 37 years of experience in the financial service sector. As former Branch Manager at PaineWebber, Executive Director at HJ Sims, top Chairman’s Club member at UBS and Santander Securities, he brings to First Southern his expertise in managed accounts, estate planning, insurance, annuities, and corporate business. His primary objective is to provide his clientele with the tools to develop a long-term financial plan. He is supported by his assistant, Betsy Rodriguez, who for the past 31 years has been an essential component of Mr. Escudero’s success.
Raul has a BS degree in Management from Fairfield University and a Juris Doctor degree from Interamerican University. He is admitted to the Puerto Rico and federal bars and presently holds Series 7, 8, 63 & 65 licenses as well as insurance licenses.
LUIS CURRAIS
Senior Vice President / Financial Advisor
Mr. Currais brings onboard more than 44 years of experience. He has been a Senior Vice President of Investments on strong financial institutions such a Blyth Eastman/Paine Webber, that later merge into UBS, as well as in Santander Securities and HJ Sims, before join First Southern in 2022. Mr. Currais hold a bachelor’s degree in finance from the Interamericana University in Puerto Rico, and a Professional Certificate from the New York Institute of Finance for the securities industry. Mr. Currais holds Series 7, 63 and 65 FINRA licenses.
LOUIS RODRÍGUEZ
Senior Vice President / Financial Advisor
Mr. Rodríguez commenced his financial career in 1976 at Merrill Lynch as a financial advisor at young age. Later, he pursued his career in CF Hutton and Paine Webber as well, then joining First Southern in 2021, bringing with him a strong knowledge on financial advising. Mr. Rodríguez earned a bachelor’s degree in commerce with a major in management from University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, and holds Series 5, 7, 63 and 65 FINRA licenses.
BETSY RODRÍGUEZ
Senior Client Associate
Mrs. Rodríguez started her career with Mr. Raúl Escudero Villeta in 1992. Since then, Mrs. Rodríguez has been Mr. Escudero’s Administrative Assistant and Customer Service Associate, assisting in important transactions regarding Mr. Escudero wealth management. Before joining First Southern in 2022, she has been a security industry advisor assistant clerk in firms such as Paine Webber, Santander Securities and HJ Sims, along with Mr. Escudero.
RICARDO CARRERO
Registered Representative
Mr. Carrero graduated of the Saint Joseph’s University, Haub School of Business in Philadelphia. He spent a few years in the telecommunications industry before transitioning to the transportation sector. He worked for 15 years internationally with premium brands such as BMW, Porsche, and RUF in managing logistics and compliance, where he acquired multiple certifications and awards for implementing strategies and logistics projects. Mr. Carrero joined First Southern in 2021 with Serie 7 and holds life, disability, health, and variable insurance licenses by the Puerto Rico Insurance Commissioner.
John R. Watson
Senior Vice-President / Director of Capital Markets
Joined First Southern Securities in 2023 as Senior Vice President, Director of Capital Markets, and Financial Consultant for High-Net-Worth Investors. Over 35 years of experience working for global financial companies Grupo Santander and Citigroup, and local banking leader Banco Popular. Mr. Watson has held key managerial positions in brokerage with responsibilities as branch manager, fixed income trading, sales management, product development and regulatory compliance. Vast product knowledge and experience in Puerto Rico issued products, municipal and corporate bonds, US government and mortgage-backed securities, structured products, equities and ETFs, Options, and managed fee-based accounts. Mr. Watson has worked directly with financial consultants and clients in developing investment strategies and constructing diversified investments portfolios tailored to the risk profile, objectives and life needs of clients.
Graduated from Babson College with a bachelor’s degree in finance and investments and completed a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Michigan. Mr. Watson is a registered representative, equities trader, and options and securities principal holding FIRNRA licenses Series 7, 4, 24, 55 and 63.