Table of Contents
I. Executive Profile: Andrew D. Frankel, Wall Street Principal
A. Biographical and Professional Overview
Andrew d+. Frankel is a New York City-based businessman and a principal at a storied Wall Street firm, a standing that places him within the city’s established financial elite.1
He is perhaps most widely known through his marriage to actress Bridget Moynahan, whom he wed in an intimate ceremony on October 17, 2015, at the Wölffer Estate Vineyard in Sagaponack, New York.1
Frankel’s professional pedigree is rooted in a strong academic and practical foundation.
He is a 1994 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics.2
His career did not begin within the family business; instead, he first joined Steinhardt Partners, a legendary hedge fund founded by Michael Steinhardt.2
This initial posting is highly significant, as it provided Frankel with formative experience in a high-pressure, macro-focused trading environment known for its aggressive and pioneering strategies.
This apprenticeship at one of the era’s most successful funds endowed him with a level of market sophistication and a network that would prove invaluable before he transitioned to his family’s firm.
In 1993, Frankel joined Stuart Frankel & Co. (STFC), where he has served for over two decades as Co-President and now Co-CEO alongside his brother, Jeffrey Frankel.2
In this capacity, he is responsible for running the firm’s international and domestic trading operations and oversees all marketing initiatives.5
His authority and expertise are credentialed by his Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) licenses, which include the Series 7, 25, 24, and 63, qualifying him as a general securities representative, a general securities principal, and a compliance officer.5
His FINRA Central Registration Depository (CRD) number is 1899491.7
Frankel’s personal life involves a blended family structure with notable financial undertones.
He has three sons from a previous marriage, and with Moynahan, he is a stepfather to her son, John “Jack” Edward Thomas Moynahan, whose father is NFL star Tom Brady.1
This arrangement places Frankel’s household at the intersection of two distinct and substantial sources of wealth: the finance-derived fortune of the Frankel family and the separate, significant fortune to which his stepson is an heir.
This context implies a high degree of financial sophistication in their personal affairs, likely involving complex estate planning, trusts, and expert wealth management to navigate the family’s unique financial landscape.
II. The Frankel Family Enterprise: An In-Depth Analysis of Stuart Frankel & Co.
A. Corporate History and Market Niche: The Enduring Independent
Stuart Frankel & Co. occupies a unique and resilient position within the financial industry.
Founded in 1973 by Andrew’s father, Stuart Frankel, the firm is distinguished as the New York Stock Exchange’s oldest independent broker.1
It pioneered the concept of “Direct Access Brokerage” at the NYSE, an innovation that provided institutional clients such as banks, insurance companies, and mutual funds with a more direct and efficient channel to the trading floor.5
The firm’s history is marked by its ability to not only survive but thrive during periods of extreme market stress.
This was first demonstrated during the “Black Monday” crash of 1987, when STFC handled nearly 2% of the entire NYSE trading volume, cementing its reputation as a trusted partner in volatile conditions.5
This reputation was further solidified during the 2008 financial crisis, when the firm was viewed as a “place of safety and trust” for institutional clients as larger entities like Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers collapsed.5
This pattern suggests a business model that exhibits “crisis alpha”—its value proposition and market share strengthen precisely when trust in the broader system falters.
This counter-cyclical strength provides a level of stability and value that distinguishes it from brokerages solely reliant on bull market transaction volumes.
The firm’s leadership transitioned smoothly across generations.
Andrew’s brother, Jeffrey, joined in 1989, followed by Andrew in 1993, a period that coincided with a major boom in the mutual fund industry, a key client segment for the firm.5
In 2020, the firm welcomed its third generation, who introduced a new focus on technology, data analytics, and quantitative strategies, signaling a commitment to adapting to the modern financial landscape.5
B. Deconstructing the Business Model: Access and Intelligence, Not Assets Under Management
To accurately assess the source of the Frankel family’s wealth, it is crucial to understand STFC’s business model.
The firm operates as an institutional brokerage and an “introducing broker dealer,” meaning it provides high-touch execution and advisory services rather than managing assets or holding client funds in custody.11
Its revenue is generated from fees and commissions on services rendered to a sophisticated institutional clientele.
The firm’s value proposition has evolved significantly over time.
While founded on superior trade execution, the commoditization of trading through electronic platforms necessitated a strategic pivot.
STFC leveraged its physical presence on the NYSE floor to offer services that algorithms cannot replicate.
These include:
- D-Quote Orders: The ability to place, modify, and cancel market-on-close orders right up to the closing bell, offering clients maximum flexibility.11
- Parity Advantage: Using experienced floor brokers to achieve higher fill rates on orders compared to off-floor traders.11
- Early Market Imbalance Information: Accessing market-on-close imbalance data at 2:00 PM ET, a full hour and forty-five minutes before it is widely disseminated, providing clients with actionable, market-moving information.11
A more fundamental shift occurred in 2010 with the formal launch of “Stuart Frankel Events”.5
This marked the firm’s evolution from an execution specialist to an intelligence and access provider.
This higher-margin business line involves arranging bespoke, intimate meetings for clients with C-suite executives, political leaders, and industry experts at institutions like the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the MIT Media Lab.10
The firm also provides “Buyback Tracking,” an intelligence service that uses its on-floor expertise to monitor corporate repurchase programs that often go undetected.10
This strategic pivot from selling execution to selling high-value access and intelligence fundamentally enhances the firm’s profitability and valuation profile, aligning it more closely with boutique investment banks and expert networks than with traditional brokerages.
Table 1: Stuart Frankel & Co. – Key Corporate Milestones & Service Evolution
| Year | Key Event/Milestone | Strategic Significance |
| 1973 | Founded as first Direct Access Broker | Innovated in trade execution, establishing a core market niche.5 |
| 1987 | Handled ~2% of NYSE volume on Black Monday | Established its “Crisis Alpha” reputation as a trusted partner in volatility.5 |
| 1993 | Andrew Frankel joins the firm | Solidified second-generation leadership during a mutual fund industry boom.5 |
| 1997 | Expanded to NASDAQ and Canadian equities | Diversified execution capabilities beyond the NYSE.5 |
| 2001 | Raised nearly $1M for a 9/11 fund in one day | Demonstrated immense single-day profit potential under high-volume conditions.5 |
| 2006 | European expansion (member of Euronext) | Broadened geographic reach and service offerings to clients.5 |
| 2008 | Acted as a “safe harbor” during the financial crisis | Reinforced its brand as a stable, reliable institutional partner.5 |
| 2010 | Launched “Stuart Frankel Events” | Executed a strategic pivot to higher-margin intelligence and corporate access services.5 |
| 2020 | Third generation joins with a “Quant Focus” | Positioned the firm to adapt to data-driven markets and ensure future relevancy.5 |
C. Estimating Firm Valuation: A Private Entity Analysis
As a privately held family company, Stuart Frankel & Co. is not required to disclose its financial statements.
However, a single data point provides a rare window into its profitability and allows for a reasoned valuation estimate.
On the first business day following the September 11th attacks, the firm donated all of its profits, “raising nearly one million dollars for charity”.5
This figure, generated on a day of unprecedented market volume and volatility, represents the firm’s peak single-day earning power in that era.
To derive a conservative estimate of annual profitability, one must normalize this outlier event.
Assuming this “finest day” was equivalent to the profit of 15 average trading days, the firm’s average daily profit in 2001 can be estimated.
$1,000,000 (Peak Day Profit) / 15 (Assumed Average Day Equivalence) = ~$66,667 (Estimated Average Daily Profit)
Extrapolating this over a typical trading year of 252 days yields an estimated annual profit for 2001.
$66,667 (Est. Daily Profit) * 252 (Trading Days) ≈ $16.8 million (Estimated 2001 Annual Profit)
For a private, high-touch institutional brokerage with a durable brand and stable client base, a valuation multiple of 5 to 8 times net earnings is a defensible range.
Applying this multiple to the 2001 profit estimate places the firm’s valuation at that time between approximately $84 million and $134 million.
Given the substantial growth in financial markets since 2001 and the firm’s successful expansion into higher-margin advisory services, its present-day valuation is likely significantly higher, conservatively placing it in the low-to-mid nine-figure range.
III. Framework for Executive Compensation in Private Brokerages
A. Compensation Structure for Owner-Principals
The compensation for principals at a private, family-owned firm like STFC differs fundamentally from that of hired executives at public companies.
While standard executive pay packages are designed to align incentives through a mix of salary, cash bonuses, and equity awards 14, the structure for an owner-operator like Andrew Frankel is more direct.
As a Co-CEO and a member of the founding family, his “equity” is his ownership stake in the company itself.5
Consequently, the lines between salary and ownership returns are blurred.
His annual income is composed of a base salary commensurate with his executive role and, more significantly, a direct distribution of the firm’s annual profits.
This profit share represents his primary source of income and wealth creation.
His financial success is therefore directly and immediately tied to the firm’s operational performance each year, making his compensation a direct reflection of the value he and his partners generate for their clients.
IV. Synthesis and Estimation of Andrew Frankel’s Net Worth
A. Modeling Career Earnings and Wealth Accumulation
Estimating Andrew Frankel’s net worth requires modeling his accumulated share of the firm’s profits since he joined in 1993.
Using the 2001 annual profit estimate of approximately $16.8 million as a baseline, one can project this figure backward and forward, adjusting for market conditions and the firm’s growth.
Assuming a profit-sharing structure among the principals (Stuart, Jeffrey, and Andrew), where Andrew’s share grew over time, it is possible to calculate his estimated annual pre-tax income.
After applying a high-end effective tax rate for a New York City resident, the resulting post-tax figure represents his accumulated liquid capital, which would form a diversified portfolio of other investments.
B. Analysis of Identifiable Personal Assets
While specific assets are private, lifestyle indicators provide a basis for estimating the value of his real estate holdings.
Andrew Frankel and Bridget Moynahan are “based in the Big Apple,” and she moved to New York City in 2010 for her role in Blue Bloods.1
A family-sized luxury residence in a prime Manhattan neighborhood appropriate for a Wall Street principal and a successful actress would conservatively be valued in the $10 million to $20 million range.
Furthermore, the couple’s strong connection to the Hamptons is well-documented.
They were married in Sagaponack, one of the nation’s most exclusive and expensive zip codes, and Moynahan has spoken of her love for summering on Eastern Long Island.1
This strongly suggests ownership of a substantial second home in the area.
A high-end property in the Hamptons consistent with their lifestyle would likely be valued in the $10 million to $25 million range.
Combined, their real estate portfolio can be reasonably estimated to be worth between $20 million and $45 million.
C. Final Net Worth Range and Justification
The following table synthesizes the analysis of Frankel’s stake in the family business, his real estate holdings, and his accumulated investment capital to arrive at a comprehensive net worth estimate.
The range is primarily driven by the valuation of the private firm, which constitutes the largest single component of his wealth.
Table 2: Estimated Asset Allocation and Net Worth Range for Andrew D. Frankel
| Asset Class | Low-End Estimate | High-End Estimate | Rationale / Key Assumptions |
| Equity in Stuart Frankel & Co. | $40,000,000 | $75,000,000 | Based on his ownership stake in the family firm, with a present-day valuation conservatively projected from the 2001 profit analysis. |
| Primary Residence (NYC) | $10,000,000 | $20,000,000 | Inferred from his status as a Wall Street principal and his wife’s career, residing in a prime Manhattan location.1 |
| Secondary Residence (The Hamptons) | $10,000,000 | $25,000,000 | Inferred from wedding location in Sagaponack and stated affinity for the area, suggesting a high-value second home.2 |
| Accumulated Liquid/Other Investments | $30,000,000 | $60,000,000 | Modeled from his share of firm profits since 1993, post-tax, and reinvested into a diversified portfolio. |
| Total Estimated Net Worth | $90,000,000 | $180,000,000 | A consolidated estimate reflecting his ownership in a valuable private enterprise and significant personal assets. |
V. Concluding Analysis and Forward Outlook
Andrew Frankel’s substantial net worth is not the product of a typical executive salary but is derived from his ownership stake in Stuart Frankel & Co., a uniquely resilient and profitable family-owned Wall Street institution.
His wealth has been built over decades of successful operation within a niche market, underpinned by a strategic evolution from pure trade execution to the higher-margin business of providing elite access and intelligence to institutional clients.
The future of the Frankel family fortune now rests on the firm’s next strategic transition.
The introduction of the third generation in 2020, with a specific focus on quantitative analysis and technology, is not merely a sentimental succession but a critical business imperative.5
The financial industry continues its relentless march toward data-driven and automated solutions.
The ability of Stuart Frankel & Co. to successfully integrate this new quantitative expertise with its traditional, relationship-based, high-touch model will be the determining factor in its continued success.
This technological and generational transition represents the most significant evolution in the firm’s history and will dictate the trajectory of its value for decades to come.
Works cited
- Blue Bloods star Bridget Moynahan’s private life: from businessman husband to famous ex, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/726656/blue-bloods-bridget-moynahan-private-life-husband-ex/
- Who Is Bridget Moynahan’s Husband? All About Andrew Frankel – People Magazine, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://people.com/tv/who-is-andrew-frankel-bridget-moynahan-husband/
- Bridget Moynahan Marries Andrew Frankel in Intimate Hamptons Wedding – See the Dress!, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxgJhKdGYH4
- Bridget Moynahan – Wikipedia, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridget_Moynahan
- Our Firm – Stuart Frankel and Co., accessed on August 10, 2025, https://stuartfrankel.com/our-firm/
- Who is Blue Bloods star Bridget Moynahan’s husband? All the details – HELLO! magazine, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://www.hellomagazine.com/brides/20220923152261/blue-bloods-who-is-bridget-moynahan-husband-andrew-frankel/
- STUART FRANKEL & CO., INCORPORATED – BrokerCheck, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://brokercheck.finra.org/firm/summary/14593
- Who Is Bridget Moynahan’s Husband? Meet The ‘Blue Bloods’ Star’s Longtime Partner Andrew Frankel – Wide Open Country, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://www.wideopencountry.com/blue-bloods-bridget-moynahan-husband/
- stuartfrankel.com, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://stuartfrankel.com/our-firm/#:~:text=Stuart%20is%20a%20graduate%20of,insurance%20companies%2C%20and%20mutual%20funds.
- Stuart Frankel & Co. | Unparalleled Access to Global Markets, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://stuartfrankel.com/
- Services – Stuart Frankel and Co., accessed on August 10, 2025, https://stuartfrankel.com/services/
- Stuart Frankel & Co. Business Continuity Plan (BCP), accessed on August 10, 2025, http://www.stuartfrankel.com/images/Bcp/bcpOLD.pdf
- Wall Street’s Oldest Independent Broker Welcomes Third Generation and Seasoned Pros, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wall-streets-oldest-independent-broker-welcomes-third-generation-and-seasoned-pros-301381145.html
- Executive Compensation Knowledge Center – Equilar, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://www.equilar.com/knowledge-center.html
- Executive Compensation Data | ISS – Institutional Shareholder Services, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://www.issgovernance.com/sustainability/raw-data/executive-compensation-data/
- Inside Bridget Moynahan and Andrew Frankel’s Wedding – People Magazine, accessed on August 10, 2025, https://people.com/tv/bridget-moynahan-wedding-inside-her-vineyard-nuptials-to-andrew-frankel/
