Raising the Industry Standard

Our Leadership Distinguished Expertise

Avity prides itself on the quality of our principals, each possessing a rich blend of knowledge, accreditation, and experience, committed to guiding you towards your financial objectives.

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Every client benefits from a direct relationship with a principal of the firm.

H. Park Duncan

Park has been a partner with Avity since 2000. Prior to joining Avity, he was Vice President and portfolio manager at the investment management firm of Hovey, Youngman Associates in New York. Park began his investment career in 1991 with the New York–based Global Asset Management division of Chase Manhattan Bank with responsibility for managing corporate, individual, and charitable portfolios. He received his BA in Economics from St. Lawrence University and his MBA from The Stern School, New York University.

Edward C. Long

Ed became a partner at Avity in 2005. Ed’s career includes being Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager in the Wealth Management Group at U.S. Trust in Palm Beach, Florida, and a security analyst and co-manager of large U.S. institutional portfolios at Lazard Asset Management in New York. Ed was a portfolio manager of high net worth and institutional portfolios at Merrill Lynch Asset Management and was co-founder of Merrill’s institutional equity group. He began his business career at IBM Corporation as an industrial engineer. Ed is a Chartered Financial Analyst. Ed received his BS in Engineering from Auburn University and his MBA from Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona.

Christopher D. Ward

Chris joined Avity as a partner in 2022. Chris previously served as Associate Portfolio Manager for Growth Equities at GAMCO Investors, where he helped manage the Gabelli Growth, Gabelli Global Growth, and Gabelli Growth Innovators funds, as well as institutional and high net worth separate accounts. Chris joined GAMCO from Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management, where he served as a Portfolio Management Associate and subsequently Director of Business Strategy. Chris was recognized by Forbes/SHOOK Research on the 2024 Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors Best-In-State and 2025 Best-In-State Wealth Advisors lists. Chris is a Chartered Financial Analyst and a member of the New York Society of Security Analysts. Chris earned his BA in Economics from Boston College.

The Forbes/SHOOK Research rankings were published on August 8, 2024 on www.forbes.com/lists/best-in-state-next-gen-advisors/ and April 8, 2025 on https://www.forbes.com/lists/best-in-state-wealth-advisors/. The Forbes Next-Gen Wealth Advisors ranking, developed by SHOOK Research, recognized Christopher Ward, CFA as a top next-gen advisor under the age of forty. The Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisor ranking, developed by SHOOK Research, recognized Christopher Ward, CFA as a top advisor in the state of Connecticut. The rankings are based on an algorithm of qualitative criterion—mostly gained through telephone, virtual, and in-person due diligence interviews—and quantitative data. The algorithm weighs factors like revenue trends, assets under management, compliance records, industry experience and those that encompass the highest standards of best practices. Portfolio performance is not a criterion due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK receive a fee in exchange for rankings.

Stephen K. Grimm Consultant

Stephen was a partner at Avity from 1991 to 2023 and now serves as an advisor to the firm. His earlier experience includes being Vice President at Smith Barney Capital Management, where he managed high net worth personal portfolios, as well as corporate retirement funds and endowments for charitable organizations. Previously, Stephen was a securities analyst and portfolio manager with the investment management firm of Wilkinson and Hottinger, Inc., and a financial analyst at Citibank. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst and member of the New York Society of Security Analysts. Stephen earned his BA in History from University of Virginia and his MBA from the Darden School, University of Virginia.