John O. McManus
Founding Principal
John O. McManus received his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and philosophy from Fordham University where he was awarded membership in phi sigma alpha for excellence in his major field of study and received his Juris Doctor from Fordham University School of Law. He practiced law for five years with the Wall Street law firm of Dewey Ballantine and with the national law firm of Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue, with a concentration on estate planning and real estate transactions. In 1991, he formed his own firm representing individuals and families around the country and the globe who, through diligence and commitment, have achieved success in many aspects of their lives. Mr. McManus participated in several estate planning and bar associations including a board membership on the Northern New Jersey Estate Planning Council where he recently completed his term as President of the Council. John also served on the Committee on Estates, Trusts and Surrogate’s Courts of the Bar Association of the City of New York and the Committee on Real Property, Probate and Trusts of the American Bar Association. Furthermore, Mr. McManus is a member of the prestigious Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and the European American Chamber of Commerce in New York. After 10 years of receiving Martindale Hubbell’s highest rating (AV) as a practicing attorney, he was named to the National Bar of Preeminent Lawyers. Mr. McManus was also named by Avenue Magazine as one of the top trusts and estates attorneys in the New York City area. He is regularly invited by financial institutions and accountants to speak on current estate planning topics and continuing education requirements within the estate planning industry and is regularly quoted in such well-known publications as the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Forbes and Trusts & Estates magazine. Mr. McManus is admitted to practice law in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. John is also actively involved in his community as the Chairman of the St. James Church Financial Advisory Committee overseeing 3,000 families within the parish, as Vice Chairman of the Board of the Somerset County YMCA whose facility is recognized as one of the largest and most successful in the nation, as a member of the Advisory Board of the Sisters of Christian Charity, and through his support of The Pingry School Parents Association, supporting the school his children currently attend. Some of John’s personal interests include mountain biking and RV travel through the National Parks.
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Benjamin Carthew
Benjamin Carthew received his Bachelor of Arts degree in History, while also undertaking a minor concentration in Politics from the University of Virginia and received his Master of Arts degree in History from the City College of New York. Completing his twelfth year with the firm, Mr. Carthew is actively involved in all aspects of wealth transfer, tax planning and philanthropy. As a leader in our Estate Planning Practice Group, he has been particularly dedicated to developing our peer-acclaimed documents and the most intricate strategies to help ensure the most efficient transfer of wealth between our clients and their loved ones. Ben enjoys conveying sophisticated techniques to our successful clientele and is not only committed to imparting to them a comprehension of critical planning, but is also driven by his desire to ensure that their most profound and dearly held wishes are satisfied. He is a fervent believer in the importance of ongoing education in our ever-changing industry. As a result, he has spearheaded efforts to enhance our practice and stay ahead of our competition through the research of the latest progress in the field and participation in seminars, including the prestigious Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning. When away from the office, Ben is devoted to his other passion, historical enrichment, and recently completed his Master’s thesis, a comprehensive study and analysis of Manhattan’s early twentieth century environment as a part of the larger processes of urbanization in American cities during this period. He also enjoys performing genealogical research, cooking, fishing, and all things sports, especially Green Bay Packers football.
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Carol Molnar
Head of Research and International Tax Reporting
Carol Molnar received her Juris Doctor degree, with honors, from Seton Hall University School of Law where she was a member of the Law Review, and received two degrees from Pace University, including her Master of Business Administration, graduating with honors, and her Bachelor of Business Administration, graduating magna cum laude. She is admitted to practice law in New Jersey, New York, and before the U.S. Supreme Court. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Molnar was previously associated with Citibank Private Banking and served on the Board of Directors of Citicorp Trust N.A., Florida and California. Her work as a Master Tax Adviser includes personalized tax preparation and planning for sophisticated individuals and fiduciaries, as well as negotiating with the IRS and state taxing authorities. At our firm, Carol is responsible for overseeing all Gift tax, Generation Skipping tax, and Foundation returns for our clients within the Income Tax Practice Group and provides legal support for the Estate Administration Practice Group and the Wealth Transfer and Asset Protection Practice Group.
Carol has deep roots in her community and is a third generation Westfield resident, raising two successful adult daughters. She was awarded the Faith in Westfield Award by the Westfield Chamber of Commerce for recognition of her volunteer service and leadership in her community. Her involvement in the community has included serving on the Westfield Planning Board; Westfield Main Street; Friends of Mindowaskin Park; the Westfield Symphony Board; and the Dr. Martin Luther King Association; currently, she is the Chair of the New Jersey Capital Planning Commission which provides capital recommendations to the Governor and Legislature for the New Jersey Annual State Budget.
Carol travels throughout the United States collecting vintage Christmas decorations and crèches.
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