A.R. Schmeidler & Co., Inc.

Over 40 years ago, Arnold Schmeidler found himself engaged in a search for an investment firm to which he could comfortably entrust the management of his family's savings.

After spending 10 years in the industry, he then set out to build his own company—one that offers both a totally personalized client experience and an independent investment approach free from the conflicts of interest he encountered in management firms where investment banking and brokerage operations share the same company.

The company has evolved into a mid-sized investment management firm that manages assets for both high net-worth individuals and institutional clients. The firm has served its clients through a variety of market environments; from the oil crisis and bear market of the 1970s, to the inflation, tight credit and disinflation of the 1980s, to the banking crisis and later bull market of the 1990s, and finally to a volatile new period.

In 2003 we initiated a formal search to find an ideal business partner who could help accelerate our growth and allow us to offer our investment services to a larger number of clients. In our criteria for the search we had three primary objectives; (1) to retain our entire team and management structure, (2) to continue our investment philosophy and style unchanged, and (3) to remain independent of conflicts-of-interest on behalf of our clients.

In 2004 after a successful search, A. R. Schmeidler & Co. entered a new era when it was acquired by Hudson Valley Bank, the largest independently-owned commercial bank based in Westchester County, NY. We now operate as an independent subsidiary of the bank where we also manage the bank's trust department assets. This strategic partnership has brought added strength to the firm and has contributed to our continued growth and success.

Hudson Valley Bank, which was founded on similar principles as A. R. Schmeidler, shares our vision, our commitment to high quality and personalized service and to meeting the investment goals of our clients.

We at A. R. Schmeidler are proud of our past and look forward to managing the investments of new generations with the same professional care and attention.