I’m Heather Fernstrom.
I help build powerful partnerships, purposeful portfolios, and the next generation of leaders. A real-assets advisor, mentor, philanthropist, and global adventurer, I do the work—with integrity, intention, and heart.
Born and raised in Florida. I’ve built a life and career grounded in hard work, humility, and the conviction that real leadership starts with service.
From the boardroom to the ballfields, I bring the same intentionality to strategic growth that I bring to raising three children and mentoring emerging leaders. Whether I’m advising institutional investment managers or using my voice to champion change, I’m here to shift how we lead—in business, in life, and in legacy.
I didn’t grow up expecting to co-found a firm advising hundreds of billions in client AUM, and I didn’t have a roadmap for breaking into capital markets. But I had a front-row seat to entrepreneurship—watching my dad invest in real estate and my mom build her own advisory firm.
By age 10, I was working the front desk of our family hotel in Naples—learning to lead, listen, and serve.
In 2005, I lost my brother when I was 21. That loss reshaped everything—deepening my compassion, sharpening my perspective, and lighting a fire to live on purpose. If you’re still here, there’s work to do.
My path wasn’t linear. I earned two bachelor’s degrees (Accounting; Business Administration) from Western State, then two master’s degrees (Finance; Real Estate & Construction Management) from the University of Denver—while also competing as a collegiate volleyball player.
In 2008–2009, at 26, I was reporting devastating portfolio losses to pension boards of teachers, firefighters, and retirees. That trial by fire taught me that fiduciary responsibility isn’t a phrase—it’s a promise to do right by real people.
Over time, I became known not only for strategy, but for how I build teams—with transparency, trust, and room for people to grow. I’ve always had a soft spot for underdogs, especially those overlooked or underestimated. We don’t just need more diverse leaders—we need more people willing to lead differently.
In April 2020, in the thick of uncertainty, I co-founded Alliance Global Advisors with my business partner, Jennifer Stevens. We did it differently: in year one we set a charitable-giving goal before a revenue goal—and we’ve prioritized giving every year since.
What began as a bold, pandemic-era launch has grown into a firm advising over $540 billion in client AUM—pairing independent, LP-caliber perspective with hands-on execution for real assets managers.
Since launch, Alliance has focused on what matters most: sharpening strategy, aligning products and fees with the market, strengthening governance and investor engagement—and doing it with a culture that honors real life, invites honest conversation, and keeps service and giving at the center.
My kids see it all—the setbacks, the growth, the behind-the-scenes. They see me juggle investor calls and carpools, board meetings and ballgames. That’s by design. Leadership isn’t a title; it’s how you show up when it counts.
Alongside my advisory work, I mentor young women entering finance, speak at industry events (PREA, IREI, PERE, RELPI, Markets Group), and serve the community through organizations that shaped me. I’m proud to support Wellfit Girls and the American Heart Association, among others.
Giving back isn’t something I “add in”—it’s embedded in how I lead and live. Service is the strategy.
