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For most New Jersey residents, relatively easy access in and out of the Big Apple can be one of the greatest allures to living in the Garden State. But for residents of Paramus, NJ, the best of New York City has made its way to their doorsteps. Paramus, a city in Bergen County, enjoys a spectacular seat in the northeastern corner of New Jersey, attracting families for decades. Its family-focused, small town feel maintains a distinctly metropolitan flair, something Anthony Cristiano, Senior Vice President and Financial Advisor at RBC Wealth Management, greatly values. "All good things about Manhattan are part of your life here," shares Cristiano, a 9/11 survivor and former NYC commuter who has worked at some of the most prestigious financial firms on Wall St. However, with natural disasters like Hurricane Sandy and long-lasting impacts from COVID taking its toll on the NJ Transit system, Anthony Cristiano's "thirty five years of taking the train" to work changed to a two hour– sometimes four hour–commute via car. When his former firm made some service changes that affected him and his clients, Mr. Cristiano began his search for a more client-friendly firm. With a busy practice and a young family nearby, it was an easy decision when RBC Wealth Management, the US arm of one of the world's top banks, offered him an opportunity at their growing firm in Paramus, NJ. Indeed, Paramus is quickly becoming known as "Wall St. West" as world-class financial institutions open new offices in the burgeoning borough. As the physical center of the financial world moves out of NYC and into electronic-based transactions, the facade of the original Wall St. is fading from view. Cristiano explains, "e talent is now everywhere; NYC does not have the corner on the market for financial professionals. e world has changed." In our post-pandemic reality, a more tenable solution has arrived–the alluring offer of a better work-life balance for those who want to live, conduct business, and play all in one location. VUENJ.COM 93

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