Neil Raphael Finestone died Jan. 23 at his Beverly Hills home.
He was born Nov. 15, 1957, in Montreal to Rita Finestone and the late Bernard J. Finestone.
Finestone earned a bachelor’s of commerce degree in economics from Concordia University Business School in Montreal. He earned his certificate in financial planning from USC’s financial planning program.
Finestone’s early business experience included insurance brokerage training at A.F.I. Insurance Brokers in Montreal, along with finance and administration in various assignments with Proctor & Gamble in Toronto, where his areas of responsibility included the supervision of western Canada, Sunkist Growers, Inc., in California. Here, his assignments also included the international sales and marketing of citrus commodities and manufactured products.
Finestone became a financial planner in 1983 and earned the professional designation of certified financial planner (CFP) from the College for Financial Planning in Denver, and chartered life underwriter (CLU) and chartered financial consultant (ChFC) from the American College in Bryn Mawr, Pa.
He was a third-generation owner of Finestone & Sons Ltd. (Canada), founded in 1924, specializing in cross-border estate and financial planning and was one of approximately 35 life insurance professionals in California who was granted the life and disability analyst license from the California Department of Insurance, indicating fiduciary and recognized expert status.
Finestone was an expert skier, enjoyed white river rafting, mountain biking, hiking, and was a member of the Del Rey Yacht Club in Marina del Rey.
He is survived by wife Angela; daughters Erin and Mia (Naftali) Posner; son Bryan; stepchildren Avonlea Jacobs and Felipe Orozco; one grandchild, mother Rita; brother Paul.
