Ken Griffin’s increasingly vocal support for Miami as a financial hub is doing little to persuade many New York-based hedge fund portfolio managers to relocate, despite renewed political tensions in the city, according to a report by eFinancial Careers.
The debate intensified after New York mayoral figure Zohran Mamdani released a video outside Griffin’s $238m Manhattan penthouse, promoting a proposed “pied-à-terre” tax aimed at ultra-wealthy residents. Griffin, the founder and CEO of Citadel, later described the video as “creepy” and “frightening,” telling CNBC that it reinforced his intention to expand Citadel’s presence in Miami.
According to Griffin, the comments have accelerated plans to add jobs in Florida, where Citadel has been steadily building its footprint. A spokesperson for the firm described Miami as a “world-class city” and highlighted its importance to Citadel’s senior leadership, noting ongoing progress on the firm’s new headquarters development there.
Despite the rhetoric, regulatory filings suggest New York remains the core location for Citadel’s investment operations. The firm reportedly employs more than 570 investment professionals in New York compared with fewer than 50 in Miami.
Citadel also continues to deepen its long-term commitment to Manhattan real estate. The firm relocated offices from 350 Park Avenue to 660 Park Avenue last year and remains involved in the redevelopment of 350 Park Avenue, a project expected to cost approximately $6bn. Griffin acknowledged recently that political developments had prompted internal discussions about the investment, though the project is still moving ahead.
While Miami continues to attract finance professionals seeking lower taxes and warmer weather, several senior hedge fund managers said the city lacks the appeal often portrayed publicly. Some cited concerns over infrastructure, crime, lifestyle, and the perceived social culture surrounding the South Florida wealth scene.
Others argued that the financial benefits of moving are narrower than many assume. One senior portfolio manager noted that although relocating from New York could reduce state tax liabilities, higher costs associated with private schooling and maintaining distance from established personal and professional networks can offset much of the advantage.
Instead, some hedge fund professionals continue to favour Connecticut as a compromise location that offers proximity to New York alongside lower taxes and more suburban living conditions.
Citadel Securities president Jim Esposito recently acknowledged that the firm now effectively operates with dual hubs in New York and Miami, although he admitted some employees remain reluctant to relocate due to family and schooling considerations.
Recruiters active in South Florida’s hedge fund market argue that concerns around safety and education are frequently overstated. Claude Schwab, who recruits portfolio managers into Miami-based roles, said school availability has improved and that many finance professionals are choosing residential areas outside central Miami, including Fort Lauderdale, Jupiter, and neighbourhoods between Brickell and Coconut Grove.
Even so, sentiment among many New York hedge fund managers appears unchanged. Some believe the migration of wealthy financiers southward could ultimately improve the quality of life in Manhattan itself.
