Christopher Askeland

Voya IM offers differentiated solutions across fixed income, equity and multi-asset platforms, including private markets and alternatives. The firm’s equity disciplines are organized as a series of discrete competencies managed by specialist teams and supported by centralized quantitative and sector-specific fundamental research. Top-down macro themes shape overall fixed income strategy and provide the context for bottom-up security selection.

Functions as a College/University

A team of portfolio managers, research analysts and traders is responsible for the management of each equity portfolio. They employ a bottom-up approach, using proprietary research to analyze and evaluate securities on a stock-by-stock basis. The research process begins with a diverse universe of companies. For each company in the universe, analysts develop earnings and revenue estimates. The analysts use those forecasts to calculate 13 value, growth and risk variables, which are used to rank each stock. Using the forecast and ranking information, the analysts then code the stocks on a 5-point scale - from 1, which is the most attractive to 5, which is the least attractive. The equity teams review the recommendations and create an overall assessment of the stock. The teams select stocks for the portfolios that are attractively priced with improving fundamentals. In choosing fixed income securities, BOIA seeks to avoid market timing and interest rate speculation in favor of strategies providing more consistent value over time. The teams construct the portfolios by using a process that combines specific security selection with macro bond market factors. The firm's fixed income teams actively manage all aspects of the fixed income market using risk-management techniques to minimize volatility and add value through yield curve, sector, issue and duration decisions.

Functions as a College/University