Paul Frank Pfeiffer

MB Investment Partners' (MBIP) expertise includes equity management in large- and small-cap strategies, as well as balanced and fixed- income account management. MBIP begins by examining factors that can influence financial markets such as national and world events, political and tax changes, as well as shifts in social attitudes. They then cull a handful of broad themes that will drive this investment outlook. They search for sustained changes in technology, economics and business practices that create opportunities for significant gains. The final selection of securities combines the consideration of a macroeconomic view, their chosen themes and direct contacts with the companies. MBIP accomplishes this process by assigning certain industries and companies to their research analysts and to each of the portfolio managers for thorough review. Their investment recommendations are then considered and compared by all managers until a consensus is reached. The final step is to examine the trading patterns of the stocks that MBIP has chosen to determine when and at what price they will buy and sell. MBIP's growth equity strategy is a bottom-up fundamental approach focused on investing in companies that are capable of generating strong revenue growth and sustainable long-term earnings gains at least 50% greater than that of the S&P 500. They also seek companies that, based upon their valuation metrics, have under-appreciated growth potential. A number of quantitative measures are used to initially identify potential candidates for inclusion in the portfolio. However, only after the completion of extensive fundamental analysis is a stock approved for investment. Portfolios are concentrated typically in 30 to 40 positions. For fixed-income, the firm emphasizes quality bonds with intermediate maturities in order to maintain a high degree of liquidity and to limit the volatility of the portfolio. Longer-term issues may be used as equity substitutes in periods when MBIP believes that projected returns are competitive with the equity markets. Since the relationship between taxable and municipal bond yields changes from time to time, they will invest in either sector to optimize after-tax returns for their clients. In assessing the attractiveness of the bond market, MBIP employs the same discipline of fundamental and technical analysis that is used in the investment process for equities. They look for changes in fundamentals or investor psychology that will be the catalyst to provide superior returns.

Provides investment advice

Spears Abacus seeks to generate superior long-term capital appreciation through a focused portfolio of companies that they believe to have dynamic businesses with leading and defensible market positions. The firm employs proprietary fundamental research and emphasizes specific security selection rather than asset allocation. They look for investments that they believe offer favorable asymmetric expected return profiles over the coming three-year period and to possess catalysts to unlock value. Their portfolio construction approach includes the objective of issuer and industry diversification.

Functions as a College/University

Provides brokerage services

Functions as a College/University