Mike Gerding

Denver Investment Advisors' (DIA) uses a variety of investment approaches and methods in managing accounts, both qualitative and quantitative, with emphasis on the use of proprietary fundamental research. The firm also makes substantial use of various quantitative screening techniques through their own proprietary models. Their investment strategies are typically implemented through separately managed accounts for clients although certain strategies are also available through the Westcore family of mutual funds, or through a commingled investment vehicle. DIA's investment strategies include Growth Equity (small-, mid-, SMID- and large-cap); Quantitative Micro-Cap Equity, International Equity (small-cap and concentrated small-cap), Value Equity (small-, SMID- and mid-cap as well as global large-cap rising dividend); and fixed income (intermediate, core investment grade, core, core plus, high yield, long-term/liability-driven, corporate only and municipal. DIA's Wealth Management Division provides services to high net-worth individuals with a focus on customizing investment services to meet clients’ individual needs. This can include leveraging the firm’s institutional strategies through through this group’s own strategies which include equity, balanced, taxable bond, tax-exempt bond, and workplace equality.

Founders Asset Management looks for companies that have potential for strong earnings growth that can be sustained through market cycles and changing economic conditions, and can combine these qualitative strengths with the business savvy needed to produce the kinds of compelling quantitative strengths that look sound on a firm's balance sheet. They do not limit themselves to certain markets or sectors. The firm conducts bottom-up research with the application of an in-depth process that entails a company-by-company analysis of business models and fundamentals. They prefer to focus exclusively on uncovering growth-oriented stocks, regardless of their sectors or geographical location. Founders Asset Management's stock selection process is organic; they monitor current holdings on a daily basis. They use price targets to assess companies' contributions to portfolio performance, making adjustments if necessary. Though not limited by sector, Founders Asset management tends to invest in the stocks of US large-cap companies in the retail, technology services, electronic technology and health services sectors.

Wasatch develops a fundamental, bottom-up research method that focuses on the long-term growth potential of companies and finding market inefficiencies. The firm initially focused on investing in the stocks of companies with small market capitalizations, and over time has organically evolved into additional asset classes. They select investments for clients based solely on investment considerations, including whether the investments are suitable for the client and consistent with the client’s investment objectives and guidelines.

Functions as a College/University

Nationally chartered commercial bank

Rio Asset Management specializes in international small-cap investing. The firm believes that ultimately earnings growth drives stock prices, and small companies provide the best opportunity to find rapid earnings growth. Rio’s international small-cap portfolio is a bottom up, growth oriented portfolio. The firm uses intensive, fundamental research to find the best rapidly growing small-cap stocks outside the US. The portfolio may consist of companies in both developed and developing markets. Typically, a somewhat concentrated portfolio is maintained of less than 80 companies to take advantage of the research done on each company. The portfolio is built bottom up, one company at a time. The goal is to build a portfolio of some of the world’s best small-cap growth companies, regardless of where they are located. The fund’s performance is measured against the Citigroup EMI Global ex-US Index, but the portfolio is not benchmarked closely to the index and may have significantly different characteristics than the index. Rio typically defines small-cap as market-cap less than $5 billion. The portfolio typically hold 50 to 80 stocks, and turnover averages 40%-75% per year