Don Kowalchik

In 2018, I launched a consulting practice where I advise asset managers on the competitive landscape, identifying main competition and developing sales literature.

Here, I was entrusted to provide in-depth expertise on the Sub-Advisor Oversight Team conducting all fixed income manager research and selection with $2.5B in active sub-advised assets. ♦ Conducted analysis on a broad spectrum of investment managers to evaluate organization, people, processes, performance. ♦ Performed competitor/trend analysis, evaluated short-term asset levels to ascertain optimal fit for institutional portfolios of fixed income/bond solutions. ♦ Devised presentations with expert recommendations for internal investment committee and third-party lender groups. Obtained approval for new investment manager selection to add to portfolios. ♦ Consistently analyzed manager/investment performance. Provided rationalization for under and outperformance to ensure investments appropriate and yielding expected results. ♦ Devised documentation/generated reports. Evaluated data, updated portfolio performance figures, commentary, and fixed income market conditions. ♦ Partnered with CIOs, investment committee, and board. Apprised on performance updates and provided recommendations to properly position portfolios. ♦ Consistently researched, analyzed, and monitored manager performance. Advocated for new approach and identified backup/replacement managers to improve results. ♦ Formulated reporting on new manager prospects to ensure investment stability and profitability. ♦ Mentored/trained junior analysts providing expertise. ✶Championed relationships with existing partners and developed partnerships with new firms valued at $30M to $800M. ✶Partnered with Portfolio Management Team on new investment strategies, account structure, funding, and monitoring to ensure short/long-term lucrative investment opportunities. Deciphered impacts to minimize investment risk and maximize return.

When Wells Fargo acquired Wachovia/A.G. Edwards, I was appointed to transition my career into the new organization based on my proven performance. In this role, I served as trusted advisor and senior analyst of the fixed income specialist group for the manager research team providing strategic business acumen to cultivate institutional investment planning and growth. I consistently delivered value that exceeded expectations for division with $65B in assets. ♦ Sourced potential fund investments, performed comprehensive due diligence comprised of quantitative and qualitative analysis. Provided strategic fund allocation recommendations and conducted ongoing manager reviews to cultivate existing relationships. ♦ Strengthened, complemented, and expanded recommended roster by skillfully selecting targeted managers across diverse sub-categories; strategic income/bank and non-traditional. ♦ Contributed expertise and advised on key strategies within portfolios across individual account and mutual fund models comprised of multiple distinct relationships ranging from $100M to $2B+. ♦ Competently conducted in-depth due diligence focused on optimizing taxable/tax-exempt within discretionary portfolios. ♦ Designed and devised menu of preferred investment portfolio options for employee investors within corporations as a key trusted advisor. Proficiently navigated portfolio of defined contributions, mutual funds, 401K, pensions, and collective trusts. ✶Entrusted to skillfully advise to $30B in fixed income assets, utilized strategic expertise to endorse top managers and arrange prime investments options for portfolio. ✶Spearheaded extensive research of superior investment managers, which resulted in increased performance of various model portfolios. Oversaw in excess of 100 individual managers.

During my expansive tenure with A.G. Edwards/Wachovia Securities, I served as key contributor on fixed income sales trading desk, providing strategic investment consultation for high-net-worth, individual clients. ♦ Instrumental in devising strategic investment plans. Advised corporate and individual affluent clients on formulating portfolios diversified according to goals. ♦ Performed in-depth analysis of market trends within taxable/tax-exempt bond markets. Formulated multi-million-dollar portfolios focused on augmenting performance while minimizing risk to align with objectives. ✶Contributed key expertise building value across client portfolios via individual security selections to formulate a highly diversified portfolio. ✶Served as subject matter expert to facilitate fixed income training program for new financial consultants. Devised curriculum and presented informative educational materials to professionally develop students and enhance client engagement.