Jim Paulsen

AMCORE Investment Group's (AIG) investment selection process is based on strategic and tactical asset allocation across various asset classes. Equity selections are earnings-driven, rely on bottom-up analysis and are supported by sector allocation strategies. Fixed-income investments are selected based on interest rate expectations and sector allocation. Though not limited by sector AIG tends to invest in the stocks of US large-cap companies in the finance, producer manufacturing, electronic technology, energy minerals, health technology and technology services sectors. The firm maintains a low turnover rate.

Allspring utilizes proprietary investment allocation systems in conjunction with the securities selection services provided by their portfolio managers to create and maintain actively managed investment portfolios intended to meet the requirements of its clients’ investment needs. The firm offers a variety of equity, multi-asset, and fixed income investment strategies. These investment strategies (collectively) may invest in a wide variety of financial instruments. Allspring employs bottom-up company specific analysis to find securities with under-appreciated prospects.

LWCM seeks capital appreciation and income. Their investment approach focuses on quantitative measures of value combined with the identification of fundamental and technical trends.

Functions as a College/University

Miles Capital seeks to provide investment strategies that identify and control risk while capitalizing on long-term economic, demographic and cultural trends, as well as fundamental shifts in business practices. The firm provides investment advisory services to their clients through customized portfolios which include: equity securities (exchange-listed securities, ETFs, securities traded over-the-counter, and ADRs); warrants; corporate debt securities; commercial paper; municipal securities; investment company securities (mutual funds shares); US Government securities; and other securities, including convertible bonds, preferred stocks, or alternative assets (private equity hedge funds, real estate, and commodities). Miles Capital evaluates holdings through their own fundamental research, a proven valuation model and access to outside resources. Miles Capital’s equity strategies are based on their belief that buying high quality stocks, trading at a reasonable valuation, at the right moment in time is the key to generating long-term excess returns. The firm manages five equity strategies: Large-Cap Core, Dividend Advantage, Small-Cap Core, International, and REITs. Miles Capital's investment process begins with identifying the appropriate universe of securities that will be filtered and used to construct the model portfolio. They then identify the target risk and portfolio metrics for each strategy, based on research and the characteristics of each unique selection set. The goal is to minimize unintended risks and limit downside volatility. Their security selection process is a bottom-up oriented, two-step process that focuses on identifying securities with the characteristics they believe are necessary to deliver economic value. The first step is a quantitative screening process. The securities are ranked to efficiently narrow the universe of securities to a group with consistent earnings and profitability characteristics and strong liquidity, while maintaining diversification across market capitalizations, sectors, and subsectors. The second step is a qualitative analysis. Fundamental analysis is conducted on an organized group of stocks that already exhibit attractive characteristics. The ultimate goal of their selection process is to build a diversified portfolio of stocks that have attractive asymmetric return profiles strong upside potential with limited downside risk. Miles Capital manages a variety of fixed income strategies, including: Core Fixed Income, Intermediate Core, Intermediate High Quality, Tax Advantaged Bond and Customized target Duration (Insurance and Sector Specific). Their investment process begins with a top-down analysis of the global and domestic trends that influence the US dollar denominated fixed income market. The process then defines a desired level of interest rate risk, yield curve positioning, sector rotation and security selection. The selection of specific issues to be included in a portfolio is a bottom-up process which identifies the best securities within a sector or industry that already has been identified as attractive through the top-down analysis. These decisions are combined with defined risk parameters to achieve an optimal portfolio.