Leadership

Brandon Thomas, Chief Investment Officer

Mr. Thomas co-chairs the PMC Investment Committee, and has responsibilities that include the development and implementation of PMC’s investment policy. He also leads the firm’s Quantitative Research Group (“QRG”) and QRG Capital Management, Inc., a wholly-owned unit of Envestnet, Inc.

Mr. Thomas received an A.B. in Economics from Brown University, an M.B.A. in Finance and Accounting from the University of Chicago and a J.D. from DePaul University.

Articles By This Author

Economic and Market Overview: Third Quarter 2019 Economic and Market Overview: Second Quarter 2019 Economic and Market Overview: First Quarter 2019 Webinar Replay: 2018 Market Outlook Economic and Market Overview: Fourth Quarter 2017 Economic and Market Overview: Third Quarter 2017 Video: Insights on Impact Economic and Market Overview: Second Quarter 2017 PMC Weekly Review - April 7, 2017 Economic and Market Overview: First Quarter 2017

Dana D’Auria, CFA, Co-Chief Investment Officer and Group President, Envestnet Solutions

As Group President, Envestnet Solutions and Co-Chief Investment Officer at Envestnet, Dana is responsible for wealth and asset management solutions across Envestnet's ecosystem,  including its research, overlay, 
direct indexing, sustainable investing and retirement services as well as partnerships with exchanges and other wealth solutions providers. Dana is also a chair of Envestnet | PMC’s Investment Committee. 
 
Prior to joining Envestnet, Dana was most recently a Managing Director of Symmetry Partners where she also served as President and a Portfolio Manager of Symmetry Panoramic Mutual Funds, the firm’s multi-factor family of funds.
 
Dana is a frequent contributor on CNBC Squawk Box, Bloomberg TV and Radio, Yahoo! Finance and Nasdaq TradeTalks. She has been honored by Money Management Executive as one of the publication’s “Top Women in Asset Management” in 2018 and “Women to Watch” in 2017. She has also published articles on factor investing in The Journal of Financial Planning and The Journal of Index Investing. Dana holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, and earned both her MBA (in Finance) and BA (in English and International Studies) from Fairfield University.

Jean Heath, CIMA®️, Head of Asset Manager Network

Jean has 22 years of diverse experiences within the managed account and advisory business and has held leadership roles in key account management, consultative sales, strategic marketing, branding, and channel development. Currently, she is responsible for the investment products on the Envestnet platform and determines and optimizes the economic model and engagement between Envestnet and its asset manager partners. Her team is responsible for deepening relationships with asset managers across the Envestnet suite of services, and ensuring that these managers have the tools, training, and knowledge they need to be successful distributors throughout the Envestnet ecosystem. She is the Chair of Envestnet’s managed product acceptance committee and advocates industry best practices. She has been an active mentor to young women professionals and also leads the Envestnet Institute On Campus Women in Wealth Management Mentorship program. In 2017, Jean was named one of Profiles in Diversity Journal Women Worth Watching.

Erik Preus, CFA, Head of Investment Solutions, Envestnet | PMC

Erik Prues

In his role, Erik Preus is responsible for the oversight and leadership of the investment solutions we offer to our clients in a variety of areas, including Tax Overlay, Sustainable Investing, Retirement Fiduciary Services, CIO Support, and packaged portfolio solutions. These solutions are designed to bring Envestnet | PMC's institutional research, due diligence, investment solutions and consulting expertise to our clients to empower their financial advisors to enhance client outcomes. Mr. Preus joined PMC in 2014 via Envestnet’s acquisition of Placemark Investments, where he was head of enterprise sales and business development.

Mr. Preus has over 25 years of experience in the investment services industry, with considerable time spent in both investment management and investment consulting firms. Prior to joining Placemark, Mr. Preus was President of the RBC Funds and Head of Strategic Relationships for RBC Global Asset Management. While at RBC, Mr. Preus also served as Director of Investment Consulting Services within RBC’s U.S. Wealth Management business. Prior to RBC, he held management and business development positions with Nicholas|Applegate, Delaware Investments, Jeffrey Slocum & Associates, and SEI Capital Resources.  Mr. Preus earned his Bachelor’s degree from the United States Air Force Academy, and he holds an MBA from the University of Dayton and an MA from the University of Hawaii. He is also a CFA charterholder.

Michael Featherman, CFA, Head of Investment Consulting and Distribution*

Mr. Featherman serves as the head of Envestnet|PMC’s investment consulting and distribution capabilities.  In this role Michael is responsible for leading Envestnet|PMC’s investment product and services distribution to advisors and their clientele.   Additionally, Michael leads Envestnet|PMC’s high net worth and institutional consulting services that are offered to financial advisors where Envestnet|PMC’s experience in asset allocation, investment manager selection, direct indexing and tax/ESG overlay capabilities is leveraged to enhance portfolio construction.  Finally, Michael and his team offer investment insight as a liaison for the Envestnet|PMC Investment Research team and investment guidance to advisors to help them determine the appropriate portfolio strategies for their clients.  

Prior to joining Envestnet | PMC in 2007, Mr. Featherman worked at Haverford Financial Services beginning in 2002, where his responsibilities included portfolio management, client relationship management, wholesaling to financial intermediaries, and equity and fixed income trading. He began his career in the financial services industry as a financial advisor for UBS Financial Services.  

Mr. Featherman holds a BS degree in Biology with a minor in Economics from Bowdoin College and is a CFA charterholder.

*non-voting member of the PMC Investment Committee

Ed Kelly, CFA, Chief Administrative Officer

Mr. Kelly serves as the Chief Administrative Officer for Envestnet | PMC. Within this role, he oversees the day-to-day operations, helping to monitor and coordinate key performance indicators, prioritize technology needs, streamline marketing and communication efforts and track prospects and risks to the organization. In addition to the day-to-day operations, Mr. Kelly serves as a key contributor for many strategic projects within the Envestnet organization, including the buildout of a network of exchanges and strategic partnerships. Mr. Kelly joined the Envestnet team in September 2011 as part of the Market Research team, focusing on industry trends and the competitive landscape as well as sales planning and analysis.

Mr. Kelly holds a B.S. degree in Accounting with a minor in Business Administration from Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. He is also a CFA charterholder.

 

Andrew Stavaridis, Group Head of Solutions Distribution

With more than 20 years of financial industry experience focusing on the insurance, bank, RIA and independent broker-dealer space, Andrew has worked to help advisors and institutions grow and develop successful advisory platforms and practices.  Previously, he was Head of Relationship Management and Client Business Development at FundQuest, which Envestnet acquired in 2011. Andrew joined FundQuest in 1998, where he held responsibilities in advisor sales, institutional business development and relationship management.

Additionally, Andrew is a board member of the Invest in Others Charitable Foundation, an organization that recognizes individual advisors and firms that are making a different by donating their time and money to causes they care about.  He received his B.A. from Lake Forest College and holds a series 65 security license.

Investment Committee

Brandon Thomas, Chief Investment Officer

Mr. Thomas co-chairs the PMC Investment Committee, and has responsibilities that include the development and implementation of PMC’s investment policy. He also leads the firm’s Quantitative Research Group (“QRG”) and QRG Capital Management, Inc., a wholly-owned unit of Envestnet, Inc.

Mr. Thomas received an A.B. in Economics from Brown University, an M.B.A. in Finance and Accounting from the University of Chicago and a J.D. from DePaul University.

Articles By This Author

Economic and Market Overview: Third Quarter 2019 Economic and Market Overview: Second Quarter 2019 Economic and Market Overview: First Quarter 2019 Webinar Replay: 2018 Market Outlook Economic and Market Overview: Fourth Quarter 2017 Economic and Market Overview: Third Quarter 2017 Video: Insights on Impact Economic and Market Overview: Second Quarter 2017 PMC Weekly Review - April 7, 2017 Economic and Market Overview: First Quarter 2017

Dana D’Auria, CFA, Co-Chief Investment Officer and Group President, Envestnet Solutions

As Group President, Envestnet Solutions and Co-Chief Investment Officer at Envestnet, Dana is responsible for wealth and asset management solutions across Envestnet's ecosystem,  including its research, overlay, 
direct indexing, sustainable investing and retirement services as well as partnerships with exchanges and other wealth solutions providers. Dana is also a chair of Envestnet | PMC’s Investment Committee. 
 
Prior to joining Envestnet, Dana was most recently a Managing Director of Symmetry Partners where she also served as President and a Portfolio Manager of Symmetry Panoramic Mutual Funds, the firm’s multi-factor family of funds.
 
Dana is a frequent contributor on CNBC Squawk Box, Bloomberg TV and Radio, Yahoo! Finance and Nasdaq TradeTalks. She has been honored by Money Management Executive as one of the publication’s “Top Women in Asset Management” in 2018 and “Women to Watch” in 2017. She has also published articles on factor investing in The Journal of Financial Planning and The Journal of Index Investing. Dana holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, and earned both her MBA (in Finance) and BA (in English and International Studies) from Fairfield University.

Erik Preus, CFA, Head of Investment Solutions, Envestnet | PMC

Erik Prues

In his role, Erik Preus is responsible for the oversight and leadership of the investment solutions we offer to our clients in a variety of areas, including Tax Overlay, Sustainable Investing, Retirement Fiduciary Services, CIO Support, and packaged portfolio solutions. These solutions are designed to bring Envestnet | PMC's institutional research, due diligence, investment solutions and consulting expertise to our clients to empower their financial advisors to enhance client outcomes. Mr. Preus joined PMC in 2014 via Envestnet’s acquisition of Placemark Investments, where he was head of enterprise sales and business development.

Mr. Preus has over 25 years of experience in the investment services industry, with considerable time spent in both investment management and investment consulting firms. Prior to joining Placemark, Mr. Preus was President of the RBC Funds and Head of Strategic Relationships for RBC Global Asset Management. While at RBC, Mr. Preus also served as Director of Investment Consulting Services within RBC’s U.S. Wealth Management business. Prior to RBC, he held management and business development positions with Nicholas|Applegate, Delaware Investments, Jeffrey Slocum & Associates, and SEI Capital Resources.  Mr. Preus earned his Bachelor’s degree from the United States Air Force Academy, and he holds an MBA from the University of Dayton and an MA from the University of Hawaii. He is also a CFA charterholder.

Janis Zvingelis, PhD, CFA, Senior Vice President, Director of Quantitative Research

As Head of PMC’s Quantitative Research Group, Mr. Zvingelis is responsible for leading PMC's research efforts involving quantitative finance, such as capital market forecasts, asset allocation strategies, portfolio implementation, and tax optimization. He brings knowledge of a variety of quantitative and statistical techniques to the analysis of financial research projects. Mr. Zvingelis is a member of both the PMC and Envestnet Retirement Solutions Investment Committees.

Prior to joining Envestnet Asset Management, Mr. Zvingelis was a research consultant with Mesirow Financial and Ibbotson Associates. He earned his PhD in Finance from The University of Iowa. He also holds a MA degree in Economics/Econometrics and an MSc degree in statistics, both from the University of Iowa as well as an MSc in Financial Mathematics from The University of Chicago. Mr. Zvingelis obtained his BA degree summa cum laude in Economics from Central College in Pella, Iowa. He has written and published several research papers in finance and theoretical statistics. Mr. Zvingelis is a CFA Charterholder.

Cal Bryant, CFA, Senior Vice President, PMC Overlay Services

Cal Bryant, CFA, is Senior Vice President, PMC Overlay Services. In this role, he leads the PMC Overlay Services team, which is responsible for implementing PMC’s Tax Overlay and Impact Overlay services for advisors and clients.

Mr. Bryant has over 20 years of experience in the investment services industry. He joined Envestnet with the acquisition of Placemark Investments in October 2014. At Placemark, he held numerous roles, leading the Portfolio Management, Operations, and Trading teams. He also served on the Investment Committee.

Mr. Bryant graduated from the University of South Carolina, Magna Cum Laude, with a B.S. in Business Administration and is a CFA Charterholder.

Greg Classen, CFA, Senior Vice President, Senior Portfolio Manager

Greg Classen, CFA, is a Senior Vice President, Portfolio Manager at Envestnet | PMC. He joined the firm in December 2011 and is lead portfolio manager for the enterprise solution programs. Prior to joining the firm, he was Director of Research at FundQuest, and was responsible for the research of mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, variable annuities, and offshore funds as well as the management of client assets.

Mr. Classen has over 15 years of industry and investment management experience. He holds a BA in Economics from Williams College and is a CFA charterholder.

Brooks Friederich, Principal Director, Investment Solutions Strategy

Mr. Friederich serves as Principal Director - Research Strategy at Envestnet | PMC and is responsible for providing strategic direction, project management, and functional oversight across the firm’s research and due diligence, portfolio management, and high net worth capabilities. He also serves on PMC's Investment Committee.

Mr. Friederich has been a member of the PMC Research Team since 2008, having historically performed manager research and due diligence on fund strategist portfolios, separate accounts, mutual funds, and ETFs across various asset classes.

Prior to joining the firm in 2008, Mr. Friederich was with Pitney Bowes, Inc., where he served as an Investment Specialist on the firm’s multi-billion dollar domestic and international pension investment portfolios. He holds a BS degree in Finance from the University of South Dakota and a MS in Finance from the University of Colorado at Denver.
 

Michael Featherman, CFA, Head of Investment Consulting and Distribution*

Mr. Featherman serves as the head of Envestnet|PMC’s investment consulting and distribution capabilities.  In this role Michael is responsible for leading Envestnet|PMC’s investment product and services distribution to advisors and their clientele.   Additionally, Michael leads Envestnet|PMC’s high net worth and institutional consulting services that are offered to financial advisors where Envestnet|PMC’s experience in asset allocation, investment manager selection, direct indexing and tax/ESG overlay capabilities is leveraged to enhance portfolio construction.  Finally, Michael and his team offer investment insight as a liaison for the Envestnet|PMC Investment Research team and investment guidance to advisors to help them determine the appropriate portfolio strategies for their clients.  

Prior to joining Envestnet | PMC in 2007, Mr. Featherman worked at Haverford Financial Services beginning in 2002, where his responsibilities included portfolio management, client relationship management, wholesaling to financial intermediaries, and equity and fixed income trading. He began his career in the financial services industry as a financial advisor for UBS Financial Services.  

Mr. Featherman holds a BS degree in Biology with a minor in Economics from Bowdoin College and is a CFA charterholder.

*non-voting member of the PMC Investment Committee

Ryan Tagal, Director of Product Management, Envestnet | PMC*

Ryan Tagal is the Director of Product Management at Envestnet ৷PMC (PMC). In this role, he oversees all product management and development for PMC’s suite of product and service offerings. This includes product oversight of PMC’s managed portfolios, consulting, and research offerings. He also participates in the overall leadership and management of PMC, from a strategic positioning standpoint.

Prior to his current role, Mr. Tagal was a Vice President of Product Management for Envestnet’s Product Group, overseeing product ownership for areas of the Envestnet platform relating to Envestnet's separately managed account program and manager research. Mr. Tagal also acted as the Associate Portfolio Manager for PMC’s Paradigm Liquid Alternatives Portfolios and continues to serve on the firm’s liquid alternatives group. He was a key member in the development of Envestnet’s classification and portfolio construction framework for mutual funds that employ alternative investment strategies.

Prior to joining Envestnet, Mr. Tagal led Morningstar’s hedge fund initiative. In this role, he oversaw the development of Morningstar’s hedge fund database, associated product development, and related research and methodology. Before that, Mr. Tagal was the Director of Quantitative Research at Cerulli Associates where he initiated Cerulli’s research in managed accounts, alternative investment products, and hedge funds in the mid‐1990’s.

Mr. Tagal has frequently been quoted in financial publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, and BusinessWeek as an expert in emerging trends in the hedge fund and managed account industries. He holds an SB in Physics from MIT and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School.

*non-voting member of the PMC Investment Committee

Ed Kelly, CFA, Chief Administrative Officer*

Mr. Kelly serves as the Chief Administrative Officer for Envestnet | PMC. Within this role, he oversees the day-to-day operations, helping to monitor and coordinate key performance indicators, prioritize technology needs, streamline marketing and communication efforts and track prospects and risks to the organization. In addition to the day-to-day operations, Mr. Kelly serves as a key contributor for many strategic projects within the Envestnet organization, including the buildout of a network of exchanges and strategic partnerships. Mr. Kelly joined the Envestnet team in September 2011 as part of the Market Research team, focusing on industry trends and the competitive landscape as well as sales planning and analysis.

Mr. Kelly holds a B.S. degree in Accounting with a minor in Business Administration from Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. He is also a CFA charterholder.

*non-voting member of the PMC Investment Committee

Ling-Wei Hew, CFA, Principal Director – Multi-Asset Research

Ling-Wei Hew is a Principal Director at Envestnet | PMC. In this role, she oversees the team of analysts responsible for conducting research and due diligence on third-party, multi-asset, strategist managers featured on the firm’s platform, and enhancing the development of the firm’s research in this area. In addition, Ms. Hew also serves on the investment committee for Envestnet | PMC and Envestnet Retirement Solutions.

Prior to joining Envestnet | PMC in 2016, Ms. Hew spearheaded the research on ETF managed portfolio strategies at Morningstar, Inc. In this role, she was responsible for educating key industry players on best practice standards and industry trends through the publication of white papers, landscape reports, and firm and strategy due diligence.

Ms. Hew holds a BA in economics from Wellesley College and an MBA from UCLA. She has earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Los Angeles.

David Hawal, CFA, Principal Director – Equity & Fixed Income Research

Mr. Hawal is Principal Director of Equity & Fixed Income Investment Research for Envestnet | PMC. In this role, he oversees the firm’s research and due diligence efforts on active equity and fixed income managers, and is responsible for the leadership, development, and organizational and administrative functions of the traditional research team. Mr. Hawal has over 15 years of investment industry experience and has been a member of the PMC Research Team since 2013, having performed manager research and due diligence on separate account, mutual fund, and ETF investment managers across a variety of asset classes. Mr. Hawal also serves on the investment committee for Envestnet | PMC.

Mr. Hawal began his career at Envestnet in 2009 as a Senior Portfolio Specialist, where he managed trading responsibilities for client mutual fund wraps, separate accounts, and fund strategist portfolios. Prior to joining Envestnet, he worked as a trading specialist at Charles Schwab, beginning in 2007. In this role he primarily focused on equity and mutual fund trading. Mr. Hawal also served as a resolution manager on Schwab’s client advocacy team.

Mr. Hawal received a BBA degree from Loyola University Maryland with dual majors in International Business and Spanish, as well as an MBA in Finance from John Carroll University. Mr. Hawal has earned the right to use the Charted Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and is a member of the CFA Institute and CFA Society of Colorado. He previously held the FINRA Series 7 and 63 licenses.