Investment Strategy Professionals to Know 2025

Portfolio manager with significant experience in asset allocation, investment strategy, securities research, manager due diligence, and economic analysis, and the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and an MBA from Columbia University. Manage two separate accounts strategies of individual common stocks at SEIA that outperformed their benchmarks, plus manage portfolios of investment grade bonds in customized accounts. Write commentary for firm's website and provide quotes in the media.Oversaw the $28 billion platform of Goldman Sachs Personal Financial Management as Vice President, Investment Oversight to identify risks to clients and the firm, evaluating individual holdings and testing for client suitability. Earlier, managed custom separate accounts of individual investment grade bonds and stocks, performing fundamental research on individual securities.Delivered an annualized performance advantage of more than 10 percentage points managing dozens of modeled strategies totaling $14 billion in assets as Director of Investments at Genworth Financial Asset Management. Created hundreds of custom portfolios with an average portfolio size of $130 million as Director, Investment Management & Guidance at Merrill Lynch in New York in Merrill Lynch's Institutional Consulting Group, a unit overseeing $350 billion in assets. Led asset allocation team of six quantitative analysts.Authored over 1,000 original thought pieces on economics in the media for 10 years at TheStreet and Seeking Alpha.Began career managing portfolios of investment grade bonds and high-quality stocks in 1989 at Oppenheimer & Co. in New York, performing credit analysis and fundamental equity research.Utilize FactSet and Bloomberg to obtain and analyze data on individual securities, markets, and economic variables, as well as BlackRock Aladdin, MSCI Barra, and Morningstar Direct to construct portfolios and evaluate investment managers. Use Monte Carlo simulation, scenario analyses, stress tests, factor models, attribution analysis, and VaR analysis to assess risk.Signature Estate & Investment Advisors, LLC (SEIA) is an SEC-registered investment adviser; however, such registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training and no inference to the contrary should be made. Securities offered through Signature Estate Securities, Inc. member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through SEIA, LLC, 2121 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 1600, Los Angeles, CA 90067, (310) 712-2323. For additional information visit our website https://www.seia.com/legal-disclaimer/

Jake Geiger has expertise in financial modeling, investment evaluation, and strategy. With a background working in family offices, private equity, and his own company, he has a proven track record of leading teams to assess international business opportunities and drive growth. Jake specializes in business valuation, financial analysis, and strategic development. He is available to provide expert insights on family offices, strategy/management, and alternative investments.

MY STORY Where I come from and what shaped my approach to investing From Adversity to Opportunity I was born in Syria, a place filled with beauty but also hardship. When the war started, my childhood ended quickly. School was not an option anymore, safety was the only priority. My family fled to Turkey, and life restarted from zero. At twelve, while most kids were in school, I worked six days a week in textile factories. I earned around thirty dollars a week, just enough to eat and keep a roof. But I refused to stay at the bottom. That phase taught me discipline, resilience, and self-education. Building Through Education Later, I came to Austria. I had missed four years of school because of war. I entered middle school, then gymnasium, without knowing German or English. I studied both at the same time, and one year later, I added French. Summers were not vacations, they were catch-up seasons. I fought through trauma, cultural shock, language barriers, and uncertainty. But quitting was never an option. I completed school, then went on to university to study economics and management. Education became my weapon and escape route. Entrepreneurial Journey My first entrepreneurial step was launching YEPPE Clothing, a clothing brand with print-on-demand capabilities. This gave me my first lessons in branding, product, fulfillment, and customer behavior. I learned WordPress, design, supplier communication, and basic business execution. Next came WebACE, a software agency I co-founded in Austria. We built websites, applications, and custom tools. I learned front-end development, user experience, search engine optimization, and product delivery. I had no tech background, but I learned fast. Then came TradingGEN. I had a thesis that sentiment moves markets. Most didn't believe me, so I built it myself. I created the interface, collected data, tested for two years, and eventually reached around seventy percent accuracy predicting market direction movements based on sentiment shifts. Today, all these experiences come together in my investment approach. I compress ten thousand hours in the market, one hundred tested strategies, software development experience, systematic thinking, risk frameworks, and psychological discipline into a method that sits between fundamental clarity and technical precision, between opportunity and protection.

I'm passionate about helping families build generational wealth through strategic retirement planning. As a retirement income strategist, I specialize in self-directed retirement solutions that give people more control over their financial future. My approach is pretty straightforward - I believe everyone deserves access to the financial strategies that the wealthy have been using for generations. I focus on showing clients how to leverage their existing assets, whether that's an old 401(k), home equity, or other resources, to create multiple streams of retirement income. What really drives me is seeing families break free from traditional financial limitations. I love educating people about options they didn't even know existed, like self-directed 401(k)s and velocity banking strategies. It's amazing to watch someone's eyes light up when they realize they have more control over their financial destiny than they thought. I take pride in sitting on the same side of the table as my clients - their success is my success. Whether we're mapping out a debt elimination strategy or creating a retirement income plan, my goal is to empower people with the knowledge and tools they need to build lasting wealth.

Peter Reagan is a respected financial strategist at Birch Gold Group with more than 15 years of experience in the precious metals market. His market commentary has been featured in outlets including Newsmax, ZeroHedge, and GoBankingRates. At Birch Gold Group, he helps investors understand how gold and other precious metals can strengthen long-term financial security. His clear guidance and commitment to education have made him a trusted voice in an evolving economic landscape. Known for his practical approach and genuine commitment to investors’ success, Peter makes financial concepts feel accessible and empowering. He brings clarity to uncertainty, helping people make confident decisions about their future. Whether sharing insights in the media or supporting clients one-on-one, he remains focused on education, integrity, and building lasting trust with those he serves.

Will Lane is a seasoned financial expert with over 20 years of experience across the financial sectors of banking, investments and insurance. He leads educational workshops across the country focused on helping Black families build, protect, and pass down generational wealth. Specializing in retirement planning, estate planning strategies and life insurance, Will is known for his ability to make complex financial concepts practical, relatable, and easy to understand. His work centers on empowering families with the knowledge needed to move from short-term financial planning to long-term financial security. Will has been featured in national publications such as Yahoo Finance, Business Insider, and American Business Stars, where he shares insights on the importance of financial literacy, legacy planning, and closing the racial wealth gap. A key aspect of his approach is helping individuals identify and overcome self-sabotaging financial patterns so they can make confident decisions about protecting their families, preparing for retirement, and leaving a lasting legacy. Through his education-first approach and no-nonsense delivery, Will has become a trusted voice for podcasts, panels, and publications focused on financial education, wealth building, and economic empowerment within the Black community.

With over 8 years of experience in the financial industry, I am a passionate and driven portfolio manager and podcast co-host. I specialize in family wealth management, financial planning, and investments, helping clients achieve their financial goals and dreams. I currently work as a portfolio manager at RBC Dominion Securities, one of Canada's leading full-service investment firms. I am proud to be part of a team that provides comprehensive wealth management solutions to individuals, families, and businesses across the country. In addition to my role at RBC, I also co-host a podcast called Reformed Millennials, where I share my insights and opinions on the latest trends and topics that matter to millennials and investors. I enjoy engaging with our listeners and community, and exploring the opportunities and challenges that our generation faces in the changing world. Through my podcast, I aim to educate, inspire, and empower millennials to make informed and smart decisions about their money and their future.

I am an experienced wealth management and fintech marketing communications leader who has quantifiably shown how to drive greater demand. With over 15 years of experience delivering marketing strategies for fintechs and financial service firms, I have been sought out to create, from the ground up, the messaging and marketing programs that will quantifiably move the needle in driving brand awareness and revenue opportunities for an organization. After years of delivering marketing programs, I can anticipate challenges, get in front of them, and deliver on-time, on-budget solutions. Over the course of my career, I have had the good fortune to learn how to optimize marketing best practices and professional development. It gives me great pleasure when I am able to share what I have learned with my team and create an environment that allows for their professional growth and development.

I’m a FINMA-licensed financial advisor based in Switzerland, specializing in retirement and pension planning for individuals and companies. Through Invexa, I help clients build clear, sustainable long-term financial strategies that integrate both investment and insurance components. My approach combines personalized wealth planning with regulated insurance brokerage services to deliver practical, compliant, and goal-oriented solutions for every stage of life.

Dana is an investment management executive with 20+ years of experience in product structuring, marketing, fundraising, investor relations and corporate communications. Before spending the last few years building LUXUS in WealthTech, Dana worked as a Managing Director at Blackstone, Harbinger and with other prominent hedge funds and family offices. She began her career as a lawyer at Schulte Roth & Zabel. Dana has a BA from the University of Vermont and a JD from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.

I’m Jeremy Keil, CFP®, CFA®, a retirement financial advisor, and author of Retire Today: Create Your Retirement Master Plan in 5 Simple Steps. Known as Mr. Retirement on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@mrretirement), I show retirees how to make great retirement decisions with math-based financial planning, not myth-based financial planning. Got questions on Retirement, Social Security, Tax Planning, Longevity, Retiree Healthcare, Investments or Interest Rates? I explain complex financial matters in a way your reader can understand. Check out my podcast, Retire Today, and by book, Retire Today. Talk soon! - Jeremy

𝗠𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆: Both of my parents immigrated from Mexico as teenagers. They didn’t have much, but what they did have was grit. My dad was in construction, my mom working flexible jobs so she could stay close to us. Eventually, she became a foster mom, and our house was always filled with kids—many of whom came from homes filled with struggle, instability, and deep financial stress. It didn’t take long for me to realize: 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴. It influences safety, peace of mind, opportunity, even emotional well-being. At 12 years old, I was cleaning houses with my mom and working on construction job sites with my dad... saving every dollar I could. I wasn’t just learning the value of hard work. I was making a vow: I would never feel powerless because of money. I would become the expert. And I would help other women feel powerful, too. I’ve kept that promise. I became one of the youngest CFP® professionals in the country. I have leaned on innovation and built my practice on one simple idea: 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴—𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗵𝗮𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴. Now, I serve women who are ready to align their money with what really matters. Not just retire well—but live well. Not just grow wealth—but use it with purpose.

As a seasoned Wealth Advisor with over a decade of experience in the financial services industry, I've had the privilege of working with diverse types of clientele, helping them navigate the complexities of financial planning. My journey has been defined by a commitment to understanding each client's unique goals and developing tailored strategies that encompass everything from retirement and estate planning to tax-efficient investment portfolios. Throughout my career, I've worked closely with individuals and families at various life stages, from young professionals just starting their financial journeys to retirees looking to preserve and grow their wealth. My approach is holistic, ensuring that all aspects of my clients' financial lives are aligned with their long-term objectives. In addition to my advisory role, I’ve held leadership positions where I guided teams of financial planners in crafting comprehensive financial planning strategies. My leadership experience includes overseeing the design and implementation of systems that addressed complex financial needs, such as equity compensation planning, college funding, and insurance solutions. My goal is to continue empowering clients to achieve financial security and peace of mind, while leveraging my expertise and leadership to deliver personalized, results-driven financial strategies.

Neil Datta is a seasoned investment professional with over two decades of experience across family offices, hedge funds, private equity, venture capital, and institutional asset management. As Founder and Managing Partner of NKD Advisory, he advises ultra-high-net-worth families, sovereign investors, and entrepreneurs on how to navigate alternatives while also launching innovative private credit and multi-asset strategies. Over his career, Neil has personally reviewed 2,000 fund managers globally—giving him one of the most comprehensive perspectives in the industry. His expertise bridges institutional rigor with the personalized needs of family offices, making him a trusted voice on how wealth is created, preserved, and transitioned across generations. Family Offices & UHNW: Neil speaks frequently about intergenerational dynamics, governance, and how younger heirs are driving new allocations into venture, technology, and impact investing. He also highlights the lifestyle dimensions of wealth, from philanthropy and passion investing to structuring real estate, art, and sports holdings. Hedge Funds & Portfolio Management: With deep experience allocating to hedge funds, Neil offers insight into liquidity vs. performance trade-offs, the rise of multi-strategy firms, and the behavioral discipline required for long-term success. He emphasizes portfolio construction around risk exposures rather than rigid asset classes, backed by stress testing and scenario analysis. Venture Capital & Private Equity: Having founded a venture-backed fintech platform that raised $2M from institutional investors, Neil brings founder empathy to venture discussions. He comments on GP/LP dynamics, the boom in co-investments, and opportunities across fintech, healthcare, consumer, and sports/media. Institutional Asset Management: Early experience at Salomon Smith Barney shaped Neil’s institutional lens—governance, diversification, and balancing beta vs. alpha. He applies these lessons for family offices without the bureaucratic inertia of large institutions. Neil is known as a connector of people, capital, and ideas. His global network spans top hedge funds, private equity firms, and next-generation wealth leaders, and his perspectives are sought by media for their clarity and accessibility. He combines technical authority with the human dimension of wealth, offering not just financial insights but also a narrative of how money, meaning, and modernity intersect in today’s economy.

I am the co-founder and Senior Portfolio Manager of Divita Capital and the Divita Value-Growth Fund, where I manage a concentrated portfolio of long-term compounding businesses. My focus is on value investing, business valuation, and capital allocation — particularly on how reinvestment decisions and management’s choices drive shareholder returns over time. I am also the author of Wall Street’s Blind Spots: A Unique Perspective on Value Investing, Valuation and Capital Allocation (2025). In the book, I challenge conventional valuation frameworks and highlight the blind spots even sophisticated investors often miss. My goal is to give readers a practical, common-sense approach to understanding whether a company is truly compounding value, drawing on my day-to-day experience as a fund manager. Over the course of my career, I have worked across investment banking, corporate finance, and asset management, analyzing global equities across various sectors. I hold the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and combine rigorous financial analysis with a contrarian mindset. I enjoy making complex investing concepts accessible to a wide audience. I regularly speak and write about valuation, capital allocation strategies, and the behavioral biases that influence markets — always with the goal of helping investors and entrepreneurs think differently about long-term value creation. Living and working in Guatemala gives me a distinctive international perspective. I frequently engage with audiences in both Latin America and the U.S., and I aim to help investors, entrepreneurs, and executives think differently. Whether I am explaining why traditional DCF models often mislead, discussing how to assess a company’s reinvestment profile, or sharing lessons from managing my own fund, I bring clarity, practical frameworks, and a passion for long-term investing to every conversation.

Iris Duan is a dynamic venture partner and operational leader specializing in early-stage investments, decentralized technologies, and sustainable innovation across international markets. As a Venture Partner at a $50M+ AUM VC firm, she successfully chaired weekly investment committees, managed cross-border deals, and fully returned Fund 1 with a 2.4x MOIC. Her investment focus includes renewable energy, cloud computing, medtech, and Machine Learning. Concurrently, as COO and Co-founder of Immutable Labs, Iris drove the creation of an operating model generating $25M in revenue, leading the integration of advanced packaged technology across edge computing, FLLMs, secured oracles, and explainable AI, delivering significant compute and cash reductions. Fluent in English and Mandarin, Iris leverages a global perspective from her experience in Zurich, Beijing, and Milan, blending deep financial acumen (BBA in Finance, Minor in Economics from Emory University) with practical, high-growth startup leadership. Her expertise lies in translating complex client needs into tangible business requirements, orchestrating R&D, and building robust client bases that support hybrid cloud and idle computing solutions. Iris is a two-time TEDx speaker and a passionate advocate for social enterprise, having led non-profit consulting teams focused on strategic PR and market research for diverse international clients.

Adam has over 25 years of experience in private funds and asset management compliance. Prior to joining Optima, Adam was a Partner & CCO of J. Goldman & Co., L.P. (JGC), an SEC and NFA registered global multi-strategy/multi-manager hedge fund with long/short equity and quant strategies comprising several billion in AUM, for over a decade. Adam served on JGC’s Operating Committee, led governance restructuring, jointly oversaw the HR, IR, Operations, and IT Departments, and managed all legal, regulatory, and compliance matters globally. Previously, Adam was the Global CCO of John A. Levin & Co. (f.k.a BKF Asset Management, Inc.) and held management positions on the sell side at several regional wire houses including Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. and Gruntal & Co. Adam is a regular contributor to various investment industry periodicals and frequently speaks at industry events on a wide range of topics, including insider trading, trade desk oversight, data integrity/ big data/AI compliance, third party vendor due-diligence, CCO liability and managing regulatory examinations/investigations. In 2016, Adam was invited by the SEC to speak at their Annual National CCO Outreach program. Adam also served on the Board of Directors of The National Society of Compliance Professionals (“NSCP”) from 2010-2018, where he created and chaired the NSCP Private Funds Committee and NSCP Regulatory Interchanges. Adam works with private funds and wealth managers of varying sizes, strategy and complexities including, hedge, quant, private equity, real estate, and venture capital to build out practical compliance programs and provide ongoing regulatory compliance advice and support. Adam manages numerous regulatory examinations and inquiries and works with clients in undertaking mock examinations to ensure preparedness.