Robert P. Kiep

GIM offers an array of equity, fixed income and some liquid alternatives portfolios that invest primarily in US markets. Their selection of investments is based upon an investment process that utilizes technical, fundamental and charting techniques. The firm seeks to integrate ESG factors into their fundamental equity and fixed income strategies through both an assessment of data provided by third parties and through the development of its own proprietary materiality framework.

Walnut's Large Cap Relative Value Equity portfolio is invested in large, profitable, high quality companies with low relative valuations across all market sectors. They seek value versus the S&P 500, industry peers or historic valuation levels. Their Mid Cap Value Equity portfolio is invested in stocks representing companies generally associated with the S&P 400 and Russell Midcap indexes while maintaining strict value characteristics within portfolios. The Active Index Core portfolio is managed with an ETF strategy that employs a market weighting process. This portfolio is benchmarked to the S&P 500. Walnut's Total Market Plus portfolio is also managed with an ETF strategy and is benchmarked to the Wilshire 5000 and Russell 3000 indexes with an active style, market cap and sector rotation components. Quality is the cornerstone of Walnut's fixed-income philosophy. The firm believes that fixed-income portfolios should be diversified across various sectors, types and maturities in an effort to protect principal, capture value in changing markets and generate consistent income returns. Their investment decision-making process combines the disciplines of total return and income management to form their active income approach. They examine yields in different sectors of the bond market, searching for value in the spreads between taxable corporate bonds and government bonds and between government bonds and tax-free municipals. Accounts are structured to meet specific client objectives while optimizing current income. Sectors that are wider than normal are overweighted and sectors are underweighted when spreads between a particular sector and Treasuries are tighter than the historical norm. Only securities that are rated investment grade or better are purchased.

Full service investment banking, brokerage and asset management company

Functions as a College/University