Team
Investment Management Team | RVI Team | Sales and Marketing | Administration

Investment Management Team
Smith Group Asset Management has a strong portfolio management team and supporting professionals. Our team averages more than 20 years of experience in the business. Senior team members have made investment decisions based on Smith Group’s philosophy and process for more than 15 years.


Stephen S. Smith, CFA
Founder and CEO

Mr. Smith founded Smith Group Asset Management, a Dallas-based investment management organization, in 1995, and serves as the company’s Chief Investment Officer. He began his career in the late 1960’s as an engineer with NASA in the lunar landing program. He joined Wachovia Bank as a computer systems analyst in the mid-1970’s, and transitioned to the bank’s investment management division in order to help design and implement a portfolio management system. Mr. Smith left Wachovia and joined what is now known as Bank of America in 1983. He held a number of senior investment positions at Bank of America until he departed in 1995 to found Smith Group. Mr. Smith has an engineering degree and an MBA, both from the University of Alabama, and he was awarded the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation in 1981. Mr. Smith is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Dallas-Ft. Worth. Mr. Smith is an active volunteer in his community, and serves on the board of directors for a number of charitable organizations.


John D. Brim, CFA
Portfolio Manager

Mr. Brim joined Smith Group Asset Management in March 1998 and is a member of the Portfolio Management team. Prior to joining Smith Group, he was a Manager within the Institutional Investment Consulting Group of Deloitte & Touche, LLP from 1997 to 1998. From 1990 to 1997, he held a variety of positions, including Senior Client Manager, with NationsBank Asset Management in Dallas. He earned his BS in Economics from Texas A & M University. He was awarded the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation in 1998. Mr. Brim is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Dallas-Ft. Worth.


Royce W. Medlin, CFA
Portfolio Manager

Mr. Medlin joined Smith Group Asset Management in January 2006 and is a member of the Portfolio Management team. Prior to joining Smith Group, he was President and Portfolio Manger of Belmont Wealth Management from 2002 to 2005. From 1991 to 2002, he served as a Portfolio Manager at U.S. Trust in Dallas and Team Bank Trust Investments in Fort Worth. He earned a BS in International Trade from Texas Tech University and an MBA from Texas Christian University. He was awarded the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation in 1994. He is past President of the CFA Society of Dallas-Ft. Worth and is a member of the CFA Institute.


Bradley J. Baker, CFA
Quantitative Research and Trading

Mr. Baker joined Smith Group Asset Management in May 2002 and is a member of the quantitative research team and is responsible for portfolio trading. Mr. Baker earned a BBA from the University of Texas at Arlington, graduating Summa Cum Laude. He was awarded the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation in 2004. Mr. Baker is a member of the CFA Institute and CFA Society of Dallas-Ft. Worth.


William C. Ketterer, CFA
Portfolio Manager

Mr. Ketterer joined Smith Group Asset Management in January 2007 and is a member of the Portfolio Management team. Prior to joining Smith Group, he served as Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager with The Private Bank at Bank of America from 1999 to 2007. From 1993 to 1999, he worked in corporate development within the healthcare industry. Prior to 1993, he was Vice President and General Manager of a west coast startup. He earned his BS in Economics from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio and has completed course work at a number of universities including the University of California, San Diego, the University of Dallas and the University of Texas at Dallas. Mr. Ketterer was awarded the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation in 2001. Mr. Ketterer is a member of the CFA Institute, the CFA Society of Dallas-Ft. Worth and the DFW Association for Business Economics.


Eivind Olsen, CFA
Portfolio Manager

Mr. Olsen joined Smith Group Asset Management in May 2008 and is a member of the Portfolio Management team. Prior to joining Smith Group he was a Portfolio Manager with Brazos Capital Management/John McStay Investment Counsel from 1998 to 2008. From 1994 to 1996, he did equity research as an Associate Analyst with Rauscher, Pierce, Refsnes, Inc. He earned a BBA in Accounting and Finance from Texas Christian University and an MBA in Finance from the University of Texas. Mr. Olsen was awarded the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation in 2001. He is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Dallas-Ft. Worth.


Kathryn T. More
Portfolio Trader

Ms. More joined Smith Group Asset Management in September 2006. She is responsible for Equity Trading. Prior to joining Smith Group, she worked in the wealth management services group at Morgan Keegan. She earned a BBA in Finance from the University of Texas at Austin. Ms. More is currently a Level II candidate for the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.


Rick C. Villars, CFA
Global Strategist

Mr. Villars joined Smith Group Asset Management in July 2008 and as a global strategist. Prior to joining Smith Group he ran an independent investment strategy firm in Australia from 2004 to 2008. From 2002 to 2004 he was a strategist for HSBC Asset Management in Melbourne, Australia. From 1986 to 2001 he served in various roles at Wells Capital Management (including merged Norwest Investment Management) including portfolio management and investment strategy. He earned a BBA in Finance from the University of Nebraska. Mr. Villars was awarded the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation in 1989. He is a member of the CFA Institute.

Christopher M. Zogg, CFA
Quantitative Research

Mr. Zogg joined Smith Group Asset Management in November 1997 and is a member of the quantitative research team. Prior to joining Smith Group, Mr. Zogg served as an Independent Computer Consultant, specializing in network design and systems integration. Prior to that, he held the position of Account Executive at Spaeth Communications, a public relations firm. He earned his BBA from the University of Texas at Dallas. Mr. Zogg was awarded the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation in 2006. He is also a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Dallas-Ft. Worth.

RVI Investment Team

John W. Peavy, CFA, Ph.D.
Chief Investment Strategist

Dr. Peavy joined Smith Group Asset Management in January 2010 and is a member of the RVI Portfolio Management team.  He began his career at Goldman, Sachs & Co in the 1970’s conducting fundamental analysis.  While earning his Ph.D. in Finance from the University of Texas at Arlington John developed pioneering research in relative value investing.  This served as the basis for RVI portfolios at Founders Trust in the 1990’s, Dana Investment Advisors from 1999 to 2006, and Cimarron Asset Management, LLC from 2006 to 2010, where he was CEO and CIO, and now Smith Group.  In addition, John was CIO for the $80 billion Teacher Retirement System of Texas from 1999 to 2002.  He remained active in the academic community as the Vaughn-Rauscher Professor of Investments at Southern Methodist University and Director of Research for the Research Foundation of the CFA Institute.  John received his BBA in Banking and Finance from Southern Methodist University, and his MBA from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.  Dr. Peavy was awarded the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation in 1982.  He is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Dallas-Ft. Worth.


Jason R. Safran, CFA
Portfolio Manager

Mr. Safran joined Smith Group Asset Management in January 2010 and is a member of the RVI Portfolio Management team. Prior to joining Smith Group, he was a Portfolio Manager with Cimarron Asset Management, LLC from 2006 to 2010. From 2001 to 2004, he was an Equity Research Associate with Brazos Capital Management/John McStay Investment Counsel. He earned his BBA in Finance from Texas Christian University and an MBA in Finance from the University of Texas at Austin. Mr. Safran was awarded the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation in 2005. He is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Dallas-Ft. Worth.


Stephanie C. Jones, CPA
Equity Research Analyst

Ms. Jones joined Smith Group Asset Management in February 2010 as an Equity Research Analyst. Prior to joining Smith Group, she was an Equity Analyst for Cimarron Asset Management, LLC from 2006 to 2010. From 2001 to 2006 she was a Principal for Mercer Human Resource Consulting, subsequent to Mercer’s acquisition of SCA Consulting, where she was a senior associate from 1999 to 2001. From 1997 to 1998 she worked in the equity research group of Dain Rauscher. From 1995 to 1997 she was part of the corporate finance reporting group of Halliburton Co., and from 1992 to 1995 worked in the audit and assurance practice of Price Waterhouse, LLP. Ms. Jones graduated with a BBA in Accounting from Texas A&M University, and earned an MBA in Finance from Southern Methodist University. She is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).


Kullen P. Kifer
Equity Research Analyst

Mr. Kifer joined Smith Group Asset Management in January 2010 as an Equity Research Analyst. Prior to joining Smith Group, he was an Equity Analyst for Cimarron Asset Management, LLC. From 2003 to 2007 he held a variety of positions, including Institutional Equity Sales Associate, at Banc of America Securities, LLC. He earned a BBA as well as an MBA in Finance from The University of Texas at Austin, where he served as portfolio manger of the University of Texas MBA Investment Fund, LLC. Mr. Kifer is currently a Level III candidate for the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

Sales and Marketing

Travis Briggs
Director of Business Development

Mr. Briggs joined Smith Group Asset Management in October 2005 and serves as Director of Business Development. Prior to joining Smith Group, he worked as Chief Operating Officer for Discovery Management, a long/short equity hedge fund. From 1997 to 2002, Mr. Briggs served as Investor Relations Director and Assistant Treasurer for Triton Energy. He also spent several years in banking, primarily healthcare finance. Mr. Briggs earned his BBA with double majors in Accounting and Organizational Behavior & Business Policy as well as an MBA from Southern Methodist University.

Administration

Susan deLarios
Office Manager

Susan deLarios, Office Manager, is responsible for office management, human resources, and operations. During her career, Ms. deLarios has served as an administrative assistant and office manager for several CPA firms. She also was office coordinator in Dallas County Probate Court and was responsible for setting the docket. Ms. deLarios owned a service business for six years. She earned a bachelor of science degree in biology from Southern Methodist University.

Lena Sanchez-Palomo
Investment Associate

Lena Sanchez-Palomo, investment associate, helps with client service and operations. Prior to joining Smith Group, she was a teller with Bank of America. Ms. Sanchez-Palomo earned a bachelor of science degree in sociology from Texas Woman’s University. 



Angela Ramsey
Investment Associate

Angela Ramsey is an investment associate whose responsibilities include client service and marketing efforts. Ms. Ramsey has seven years of industry experience. Previously, she was a client service specialist at Diversified Investment Advisors and an investment assistant at Bank of Texas, N.A. Ms. Ramsey earned an associate degree in legal administrative assisting from Executive Secretarial School.

Phillip E. Smith
Investment Associate