Ben Grosscup

Train Babcock Advisors primarily allocates client investment assets among individual debt and equity securities, and, to a much lesser extent, among no load or load-waived mutual funds on a discretionary or non-discretionary basis in accordance with the client’s designated risk tolerance and investment objectives. The core holdings of all portfolios are comprised of a careful selection of high quality companies purchased for the long-term. Train Babcock does not try to match an index. Rather, they seek out highly successful companies through intensive research. They follow a bottom-up investment process. Stocks are allowed to grow over the long-term in order to realize the power of compounding, as well as to minimize trading expenses and capital gains taxes. All stocks are closely monitored and are promptly sold in the event their fundamentals deteriorate. Train Babcock applies the same high standards for fixed income investments as they do for equities. High quality cash reserves and government, corporate and municipal bonds- taxable or tax-free are used as appropriate to meet the client's objectives for safety, liquidity and income. As in the case of equity investments, they are not market timers and we do not try to beat the market. Portfolios are always well-diversified by asset class, industry and company. Every portfolio is individually managed for tax efficiency and to maximize after-tax results.

Provides wealth and asset management, trading & investment banking services

MB Investment Partners' (MBIP) expertise includes equity management in large- and small-cap strategies, as well as balanced and fixed- income account management. MBIP begins by examining factors that can influence financial markets such as national and world events, political and tax changes, as well as shifts in social attitudes. They then cull a handful of broad themes that will drive this investment outlook. They search for sustained changes in technology, economics and business practices that create opportunities for significant gains. The final selection of securities combines the consideration of a macroeconomic view, their chosen themes and direct contacts with the companies. MBIP accomplishes this process by assigning certain industries and companies to their research analysts and to each of the portfolio managers for thorough review. Their investment recommendations are then considered and compared by all managers until a consensus is reached. The final step is to examine the trading patterns of the stocks that MBIP has chosen to determine when and at what price they will buy and sell. MBIP's growth equity strategy is a bottom-up fundamental approach focused on investing in companies that are capable of generating strong revenue growth and sustainable long-term earnings gains at least 50% greater than that of the S&P 500. They also seek companies that, based upon their valuation metrics, have under-appreciated growth potential. A number of quantitative measures are used to initially identify potential candidates for inclusion in the portfolio. However, only after the completion of extensive fundamental analysis is a stock approved for investment. Portfolios are concentrated typically in 30 to 40 positions. For fixed-income, the firm emphasizes quality bonds with intermediate maturities in order to maintain a high degree of liquidity and to limit the volatility of the portfolio. Longer-term issues may be used as equity substitutes in periods when MBIP believes that projected returns are competitive with the equity markets. Since the relationship between taxable and municipal bond yields changes from time to time, they will invest in either sector to optimize after-tax returns for their clients. In assessing the attractiveness of the bond market, MBIP employs the same discipline of fundamental and technical analysis that is used in the investment process for equities. They look for changes in fundamentals or investor psychology that will be the catalyst to provide superior returns.

Warfield invests mainly in large-cap US equities across all sectors and they maintain a low turnover. Through research and analysis, the firm seeks to find emerging growth companies that are financially strong and whose products, services and management can lead the market. Warfield emphasizes fundamental analysis. Their equity approach is based primarily on earnings momentum by which they identify companies whose earnings are expected to grow at above average rates over the near- and long-term.

Functions as a College/University