COMPANY PROFILE
WCB provides fixed income and equity management primarily for larger institutions and to a lesser extent to ultra high net-worth individuals and family offices where client assignments are $20,000,000 or more. The company currently manages almost $3 billion for 47 clients (or 30 institutional clients) headquartered in 9 states. For 8 of the 30 institutional clients, the firm manages 2 or more separate assignments.
WCB is structured as a Professional C-Type corporation which is 100% owned and operated by its professional staff (and is in no way indebted to, affiliated and/or aligned with any other entity or individual). The heritage and culture of the firm dates back to 1974 when its founder, Weaver Barksdale, and its president and CEO, John McDowell, began working together at Commerce Union Bank (now a part of Bank of America) in Nashville, Tennessee.
The firm is managed so that its goals are strictly aligned with those of its clients and its only source of income is from fees charged for active portfolio management; it is not involved in investment banking operations, broker / dealer services, or any other type of activity (such as “soft dollar” arrangements) which might create a conflict of interest.
The hallmark of the firm’s investment management capabilities calls for each client to have its own customized portfolio(s) as opposed to being part of a predetermined master portfolio, commingled account, or mutual fund where all client portfolios are virtually identical and assumed to have the same objectives. Over the years, this approach has worked well for our clients and we have distinguished ourselves in the management of such portfolios, many times providing specialized strategies that conform to specific guidelines, standards, or statutory government regulations primarily for such organizations as state and local governmental and municipal entities, insurance companies, non-profit hospital systems, associations, foundations and other institutions.
All the senior portfolio managers at WCB on both the fixed income and equity management teams are very seasoned and have at least 20 years of hands-on investment experience.