Our Team

Mark has more than 30 years of investment experience, with a focus on value-oriented equity analysis and management.  From 1994 to May 2008, he was the Chief Investment Officer of Gallatin Asset Management, and its predecessor organization, A.G. Edwards Asset Management, the investment management arm of A.G. Edwards, Inc.  From 1999 to 2008, Mark was Chairman of the A.G. Edwards Investment Strategy Committee, which set investment policy and established asset allocation models for the entire organization.    

Mark began his career with A.G. Edwards in 1978, serving as an equity analyst for the firm's Securities Research Department from 1979 to 1994.  During his last five years in Securities Research, Mark was Equity Strategist and manager of the firm's Focus List.  Mark was a founding member of the A.G. Edwards Investment Strategy Committee, on which he served over 20 years, the last 10 years of which as Chairman of the Committee.  Mark was a Senior Vice President of A.G. Edwards & Sons and of Gallatin Asset Management, and was a member of the Board of Directors of both companies.  Mark received a Bachelor of Arts from Wheaton College (Illinois) and is a CFA charterholder.

Prior to founding Confluence in December 2007, Brian served as a Managing Director in the Financial Institutions & Real Estate investment banking practice at A.G. Edwards & Sons.  While at A.G. Edwards, Brian provided financial advisory and capital markets services to companies operating in the asset management sector, commercial real estate companies, including real estate investment trusts and other real estate-oriented asset managers.  Additionally, he assisted numerous asset managers with the development of innovative investment fund products in the real estate, energy and specialty finance sectors.

Before joining A.G. Edwards in 1999, Brian served as a manager at Arthur Andersen LLP, providing audit and business advisory services.  Brian graduated magna cum laude from DePaul University with a Bachelor of Science in Commerce and received his Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.  He is a Certified Public Accountant.

Bill joined Confluence in November 2008 and previously served as Vice President and Chief Investment Strategist for Wachovia Securities.  As Chief Investment Strategist, Bill provided short-term asset allocation advice for Wachovia's Advisory Services Group.  In addition, Bill managed Wachovia's Global Macro Asset Allocation program, an ETF-based alternative asset program.  Prior to this, Bill served in a variety of positions in his 19-year tenure at A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. including Chief Global Investment Strategist, Assistant Director of Market Analysis, and Manager of Futures Research.  Bill also served as a member of the A.G. Edwards Investment Strategy Committee.  Prior to joining A.G. Edwards, Bill was the international economic and administrative officer of Mercantile Bank in St. Louis, developing country risk analyses for international lending activities.  

In all, Bill has more than 20 years of experience following the energy, foreign exchange and futures markets.  Bill is known for his geopolitical commentary along with his energy and currency background and is frequently quoted by such national media outlets as The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg News, CNBC, CBS News, Dow Jones News Service and Investor's Business Daily.  Bill earned a Bachelor's degree in History and Public Administration from Avila College and a Master's degree in Economics from St. Louis University. 

Prior to joining Confluence, Patty served as a Managing Director – Private Equity at A.G. Edwards & Sons where she managed the firm's diversified private equity fund of funds portfolios.  Her primary responsibilities included sourcing, evaluating, selecting and monitoring the private equity portfolios, which were comprised of buyout funds, venture capital funds and direct co-investments in private companies.

Before joining A.G. Edwards in 1999, Patty managed the private equity program for the University of California, which had over $1.4 billion committed to venture capital, buyout, subordinated debt and emerging markets private funds.  Prior to joining the University of California, she was with Pacific Corporate Group (PCG), a La Jolla, California-based private equity consultant and gatekeeper to many large pension funds.  Prior to joining PCG, Patty was with McDonnell Douglas Corporation, where she was a member of the two-person team responsible for the financial management of the company's $8 billion retirement funds.  Patty received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Washington University in St. Louis and a Master of Business Administration from St. Louis University.

Prior to joining Confluence in December 2007, Joe served as a Vice President in the Financial Institutions & Real Estate investment banking practice at A.G. Edwards & Sons.  In 2006, he transitioned from technology to specialty finance, leveraging his previous experience in the insurance and financial services sectors.  He has provided capital raising and M&A advisory services for a wide array of specialty finance and technology companies.  Joe joined A.G. Edwards’ Technology banking group in March 2000, specializing in semiconductors and leading the firm’s wireless communications banking efforts. 

Prior to joining A.G. Edwards, he was a Manager in Corporate Finance with Deloitte & Touche in London.  Previously, Joe worked with Deloitte & Touche in Omaha, Nebraska in the audit and assurances group.  He received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Master in Professional Accountancy degrees from the University of Nebraska.  Joe also received his Master of Business Administration from Washington University in St. Louis.  He is a Certified Public Accountant.

Prior to joining Confluence in May 2008, David served as a Portfolio Manager and Analyst with Gallatin Asset Management, the investment management arm of A.G. Edwards, Inc.  David was responsible for separately managed accounts invested in individual stocks with a value discipline.  He also co-managed the First Trust/Gallatin Specialty Finance and Financial Opportunities Fund (NYSE: FGB) closed-end fund, as well as A.G. Edwards' ETF-based asset allocation program.  In addition to portfolio management, David served as a member of the A.G. Edwards Investment Strategy Committee.  As a strategist, he was responsible for the firm's quantitative asset allocation models, including its Cyclical Asset Allocation program.

Prior to joining A.G. Edwards in 1999, David was a Portfolio Manager at Koch Industries in Wichita, Kansas, where he managed a short-term interest rate arbitrage portfolio.  Previously, he was an Analyst at Prudential Capital Group in Dallas, Texas, a group that managed the world's largest portfolio of private placement debt.  Prior to that, David worked as a Mortgage Bond Trader at Barre & Company, also in Dallas.  David received a Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas Christian University and is a CFA charterholder.

Prior to joining Confluence in May 2008, Dan served as a Portfolio Manager and Analyst with Gallatin Asset Management, the investment management arm of A.G. Edwards, Inc.  While at Gallatin, Dan chaired the portfolio management team responsible for the firm’s six value-oriented equity strategies.  His responsibilities also included directing the strategy implementation and trading execution for the equity portfolios.  Additionally, Dan co-managed the First Trust/Gallatin Specialty Finance and Financial Opportunities Fund (NYSE: FGB) closed-end fund whose primary focus was on Business Development Companies.

Dan also served as a portfolio manager for the Cyclical Growth ETF Portfolio and the Cyclical Growth and Income ETF Portfolio which were offered through variable annuities.  He was also a member of the firm’s Allocation Advisor Committee which oversaw the A.G. Edwards exchange traded fund focused strategies.  Prior to joining the firm’s Asset Management division in 1996, Dan served as a portfolio manager for A.G. Edwards Trust Company.  Dan earned a Bachelor of Arts in business management from Eckerd College and a Master of Business Administration from Saint Louis University.  Dan is a CFA charterholder.

Dustin worked in A.G. Edwards & Sons’ Investment Banking Group from 2005 until 2007.  As a member of the Financial Institutions and Real Estate practice, he assisted clients in raising over $7 billion in capital while advising numerous clients on strategic alternatives, dispositions and acquisitions.  Prior to A.G. Edwards, Dustin worked at Credit Suisse First Boston in their Capital Markets group and worked within the operations and strategic development of different technology and healthcare start-up firms.  Dustin graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering in Bioengineering and Mathematics from the University of Pennsylvania.  He also received a Master of Business Administration, with honors, from the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.

Chris joined Confluence in August 2008.  Previously, Chris served as a Portfolio Manager and Analyst with Gallatin Asset Management, the investment management arm of A.G. Edwards, Inc.  Chris was part of the portfolio management team responsible for Gallatin's Large Cap Value, Small Cap Value, Equity Income, Value Opportunities and All Cap Global separately managed accounts.  His analytical coverage was primarily focused on companies within the consumer discretionary sector.  Additionally, Chris assisted the A.G. Edwards Trust Company in constructing and managing individual stock portfolios. 

Prior to joining the Asset Management division in 2001, Chris was an associate analyst covering the media and entertainment sector for A.G. Edwards' securities research.  Prior to joining A.G. Edwards in 1998, he was a financial consultant with Renaissance Financial.  Chris earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Dayton.  Chris also received a Master of Business Administration from St. Louis University.

Tore joined Confluence in August 2008, having served during the prior eight years as an Analyst with Gallatin Asset Management, the investment management arm of A.G. Edwards, Inc.  Tore was part of the portfolio management team responsible for Gallatin's value-oriented equity portfolios.  His analytical coverage was primarily focused on basic industries, including chemicals and forest products, as well as the food and beverage sectors.  

Prior to joining the Asset Management division in 2000, Tore served as an Equity Analyst covering the pollution control, chemicals, and paper & forest products industries.  Tore has more than 20 years of experience covering stocks, starting in 1985 with Milwaukee-based Blunt Ellis & Loewi before moving to The Chicago Corporation in 1988.  Tore earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Illinois - Urbana and received his Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago. 

Prior to joining Confluence in August 2008, Tom served as an Equity Analyst with Gallatin Asset Management, the investment management arm of A.G. Edwards, Inc.  At Gallatin, Tom's value-oriented research focused primarily on banks and insurance companies.  Prior to joining A.G. Edwards in 2007, Tom was an Equity Analyst with Martin Capital Management in Elkhart, Indiana.  Tom graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Finance and Economics from Rockhurst University.  Tom received his Master of Business Administration from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University and is a CFA charterholder.  

Prior to joining Confluence in August 2008, John served as an Equity Analyst with Gallatin Asset Management, the investment management arm of A.G. Edwards, Inc.  John joined Gallatin in 2002 and was primarily responsible for the coverage of the healthcare industry.  He also spent time covering the building material and business service industries. 

Prior to joining Gallatin, John was an associate analyst for Ryback Management, the sub-advisor for the Lindner Funds.  While at Lindner, John also maintained the position of Senior Fund Account and was responsible for the daily accounting for the Lindner Mutual Funds.  John received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Missouri - St. Louis.  

Kaisa joined Confluence in April 2010.  Prior to joining Confluence, she worked as a Financial Analyst for IPR International in Philadelphia.  Kaisa has extensive international experience, including working with the Estonian Stock Exchange and the National Bank of Estonia.  Kaisa graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Mathematics from the University of Pennsylvania.  She has completed all three levels of the CFA exams.

Prior to joining Confluence in May 2011, John served as Head Trader at Kennedy Capital Management for more than 10 years. Previously, John had been an Options Market Maker on the Chicago Board Options Exchange for 7 years. John earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Missouri - Columbia.