The economy began the year on a strong footing, with the Fed orchestrating a pullback on interest rates. Then the pandemic hit, and everything changed. Now the election poses fresh challenges to portfolio managers.
While the pandemic has changed the way everyone does business, FHN Financial remains committed to serving you and your needs. We are moving our in-person annual seminar online. This event gives you direct access to our industry experts so you can maneuver through this unique environment. We will still provide CPE credits for all those who qualify.
Chris Low has been named several times by Bloomberg as the “most accurate forecaster of Treasury note yields.” He is a member of SIFMA’s Economic Committee and the American Bankers Association’s Economic Advisory Committee to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, where he served as Chairman. Chris has been quoted in Business Week, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and many other publications around the world. He has been with FHN Financial for more than 25 years.
Jim Vogel manages fixed income strategy and commentary at FHN Financial Capital Markets, including economic forecasting, sector and asset allocation strategy, Treasuries, and agencies. His career through decades of economic and interest rate cycles provides additional perspective as markets undergo another round of dramatic change. Publications include daily and weekly commentaries.
Walt Schmidt, CFA, is a 30-year fixed income veteran with more than two decades spent focusing on mortgage-backed portfolio strategies for money managers, insurance companies, central banks, sovereign wealth funds, corporations, hedge funds, municipalities, and large depositories. Walt is responsible for the management of the Mortgage Strategies area and the coordination of the Structured Product business within the firm. He is a frequent public speaker and panelist in industry and customer-sponsored settings. He has also been widely quoted in the financial press.
Abigail Urtz manages the Product Strategies and Economics Groups for FHN Financial. She follows general credit trends and sector-specific developments to help customers identify and manage credit risk. Abigail uses her extensive database of municipal credit information to identify relative value opportunities through publications and tailored investment strategies. She developed our proprietary Municipal Credit Review Report, helping customers manage credit exposure in their municipal portfolios. She also pioneered a portfolio screening system to help customers respond to changing credit conditions.
Steve Twersky is Executive Vice President and Manager of the Depository Support Platform at FHN Financial. This includes responsibility for the Portfolio Strategies Group, Portfolio Accounting and Analytics, and ALM Advisors. In his management role, Steve ensures that FHN Financial’s comprehensive service package for depository institutions remains relevant to the continually changing banking environment. Steve also works directly with customers on balance sheet and investment portfolio strategies and is an expert on regulatory, tax, and accounting issues.
Gray Bowles is the Head of the Portfolio Strategies Group at FHN Financial. With more than 15 years of experience in the fixed income markets, Gray offers a unique perspective for investors and provides value-added insights into portfolio management, asset allocation, and strategy. Gray specializes in creating bespoke investment strategies for depository institutions by taking a holistic view of balance sheet structure, market conditions, and an institution’s specific objectives and risk tolerances.