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Small Cap Growth Strategy Awarded Manager of the Decade

Shaker Investments LLC Named to PSN Top Guns List of Best Performing Strategies for Q4 2024

Quarterly PSN Top Guns List published by Zephyr identifies best-in-class separate accounts, managed accounts, and managed ETF strategies

Cleveland, Ohio, March 11, 2025— Shaker Investments announced today it has been named to the celebrated PSN Top Guns List of best performing separate accounts, managed accounts, and managed ETF strategies for Q4 2024. The highly anticipated list, published by Zephyr, remains one of the most important references for investors and asset managers.

“The final quarter of 2024 was defined by both volatility and resilience, success in these markets required relentless effort, rigorous research, and disciplined execution,” says PSN Product Manager Nick Williams. “PSN Top Guns recognizes the top managers and teams whose expertise continues to drive the growth of SMAs amid today’s complex and rapidly evolving market conditions.”

The Shaker Small Cap Growth Strategy aims for long-term capital appreciation and outperformance of small-cap indices while maintaining a similar amount of risk. Through disciplined research and active management, we strive to identify high-potential opportunities to drive sustained growth.

“We are absolutely thrilled and honored to receive the Decade of the Year Award for the Shaker Small Cap Growth Strategy. This recognition reflects our unwavering commitment to our process and we couldn’t be more excited about the journey ahead as we continue to drive growth and create value for our investors!” – Edward Hemmelgarn, Co-CIO

Through a combination PSN’s proprietary performance screens, the PSN Top Guns awards products in six proprietary categories in over 75 universes based on continued performance over time.

Shaker Investment’s Small Cap Growth strategy earned a PSN Top Guns Manager of the Decade award, meaning our Small Cap Growth strategy had an r-squared of 0.80 or greater relative to the style benchmark for the latest 10-year period. Moreover, the strategy’s returns were greater than the style benchmark for the latest 10-year period and also standard deviation less than the style benchmark for the latest ten-year period. At this point, the top ten performers for the latest 10-year period become the PSN Top Guns Manager of the Decade.

Since inception, the Shaker Small Cap Growth Strategy has upheld a time-tested, long-term philosophy: rigorous research drives superior returns. With a focus on sustained growth, we identify high-potential small-cap companies in expanding industries, emphasizing strong fundamentals and clear catalysts to unlock enduring value for our investors.

The complete list of PSN Top Guns and an overview of the methodology can be located at https://psn.fi.informais.com/.

About PSN

For nearly four decades, PSN has been a top resource for investment professionals. Asset managers rely on Zephyr’s PSN to effectively reach institutional and retail investors. Over 2,800 firms, 285 universes, and more than 21,000 products comprise the PSN SMA database showing asset breakdowns, compliance, key personnel, ownership diversity, ESG, business objectives and strategy, style, fees, GIC sectors, fixed income ranges and full holdings. Unique to PSN is its robust historical database of nearly 40 Years of Data Including Net and Gross-of-Fee Returns. PSN Mid-Year Outlook provides insight and trends about the SMA industry. You can view in online here.
Visit PSN online to learn more.

Disclosure: This award is not a representation of any one client’s experience. Any designation referred to herein was made by a third party and Shaker Investments has not independently verified the selection process and does not guarantee its completeness or accuracy. No compensation was paid in exchange for any such designation. In some cases, fees were paid for the use of marketing materials. The award should not be construed as an endorsement and is not indicative of future investment success or a wealth managers’ future gains. The Shaker Small Cap Growth strategy won this awards in the Small-Cap Growth universe which included 122 firms and 148 strategies.

Download the PDF of the press release here.

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Andrew Frye

Senior Research Analyst

Andrew first joined Shaker in 2022 as an intern on the research team. Following his internship, Andrew accepted a full-time position with Shaker Investments as a Research Analyst. Andrew was promoted to Senior Research Analyst in 2025. Andrew’s primary role is to work with the Portfolio Managers on monitoring existing ideas, tracking competitors, and new idea generation. Andrew brings an analytical approach to modeling companies.

Prior to joining Shaker Andrew worked as a summer analyst intern with Progressive Insurance in the Real Estate Control Group. Andrew received his BA in Economics, Political Science, and Business Management and his Masters of Business Analytics and Intelligence from Case Western Reserve University.

Email Andrew Frye

Ashley Arsena, CFP®

Senior Business Development and Client Service Officer

Ashley's journey with Shaker began in 2016 where she quickly established herself to be an integral part of the team. From handling operations to executing trades and providing top-notch client services, Ashley has showcased her versatile skill set. Currently, a vital member of the Business Development and Client Services team, she dedicates her days to building strong relationships with both existing and potential clients.

Ashley is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional. She has earned a Certificate in Financial Planning from New York University School of Professional Studies and received her BA in Business Management from Baldwin Wallace University with a minor in Human Resources.

Ashley was recognized on AdvisorHub's 100 Women Advisors to Watch in 2024 (#29) and Top 50 Woman Advisors to Watch in 2023 (#48). She has also been recognized as a Five Star Wealth Manager by Five Star Professional in 2024.

Ashley currently serves on the board of Hope for Kids Geauga. She is also an active member of CFA Society of Cleveland, serving as a member of the Women's Advisory Committee.

Ashley lives in Bainbridge with her wife Jessica and young children Connor and Avery.

Email Ashley Arsena
*Participating in the ranking is free and AdvisorHub received no compensation from participating advisors. To read more about Advisor Hub's methodology and to view the full list please click here.

Chris Hemmelgarn

Portfolio Manager and Research Analyst

​Chris is a Portfolio Manager and Research Analyst at Shaker Investments. He is responsible for researching new and existing investments as well as portfolio management at Shaker Investments. He joined Shaker in 2017 and covers a range of companies and sectors with a focus on technology, financial services, energy, and utilities.

Prior to joining Shaker Investments, Chris worked in Sell-Side Research as a Vice President at Barclays covering Semiconductors. His primary responsibilities included company and market analysis and forecasting, publishing research, client marketing, and relationship management of company and industry contacts. He also worked as an Associate at Morgan Stanley developing and analyzing business management metrics.

Chris earned his MBA (with Distinction) specializing in Finance and Corporate Finance at the NYU Stern School of Business. He also received his BSFS in International Politics from Georgetown University.

Chris is an avid golfer and cook, and is learning the joy of maintaining a 100-year-old home after a decade plus in Manhattan apartments.

Email Chris Hemmelgarn

Sasha A. Kostadinov, CFA

Portfolio Manager and Research Analyst

Sasha is co-manager of the Small Cap Portfolio and conducts research on consumer discretionary, consumer staples, materials, and health care sectors for all of the portfolios at Shaker Investments. He has spent more than twenty years working in the equity markets, the last nineteen with Shaker Investments.

Prior to joining Shaker Investments, he was a research analyst at Clarion Group, a Cleveland, Ohio-based long-short hedge fund. Prior to that, he was a research analyst at KeyBanc Capital Markets (formerly McDonald Investments). Prior to that, Sasha was a Financial Consultant at Smith Barney.

Sasha is a holder of the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and received his BA in Economics and Political Science and MA in Economics at Cleveland State University.

He and his wife, Ruthann, reside in Lakewood with his guitars.

Email Sasha A. Kostadinov, CFA

Raymond J. Rund

Managing Director, Senior Research Analyst

Ray is the Senior Research Analyst and has been covering the technology and industrials sectors since joining Shaker Investments in 1996. 

Prior to joining Shaker Investments, Ray was a General Partner in an early-stage venture capital partnership for nine years, where he organized the first round of venture funding for RF Micro Devices and served on their board for six years prior to the company’s IPO. In 2015 RF Micro merged with Triquint Semiconductor to become Qorvo, a leading supplier of integrated circuits used in wireless communications.  Ray also headed marketing at Keithley Instruments, was a consultant at McKinsey & Company, and worked in engineering and marketing for Intel. Early in his career Ray worked as an engineer for Combustion Engineering and Westinghouse Electric in Pittsburgh.

Ray currently serves on the Investment Committee of the Harvard Business School Club of Northeast Ohio, is a member of the Finance and Investment Committee of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, and serves on and was former chair of the Retirement Fund Committee for the Jewish Federation of Cleveland.

Ray earned his BS, magna cum laude in Engineering & Applied Science at Yale University, an MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, and an MBA from Harvard University.

Ray is a long time Clevelander, and an avid Lake Erie sailor. He and his wife Jeanne live in Shaker Heights where they enjoy being close to their three adult children and grandson. 

Email Raymond J. Rund

Kacie Wick

Chief Compliance Officer

Kacie joined Shaker Investments in 2011 as the company’s controller. In 2022, Kacie was promoted to Chief Compliance Officer. She brings over 20 years of professional experience in operational and financial management for various for-profit and non-profit organizations in Boston and Cleveland.

Prior to joining Shaker Investments, she was Director of Clinical Research Administrative Operations in the School of Medicine at Case Western Research University where she managed a research grant portfolio of over $40 million. She has also worked as the Director of Finance for the Weatherhead School of Business at Case Western Reserve University, Director of Operations at Village Preparatory School; Operations Manager at Northeast Ohio Council on Higher Education; and Center Financial Manager at Education Development Center.

Kacie received her Masters of Accounting from Case Western Reserve University, where she graduated magna cum laude and her BS in Management from Babson College in Wellesley, MA. Kacie is currently working towards her Investment Advisor Certified Compliance Professional (IACCP) designation.

Kacie currently serves as a trustee for the Tod Homestead Cemetery in Youngstown, Ohio and is a former treasurer for her local girl scout Troop 70204 and the Onaway PTO. She lives in Shaker Heights with her two daughters.

Email Kacie Wick

Brandon A. Hemmelgarn

Co-Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager

Brandon is the co-Chief Investment Officer at Shaker Investments. With over 14 years of industry experience, Brandon leads the investment team at the firm. He is also responsible for researching new and existing investments and portfolio management for all three of the firm’s strategies. Prior to being promoted to co-Chief Investment Officer in 2020, Brandon was a Portfolio Manager and Research Analyst at the firm for 8 years. He covers a range of companies and sectors including technology, consumer products and services, industrials, and materials.

Prior to joining Shaker, Brandon worked on the investment team at Audax Group, a Boston-based private equity firm focused on growing middle market companies.

Brandon is a former board member of the Washington Association of Money Managers and the Private Equity Association of Boston.

Brandon received his BA, summa cum laude, in Economics from Princeton University and is a Registered Investment Advisor Representative (FINRA Series 65). He and his wife, Shelby, reside in Arlington, Virginia, with their sons Thomas and Ted. When time permits, Brandon still enjoys lacing up his skates and taking to the ice rink.

Email Brandon Hemmelgarn

Bradley Wheeler

President

Brad Wheeler is the President of Shaker Investments.  With more than twenty-five years of experience in the financial service industry, he is responsible for overseeing the firm’s strategy, business development and operations.  Prior to being named President, Brad served as Vice President and Head of Business Development for Shaker.  He has spent over twenty years in the financial service industry calling on endowments, pension funds and institutional investors.

Prior to joining Shaker Investments, Brad was a founding partner at Cleveland Research Company where he developed institutional relationships with clients in Boston and opened the firm’s London office.  Prior to that, Brad was a partner with FTN/Midwest Research and worked at US Bank in commercial banking.

Brad is currently a member of the Association for Corporate Growth in Greater Cleveland.  He is the prior President of the Shaker Youth Hockey Association and Shaker Heights High School Sports Boosters.

Brad received his BA in Public Finance from Miami University and an MBA from Case Western Reserve University, Weatherhead School of Management.

He and his wife, Laura, reside in Shaker Heights and have two adult children.

Email Bradley J. Wheeler

Edward P. Hemmelgarn

CEO & Co-Chief Investment Officer

Edward Hemmelgarn is the CEO and Co-Chief Investment Officer at Shaker  Investments. Edward’s primary focus is leading the investment team as well as portfolio management for all three of Shaker’s strategies. His research focus includes healthcare, financial services, and real estate.

Prior to founding Shaker Investments in 1991, Edward was the Chief Financial Officer of Retail Banking at Ameritrust Corporation (now KeyBank). Prior to that, Edward worked at Ernst & Young focusing on mergers and acquisitions and strategic and financial management consulting.

He received a BA in Chemistry and a MBA from the Case Western Reserve University, where he also served as an instructor for numerous courses. Mr. Hemmelgarn is a former CPA.

Edward is currently a board member at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Edward is also on the Visiting Committee of Case Western Reserve University’s College of Arts and Sciences. He is a past recipient of the Outstanding Alumni Award from Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Business. He was named Accounting Alumnus of the Year in 2003, and a recipient of Case Western Reserve University’s Department of Chemistry’s Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2016.

Edward and his wife, Jan, reside in Shaker Heights.

Email Edward P. Hemmelgarn