Christopher Vanderkolk, CFA®

Chris was born and raised in North Baltimore, Maryland, and he developed a penchant for quantitative skills early in his educational years. Whether he is tending to a client’s portfolio or meticulously manicuring his yard, he applies the quant’s precision to detail in everything he does. It was clear to him early in his college years and early career that he would work in the world of investments. He interned for a boutique financial advisory firm as a college senior in downtown Los Angeles, and upon graduating from the University of Southern California with a B.S. in Business Administration, he was hired at the same firm as a full-time employee—an experience that laid the trajectory for his career.

Over the course of the next seven years, Chris learned the investment management business and worked his way up to portfolio manager for the firm, establishing investment allocations for clients and advising individuals and institutions on appropriate strategies. A move to Colorado brought him to a global supplier of mutual fund information, benchmarking, and commentary, where he continued to hone his skills in performance data analysis and index fund management. Eventually, he felt a need to return to the east coast to be closer to his extending family. Throughout the next five years, Chris earned the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) credential, a globally recognized and rigorous designation for investment and finance professionals. He further exercised his skills in equity research at a small hedge fund in Rockville, Maryland, and as an investment specialist at a wealth management firm in Tyson’s Corner, Virginia. These experiences prepared him to join our investments team in 2018.

As our Director of Investments, Chris researches investment opportunities, designs our core model portfolios, curates bespoke portfolios for clients, and monitors portfolio performance and allocations for our clients. Chris has been in the industry for more than 25 years and sits on the PIMCO Next Gen Advisory Council.

Chris lives in Rockville, Maryland, with his two sons, Avery (11) and Quinn (8), and his Norwegian Elkhound, Zoe. He takes great pride in cultivating his beautifully landscaped yard: seeding, feeding, trimming, and refining it. He also enjoys roasting his own coffee beans, experimenting with different coffee brewing techniques, and hiking and cycling throughout the region.

Chris is an active Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®). He received a B.S. in Business Administration from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California.