CFA Society of Columbus May 22 Luncheon 

Please join the CFA Society of Columbus in welcoming Mr. Brian Kraus, CFA, Head of Investment Consulting with Hartford Funds.

Topic Summary: "Avoiding the Pitfalls in Smart Beta" - Many research teams express being in the early innings of establishing evaluation protocols for strategic beta strategies. Join as a leading expert in factor investing explores how to make smart-beta products work for multi-asset class portfolio, Understand how these strategies attempt to overcome market inefficiencies, deliver positive investment outcomes for clients and reduce hidden risks in existing portfolios. A must-see presentation if you are seeking to develop a useful evaluation framework for assessing strategic beta ETFs.

Brian Kraus is managing director and the head of investment consulting at Hartford Funds, where he is responsible for leading a team of investment professionals who support the firm's in-house investment capabilities and the company's entire investment lineup. The team delivers asset allocation insights, portfolio positioning, and investment performance insights to clients, prospects, consultants and intermediaries, in addition to serving as an investment resource for internal training. The investment consulting team also conducts market research and competitive analysis, partners with the product development team to evaluate existing and new investment strategies, and works closely with the marketing organization to assist in the creation and distribution of investment-related content.

Brian is a seasoned investment professional, having worked in the industry since 2001, and he has extensive experience in asset allocation, manager research, client service, product development and management, investment strategy, business planning, and leadership.

Prior to joining Hartford Funds, Brian spent nine years at BNY Mellon Corporation, where he held the role of managing director, head if financial intermediaries, for the BNY Mellon Manager Research Group. In this role, Brian supported multiple portfolio management teams, investment committees, broker dealers, governance boards, and distribution businesses, and he also served as the group's lead spokesperson when communicating with prospects and clients. Previously he held a number of leadership positions at Lockwood Advisors, Inc., an affiliate of BNY Mellon Company, including director of investments, senior portfolio manager, and research analyst. Brian is a CFA charterholder and member of the CFA Institute and CFA Society of Philadelphia.

Brian received a bachelor's degree from Fairfield University. He currently lives in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Jessie, and their four children, Charlie, Caitlin, Patrick, and Auggie.

RSVP's due no later than COB on Thursday, May 17, 2018.