Joel Houck, CFA,CFP®
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER – INVESTMENTS, SENIOR FINANCIAL ADVISOR
SHAREHOLDER
Joel is Chief Operating Officer of Investments and a Senior Financial Advisor. In his role as COO-Investments, Joel leads the operational and administrative functions within the investment department and is responsible for the implementation and execution of the firm’s public and private investment strategies. Joel has over 30+ years of experience in investments, equity research, capital markets, fund development and portfolio management. In his role as a Senior Financial Advisor, Joel works with multi-generational families to develop comprehensive, personalized financial plans to support their current and future needs. Joel is passionate about financial education, particularly as it relates to helping younger generations develop and retain good financial and investing habits. He is a holder of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) practitioner.
Previously, Joel was a Principal with Cicero Capital Partners LLC. While at Cicero, Joel incubated and was the sole portfolio manager of CCP Strategic Alpha Fund, a hedge fund focused on volatility trading. Prior to Cicero, Joel was a Managing Director for Wells Fargo Securities LLC, where he led the Specialty Finance equity research team. At Wells Fargo, Joel developed a proprietary ranking system for Business Development Companies (BDCs), which linked the performance of public securities with private, middle market assets. Prior to Wells Fargo, Joel was Managing Director at American Capital, Ltd., a publicly traded buyout firm and middle market lender. At American Capital, Joel created the firm’s first strategy centered around publicly traded securities, a $50 million long/short equity fund. Prior to American Capital, Joel was a senior research analyst at both Wachovia (predecessor to Wells Fargo) and A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. Joel was also one of the original co-founders of Cicero Capital Partners in 2010 and helped incubate the firm’s flagship CCP Total Return Fund.
Joel has been quoted in numerous publications, including the Wall Street Journal, and has appeared on Bloomberg and CNBC. Joel has been recognized six times by The Wall Street Journal as a top 5 equity research analyst for stock selection.
Joel graduated from Miami University in Oxford, OH with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Statistics and an MBA in Finance.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT BEING A PART OF THE WMS PARTNERS TEAM?
Everyone at WMS is genuinely nice and helpful. I love knowing that I have a deep and diverse group of professionals that I can partner with to help our families achieve their investment and financial goals. Throughout my interview process and including joining WMS, it was/is readily apparent that the people at WMS really care about their clients and the families they serve.
WHAT QUALITY OF YOURS MAKES YOU BEST SUITED FOR WHAT YOU DO?
I’m consistently considered a good listener and really try to understand a client’s unique needs before offering a solution. I value long-term relationships and work with clients and their families to facilitate their goals and objectives. I am passionate about investing, financial planning and wealth management and focus on building and implementing customized solutions for clients.
WHAT IS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE TRAVEL EXPERIENCE?
It’s hard to pick just one - an anniversary trip with my wife to Turkey and Greece; a 10-day Alaskan excursion; almost any trip to the Caribbean.
WHAT IS THE PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT OF WHICH YOU ARE MOST PROUD?
Obtaining my CFA designation.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE TO DO OUTSIDE OF WORK?
Travel with my family, play golf, and compete in triathlons.