Riverwater Partners LLC is an independent, fee based, employee and woman-owned registered investment advisory firm based in Milwaukee, WI serving individual and institutional investors. We are proud to be Wisconsin’s only dedicated ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) equity manager focusing on socially responsible investments.
We proudly invest our assets beside yours
ABOUT US
We are passionate about ESG investing and focused on delivering attractive risk-adjusted returns and a personalized client experience.
Our Mission is:
To generate superior returns through value(s) investing. We define value(s)
investing as value investing aligned with your values).
Riverwater’s Values are:
- Embrace humility and diversity of thought,
- Strive for excellence with integrity and passion, and
- Generate measurable impact.
Our team employs a consistent proprietary process called the Riverwater Three Pillar Approach® which seeks to limit portfolio volatility and downside capture.
We are proud to be the first and only financial services company based in WI that is a certified B-Corp™.
We proudly invest our assets beside yours
ABOUT US
We are passionate about investing, focused on delivering attractive risk-adjusted returns and a personalized client experience.
Our team employs a consistent proprietary process called the Riverwater Three Pillar Approach® which seeks to limit portfolio volatility and downside capture.
Let us introduce ourselves
OUR TEAM
Our team continually strives for excellence in service to clients and society. Riverwater’s vision is to be a leading investor in the ESG space by aligning socially responsible values with investments that generate superior returns.
Founder & Chief Investment Officer
ADAM J. PECK, CFA
Prior to forming Riverwater in 2016, Adam was a Partner and Portfolio Manager at Heartland Advisors where he co-managed a multi-billion dollar small-cap value mutual fund. He currently serves on the board of the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Coral Gables Trust Company and the Equity Board of the Applied Security Analysis Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Adam earned a B.S. in International Relations with a focus on Environmental Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. That focus kindled Adam’s interest in socially responsible living and socially responsible investing. He continued his studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he earned an MBA from the Applied Security Analysis Program. Adam is a CFA® charterholder and a member of the CFA Institute since 2004.
Adam has appeared on CNBC, Bloomberg TV & Radio, and Fox Business News. He has also been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, and Bloomberg Business Week, among other publications.
Adam lives in Milwaukee with his wife, two sons and dog, Tucker. He’s a Packer fan and enjoys the outdoors.
Chief Mindfulness Officer & Analyst
CINDY BOHLEN, CFA
Prior to joining Riverwater, Cindy managed money for clients, serving as an analyst, fund manager, and portfolio manager at Robert W. Baird and M&I Investment Management. More recently, she added a socially responsible lens to her investment process, while working for a private socially responsible investment firm, and then for a local foundation. She serves her community in various board and volunteer roles and currently sits on the Company Calls Committee for US SIF.
Cindy earned a B.B.A. in Finance and a B.A. in Spanish from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. In addition, she is a CFA® charterholder.
Cindy lives in Milwaukee with her husband, two daughters, and dog. She enjoys writing, traveling and spending time with her family.
Founder & Chief Compliance Officer
LAURA L. PECK, J.D.
Laura practiced law at Holland & Knight in Miami, FL, specializing in maritime contracts and litigation. Laura is an officer and board member at the Jewish Community Center of Milwaukee, is on the Cancer Center Board of Directors at the Medical College of Wisconsin and is a prior chair of the Next Generation Council at the United Performing Arts Fund.
Laura earned a B.A in International Relations with a focus on Latin America at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She graduated magna cum laude from the University of Miami. She is licensed to practice law in Wisconsin and Florida.
Laura lives in Milwaukee with her husband, two sons and dog, Tucker. She enjoys staying active and has a passion for design and the arts.
Partner
MATT DRVARIC, CFP
Matt has been in the investment industry for over a decade and comes to Riverwater with strong research and client service experience. Prior to joining Riverwater, Matt worked at Wells Fargo Asset Management as an Associate Regional Director where he was responsible for distributing funds to financial advisors. He also gained invaluable experience while at Heartland Advisors conducting fundamental equity analysis as a Research Associate and providing clients with a personal experience as a Shareholder Relations Specialist. Matt graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a B.S. in Economics. He is a Certified Financial Planner™. Matt currently serves as a board member for the First Tee of Southeast Wisconsin and the Associate Board for the Zoological Society of Milwaukee. Additionally, he is a member of the Financial Planning Association of Wisconsin.
Matt lives in Milwaukee with his wife and two young children. He enjoys golf, fishing in northern Wisconsin and spending time with his family outdoors.
Research Analyst
NATHAN FREDRICK
Nate received a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University in Economics and an MBA from University Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He recently worked in personal banking for BMO Harris bank before enrolling in, and completing, University Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Investment Management Certificate Program. Nate is a Level II CFA Candidate.
INVESTMENT PHILOSOPHY
VALUE(S) INVESTING: value investing aligned with your values
Long-Term Investing.
We are business owners not stock traders. We strive to hold our investments for the long term. By limiting turnover, we can minimize execution costs, tax inefficiencies and compound after-tax returns.
Focused Portfolios.
We manage focused portfolios that invest between 20-35 names. Studies have shown that focused portfolios generate superior risk-adjusted returns.
Responsible Investment.
It is our goal to ensure your assets are invested for the long-term and given the opportunity to align with businesses that enhance our world for the next generation. We are proud to be members of the USSIF and signatories to the PRI Association and CDP Worldwide.
Investing Beside You.
The partners at Riverwater believe in eating our own cooking and proudly invest our personal assets beside yours in Riverwater strategies.
INVESTMENT PROCESS
VALUE(S) INVESTING: value investing aligned with your values
We create a watchlist of companies that we believe have enduring franchises. The list is created through management meetings, intensive reading of company filings, media sources and screening. Our screens focus on companies that earn their cost of capital and have grown sales over the last 10 years. Companies that are attractively valued are further vetted using the Riverwater Three Pillar Approach®.
ONE
Pillar
Exceptional Management Teams
We focus on teams that exhibit a history of making wise capital allocation decisions and are aligned with shareholders.
TWO
Pillar
Superior Business
We look for unique and sustainable businesses with defensible moats allowing them to consistently earn and exceed their cost of capital.
THREE
Pillar
Attractive Valuation
Companies should be able to consistently generate or grow free cash flow throughout an economic cycle with flexible balance sheets. We prefer to pay either at or below market multiples on earnings.
INVESTMENT PHILOSOPHY
VALUE(S) INVESTING: value investing aligned with your values
Long-Term Investing.
We are business owners not stock traders. We strive to hold our investments for the long term. By limiting turnover, we can minimize execution costs, tax inefficiencies and compound after-tax returns.
Focused Portfolios.
We manage focused portfolios that invest between 20-35 names. Studies have shown that focused portfolios generate superior risk-adjusted returns.
Responsible Investment.
It is our goal to ensure your assets are invested for the long-term and given the opportunity to align with businesses that enhance our world for the next generation. We are proud to be members of the USSIF and signatories to the PRI Association and CDP Worldwide.
Investing Beside You.
The partners at Riverwater believe in eating our own cooking and proudly invest our personal assets beside yours in Riverwater strategies.
INVESTMENT PROCESS
VALUE(S) INVESTING: value investing aligned with your values
We create a watchlist of companies that we believe have enduring franchises. The list is created through management meetings, intensive reading of company filings, media sources and screening. Our screens focus on companies that earn their cost of capital and have grown sales over the last 10 years. Companies that are attractively valued are further vetted using the Riverwater Three Pillar Approach®.
ONE
Pillar
Exceptional Management Teams
We focus on teams that exhibit a history of making wise capital allocation decisions and are aligned with shareholders.
TWO
Pillar
Superior Business
We look for unique and sustainable businesses with defensible moats allowing them to consistently earn and exceed their cost of capital.
THREE
Pillar
Attractive Valuation
Companies should be able to consistently generate or grow free cash flow throughout an economic cycle with flexible balance sheets. We prefer to pay either at or below market multiples on earnings.
INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
SMID (Small & Mid Cap) Equity Strategy
The Riverwater SMID Equity Strategy seeks to provide attractive risk-adjusted returns versus its benchmark, the Russell 2500 Index. The SMID Cap Equity Strategy holds 20-35 small and mid-sized companies generally between a range of $250mm and $20B in market capitalization.
Large Equity Income Strategy
The Riverwater Large Equity Income Strategy seeks to provide attractive risk-adjusted returns versus its benchmark, the Russell 1000 Value. The Large Equity Income Strategy holds 20-35 holdings with market capitalizations generally above $15B. We focus on dividend paying equities that have a history of growing their dividend.
Diversified Strategy
Riverwater’s Diversified Strategy combines our equity strategies with select fixed income, international and alternative investments. These portfolios are custom tailored to each client’s risk tolerance.
Environmental, Social and Governance Issues
RESPONSIBLE INVESTING
Riverwater Partners seeks to invest in companies that balance the needs of financial stakeholders while demonstrating a commitment to environmental sustainability, social justice and human rights. As a part of Riverwater Partners Three Pillar Approach® we analyze each company to identify those with superior overall performance on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues.
E
ENVIRONMENTAL
We target companies working towards conserving energy and using renewables in their supply chains while avoiding firms with a history of poor environmental practices. We encourage companies to both actively measure their total environmental impact and set sustainability goals.
S
SOCIAL
We focus on investing in companies that encourage diversity in their workforce, have the best health and safety records in their respective industry, and engage in active discussion surrounding human rights and community issues.
G
GOVERNANCE
Good corporate governance ensures fair treatment of shareholders, customers and employees. In this realm, we look for diverse boards among the talent, race and gender spectrums. We prefer to invest in companies with separate CEO and Chairman roles, well-aligned compensation structures, non-staggered boards and those that have instituted sustainability reporting.
Riverwater Partners collaborates with organizations that promote ESG efforts. Riverwater Partners is a member of US SIF, a signatory of the United Nation’s PRI (Principles for Responsible Investment), and an investor signatory of the CDP. Membership in these organizations provides us with thought leadership on best practices, current trends, impact, and company level data which enables us to focus our ESG lens effectively.
United Nations Principles of Responsible Investing
VOTING FOR VALUE(S): We actively use proxy voting as a tool to encourage companies to incorporate ESG principles. Riverwater Partners Proxy Voting Guidelines.
Environmental, Social and Governance Issues
RESPONSIBLE INVESTING
Riverwater Partners seeks to invest in companies that balance the needs of financial stakeholders while demonstrating a commitment to environmental sustainability, social justice and human rights. As a part of Riverwater Partners Three Pillar Approach® we analyze each company to identify those with superior overall performance on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues.
E
ENVIRONMENTAL
We target companies working towards conserving energy and using renewables in their supply chains while avoiding firms with a history of poor environmental practices. We encourage companies to both actively measure their total environmental impact and set sustainability goals.
S
SOCIAL
We focus on investing in companies that encourage diversity in their workforce, have the best health and safety records in their respective industry, and engage in active discussion surrounding human rights and community issues.
G
GOVERNANCE
Good corporate governance ensures fair treatment of shareholders, customers and employees. In this realm, we look for diverse boards among the talent, race and gender spectrums. We prefer to invest in companies with separate CEO and Chairman roles, well-aligned compensation structures, non-staggered boards and those that have instituted sustainability reporting.
Riverwater Partners collaborates with organizations that promote ESG efforts. Riverwater Partners is a member of US SIF, a signatory of the United Nation’s PRI (Principles for Responsible Investment), and an investor signatory of the CDP. Membership in these organizations provides us with thought leadership on best practices, current trends, impact, and company level data which enables us to focus our ESG lens effectively.
United Nations Principles of Responsible Investing
Voting for value(s): We actively use proxy voting as a tool to encourage companies to incorporate ESG principles.
Riverwater Partners is a registered investment advisor with the state of Wisconsin. Any reference to or use of the terms “registered investment adviser” or “registered,” does not imply that Riverwater Partners or any person associated with has achieved a certain level of skill or training. Riverwater Partners may only transact business or render personalized investment advice in those states and international jurisdictions where we are registered, notice filed, or where we qualify for an exemption or exclusion from registration requirements. The purpose of this web site is to provide general information on our products and services only and should not be construed as a solicitation to effect, or attempt to effect, either transactions in securities or the rendering of personalized investment advice over the Internet. Any communications with prospective clients residing in states or international jurisdictions where Riverwater Partners and its advisory affiliates are not registered or licensed shall be limited so as not to trigger registration or licensing requirements. PLEASE NOTE: Links to any third party site are provided as a convenience and a link does not imply Riverwater Partners’ sponsorship or approval of any of these sites. When you access one of these web sites you are leaving Riverwater Partners’ web site.