San Francisco, Jan. 27, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Forward ("Forward Management, LLC") has announced the expansion of its investment management and sales teams with three new hires. Eric Sagmeister has joined the firm's Dividend Signal strategy team as Portfolio Manager, and John Palmer has joined the firm as a Senior Analyst, further expanding Forward's investment team. Robert Rosner, a seasoned sales professional with deep experience working with financial advisers, has joined Forward as Vice President, Northeast Regional Sales Director.
"Forward recognizes the paramount importance of strengthening its internal investment resources. Eric and John both bring extensive experience that fits well with our investment strategies," said Jim O'Donnell, Chief Investment Officer at Forward. "Eric's knowledge of international investing further enhances our global dividend strategies, and John has a strong understanding of the financial services area, which is an important resource for our income strategies, particularly the new Forward Select Opportunity Fund. We believe they both add significant depth to our investment team," he explained.
Eric Sagmeister joined the portfolio management team led by David Ruff and will share responsibility for the management of the Forward International Dividend Fund (FFINX), Forward Select EM Dividend Fund (FSLRX), Forward Emerging Markets Fund (PTEMX) and Forward Global Dividend Fund (FFLAX), which all use the proprietary Dividend Signal approach. His responsibilities include management, monitoring and analysis of the funds' assets and investments and developing potential investment ideas. Mr. Sagmeister brings to Forward 12 years of international investing experience. Prior to joining the firm, he served as the Executive Director of European Equity Sales for Nomura Securities International, where he was integral in establishing the firm's first European Equities desk in the United States.
In his role as a senior analyst, John Palmer will be responsible for fundamental analysis of individual companies and assisting in fund management with a focus on performance and risk profile. Notably, he will assist in the management of the recently launched Forward Select Opportunity Fund (FSOTX) managed by Joel Beam. Mr. Palmer was previously Vice President of Focus Financial Partners in San Francisco, where he evaluated and executed strategic acquisitions of wealth management firms across the United States.
Forward also has expanded its sales team with the addition of Robert Rosner as Vice President, Northeast Regional Sales Director. He will primarily engage with financial advisors within the wirehouse channel and independent broker dealers, as well as senior wealth managers. Mr. Rosner has worked in the investment industry for more than 25 years, most recently as Vice President and Advisor Consultant at Nuveen Investments where he developed tactical consultative relationships with financial advisors, branch office managers and sales managers of priority firms.
"We understand the critical importance of developing strong relationships with a variety of investment professionals in different distribution channels, and we are committed to understanding and meeting their specific needs," said Clay Smudsky, Managing Director, Head of Distribution at Forward. "Robert has an excellent track record of identifying and fostering strong, long-term relationships, and will work to build long-term relationships between Forward and our clients."
About Forward
The world has changed, leading investors to seek new strategies that better fit an evolving global climate. Forward's investment solutions are built around the outcomes we believe investors need to be pursuing - non-correlated return, investment income, global exposure and diversification. With a propensity for unbounded thinking, we focus especially on developing innovative alternative strategies that may help investors build all-weather portfolios. An independent, privately held firm founded in 1998, Forward is the advisor to the Forward Funds. As of December 31, 2013, we manage more than $5.2 billion in a diverse product set offered to individual investors, financial advisors and institutions.
You should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Forward Funds carefully before investing. A prospectus with this and other information may be obtained by calling (800) 999-6809 or by downloading one from www.forwardinvesting.com . It should be read carefully before investing.
RISKS
There are risks involved with investing, including loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results, share prices will fluctuate and you may have a gain or loss when you redeem shares.
Borrowing for investment purposes creates leverage, which can increase the risk and volatility of a fund. ( International Dividend, Select EM Dividend, Select Opportunity )
Derivative instruments involve risks different from those associated with investing directly in securities and may cause, among other things, increased volatility and transaction costs or a fund to lose more than the amount invested. (Emerging Markets, Global Dividend, International Dividend, Select EM Dividend, Select Opportunity )
Investing in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) will subject a fund to substantially the same risks as those associated with the direct ownership of the securities or other property held by the ETFs. (Emerging Markets)
Foreign securities, especially emerging or frontier markets, will involve additional risks including exchange rate fluctuations, social and political instability, less liquidity, greater volatility and less regulation. (Emerging Markets, Global Dividend, International Dividend, Select EM Dividend, Select Opportunity )
Investing in a non-diversified fund involves the risk of greater price fluctuation than a more diversified portfolio. (Select Opportunity)
Investing in the real estate industry or in real estate-related securities involves the risks associated with direct ownership of real estate which include, among other things, changes in economic conditions (e.g., interest rates), the macro real estate development market, government intervention (e.g., property taxes) or environmental disasters. These risks may also affect the value of equities that service the real estate sector. (Select Opportunity)
Short selling involves additional investment risks and transaction costs, and creates leverage, which can increase the risk and volatility of a fund. (Select EM Dividend)
Investing in smaller companies generally will present greater investment risks, including greater price volatility, greater sensitivity to changing economic conditions and less liquidity than investing in larger, more mature companies. (Select Opportunity)
There is no guarantee the companies in our portfolio will continue to pay dividends. (Emerging Markets, Global Dividend, International Dividend, Select EM Dividend)
Diversification does not assure profit or protect against risk.
Forward Emerging Markets Fund seeks to achieve long-term growth of capital.
Forward Global Dividend Fund seeks to achieve high total return (capital appreciation and income).
Forward International Dividend Fund seeks to achieve high total return (capital appreciation and income).
Forward Select EM Dividend Fund seeks to achieve high total return through capital appreciation and current income.
Forward Select Opportunity Fund seeks total return through current income and long-term capital appreciation.
Forward Select Opportunity Fund was launched on July 31, 2013, and has a limited operating history. Prior to December 23, 2013, Forward Select Opportunity Fund was named Forward Select Income Opportunity Fund.
Prior to February 20, 2013, Forward Global Dividend Fund was named Forward Large Cap Dividend Fund.
Robert Rosner, David Ruff, Eric Sagmeister and Clay Smudsky are registered representatives of ALPS Distributors, Inc.
Forward Funds are distributed by Forward Securities, LLC.
Not FDIC Insured | No Bank Guarantee | May Lose Value
©2014 Forward Management, LLC. All rights reserved.
Contact: Michael Jones Kanter & Company Tel. 703/534-2150
