Kenneth G. Winans is a successful investment management entrepreneur, an award-winning author, an active philanthropist, and a renowned collector.
For over 27 years, he has conducted landmark investment research and designed creative investment strategies while serving as a portfolio manager, investment analyst, broker and investor.
He is a regular guest on TV and radio shows nationwide and has had much of his investment research published as headline articles by leading websites, magazines and newspapers.
As one of today’s top technical analyst, Ken co-hosts San Francisco’s newest radio talk show “Money Scorecard” (KNBR-1050am) www.moneyscorecard.net. He is also a senior market commentator on one of Los Angeles’ most popular business news radio stations (CBS affiliate KNX-1070 AM).
When Ken left a promising career with Merrill Lynch and started Winans International in 1992 with only 7 clients, he envisioned an advisory practice different from other investment firms. By providing innovative investment solutions, made possible through his proprietary research, he could design individual portfolios to meet the complex needs of each client. Ken's beliefs runs counter to the impersonal, "one-size-fits-all" asset management approach commonly practiced on Wall Street.
Today, Winans International manages equity and fixed income investments for 124 clients throughout the country and has won national acclaim for its success. In 2009, Winans International won the Small Business Commerce Association’s national “Best of Business” Award. In 2008, Goldline Research ranked Winans International in Forbes Magazine as one of the “10 Most Dependable Investment Advisors”.
In October 2009, he became senior portfolio manager for the Winans Long Short Fund (Symbol: ETFMX) www.wimutualfunds.com.
He is a Chartered Market Technician (CMT), and is President of the San Francisco Chapter of The Market Technician Association. He is also a member of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute and has served on several committees for the San Francisco Chapter.
He serves as a trustee for several non-profit organizations such as: The Museum of Finance (New York City), The W Foundation (Novato), Chabot Space & Science Center (Oakland), and the Society of California Pioneers (San Francisco).
Inventions and Publications:
He pioneered the development of several important investment indexes and technical indicators. In fact, The Winans International Preferred Stock Index (WIPSI) ™ and the Winans International Real Estate Index (WIREI) ™ (patent pending) are considered leading market indices in Wall Street publications and are used by major financial and academic institutions. The data is available through Global Financial Data (globalfinancialdata.com)
In 2007, Ken wrote and published the first book on preferred stocks since the 1930’s, “Preferreds – Wall Street’s Best-Kept Income Secret”, a winner in the 2007 National Best Book Awards. 19-months later, he wrote and published his 2nd book "Investment Atlas - Financial Maps to Investment Success". This investment history book reviews 200 years of events and how stocks, bonds and real estate reacted. It was the winner of the 2009 Next Generation Indie Book Award’s highly competitive Finance category as well as a finalist in four other categories (Best Overall Design, Business, History and Coffee Table Book).
Professional & Education Background:
During his pursuit of a Bachelors degree in Business Economics at the University of San Diego, Ken earned his real estate license and worked part-time for California Brokers of San Diego. Later, at EFHutton & Company, he conducted investment analysis for a 45-year veteran of the investment business. As a graduate student at the University of San Francisco working towards a Masters in Finance, Ken joined the research department of Sutro & Company. After completing his academic studies, one of his former supervisors asked him to become Research Director for the upstart Chicago-based Compass Investment Group. Ken joined Merrill Lynch in 1990 as a registered investment advisor.
From 1996 to 2001, he served as adjunct faculty member of the Graduate School of Business at St. Mary’s College of California.
In 2004, the University of San Francisco named him one of its most celebrated graduates in its 152-year history.
The Winans Collections:
Space Exploration: As life-long space enthusiast, Ken and Debbie Winans have been able to amass one of the largest private collections of U.S., Russian and Soviet space exploration artifacts. These items range from a full size Gemini capsule boilerplate to items carried to the moon on the Apollo missions. As their “moon room” became an increasingly popular attraction for friends and family visiting their home, they were asked to make presentations to local schools. In 2002, they founded The W Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the public education of the history and future benefits of space exploration through public exhibits of their collection. Many of these items are on permanent display at The Chabot Space & Science Center and The USS Hornet Museum.
Financial History: Ken parents also gave him family heirlooms several hundred years old that were financial in nature. The Edison tickertape machine as well as hundreds of stock certificates, real estate deeds, bond indentures (some dating back to the 1600’s) have been obtained throughout his financial career. Many of these items are on permanent display at The Museum of American Finance.
Ken and his wife, Debbie, are long-time residents of the San Francisco area. In his spare time, Ken ski races in the U.S. Ski Association’s Masters Program
You can contact Ken at: ken@winansintl.com