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Established in 2009 to develop quantitative investment strategies for the life insurance industry, Applied Investment Strategies (AIS) specializes in commodities-based strategies, with a focus on rigorous, disciplined research and the development of proprietary insights and models.
Our team has an average of 25+ years of experience and the team members have each enjoyed successful careers at recognized financial services firms.
J.P. Steele has more than 35 years of experience in insurance and financial services and currently leads AIS. His previous experience includes roles as President of IFS Financial Services and AIG American General Domestic Life Companies, also serving as the latter’s President of the International Structured Settlements Annuities Division. In addition to Applied Investment Strategies, J.P. is a partner at Index Methodologies, an innovator of quantitative investments for the U.S. life insurance industry. J.P. received a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Business Administration from West Texas A&M University.
With more than 30 years of asset management and financial services experience, Clive Gershon brings a unique blend of marketing, relationship management, investment, business and leadership expertise to the AIS team. Prior to AIS, Clive led the development and execution of business, marketing and client relationship management strategy for leading asset management and financial services firms including Capital Group (Capital Guardian Trust Company), J.P. Morgan, Guggenheim Investments, Epoch Investment Partners, TIAA/Nuveen, London Stock Exchange, and the Financial Times. Clive holds a B.A. Business Studies with honors from Bournemouth University in England, U.K. and is a member of the endowment investment committee of UJA Federation of Northern New Jersey.
Jeff Bowers has over 38 years of experience and has been a partner with AIS since its inception. He is responsible for AIS’s financial operations. Prior roles include leading the country’s largest structured settlements group of companies, most recently as President and CEO of Integrated Financial Settlements. Since 2010, Bowers has also been a partner in Alpha Artists, LLC and Index Methodologies, LLC. Prior to joining IFS in 1984, he was the CFO for a regional foodservice distribution company, and before that was an Industrial Engineer at General Motors Corporation. Jeff attended General Motors Institute, graduating Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering, followed by a Master of Science designation from the University of Michigan in Industrial Engineering and Operations Management.
Thomas Hertog has over 20 years of experience and leads AIS’s compliance strategy and operations. He co-founded WHI, a compliance consulting firm, in 2008. Prior to WHI, Thomas served as chief compliance officer of Zacks Investment Management and Zacks & Co. Before that he was a manager with Global Best Practices Arthur Andersen. Earlier in his career he served in the roles of controller, accounting manager and auditor for several privately operated entities. Thomas received his B.S. degree in Business and Accounting from Edison State University.
