SAN FRANCISCO, April 23, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Forward today announced the expansion of its dedicated institutional team with the hiring of Ann Cheu as Vice President for Consultant Relations. Ms. Cheu was most recently at Mercer Investment Consulting, where she was a Senior Associate.
With this new hire, Forward is aiming to grow its institutional client base by building on that segment's rising interest in alternative and outcome-oriented strategies. Forward's diverse product lineup includes 12 alternative strategies available as mutual funds or managed accounts, along with a variety of other specialized and niche approaches keyed to capital preservation, income generation, global exposure and advanced diversification objectives.
"As industry surveys show, institutions are increasingly concerned with the liquidity, transparency and risk management of their investments. They are also becoming more sensitive to fees as a factor undercutting return," said Forward CEO J. Alan Reid. "By offering hedge-style strategies in '40 Act funds, we're providing institutional investors with new options that may potentially improve the risk/reward profiles of their portfolios."
Institutions have been particularly receptive to Forward's commodity long/short, dividend, real estate, and emerging market offerings, said Reid. Forward also offers a set of asset allocation funds that bank trust departments and retirement plans can use to target specific client risk/reward profiles.
Forward's move to bolster its consultant outreach reflects the consulting community's integral role in institutional decision-making, said Clay Smudsky, President of Forward's institutional business. "Working closely with consultants is essential if you want to forge new institutional relationships, and that's doubly true given Forward's focus on strategies that transcend traditional style boxes," he commented. "Having Ann on board lets us increase our dialogue with consultants on how our strategies fit into institutional portfolios."
The firm currently serves more than a dozen major institutional clients including banks and bank trust departments, foundations and endowments, retirement plans and family offices. Mr. Smudsky said he plans to further expand Forward's institutional team in the coming months.
About Forward
Forward is a privately-held asset management firm that uses a forward-thinking, problem-solving approach to help investors and advisors navigate a shifting, uncertain investment climate. Based in San Francisco, the firm is the investment advisor to the Forward Funds. It gives investors and their advisors access to a broad spectrum of investment and asset allocation solutions, including an evolving set of alternatives to traditional, long-only investing. As of March 31, 2012, Forward managed more than $5.2 billion in mutual funds, separate account strategies and limited partnerships. More information on Forward can be found at www.forwardinvesting.com.
The Forward Investing logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=12541
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.
Alternative strategies typically are subject to increased risk and loss of principal. Consequently, investments such as mutual funds which focus on alternative strategies are not suitable for all investors.
RISKS
Asset allocation does not assure profit or protect against risk.
Diversification does not assure profit or protect against risk.
Exposure to the commodities markets may subject a fund to greater volatility than investing in traditional securities. The value of commodity-linked derivative instruments may be affected by changes in overall market movements, commodity index volatility, changes in interest rates, or factors affecting a particular industry or commodity, such as natural disasters and international economic, political and regulatory developments.
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.
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.
Separately Managed Accounts and related investment advisory services are provided by Forward, a federally regulated Investment Advisor.
Liquidity is the degree to which an asset or security can be bought or sold in the market without affecting the asset's price. Liquidity is characterized by a high level of trading activity. Assets that can by easily bought or sold, are known as liquid assets.
Transparency is the extent to which investors have ready access to any required financial information about a company such as price levels, market depth and audited financial reports.
Alan Reid is a registered representative of Forward Securities, LLC.
Clay Smudsky and Ann Cheu are registered representatives of ALPS Distributors, Inc.
Forward Funds are distributed by Forward Securities, LLC.