New Orleans has emerged as an attractive destination for investment management professionals and firms over the past decade. With its business-friendly tax policies, well-educated workforce, and rich cultural heritage, the Crescent City provides an appealing environment for the investment community. However, locating the leading investment management talent and companies in New Orleans can be challenging without the right background knowledge. This article will explore the top firms and portfolio managers that prospective investors and clients should know about when seeking investment guidance and solutions in New Orleans.
Major National and Regional Investment Management Firms with a Presence in New Orleans
Many of the large, national full-service wealth management companies maintain a footprint in New Orleans to serve individual and institutional investors in the region. Top national firms with offices in New Orleans include Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo Advisors, UBS, and Charles Schwab, among others. Key regional firms with a significant presence include Hancock Whitney Investment Services, Argent Trust Company, and HCR Wealth Advisors. While locally based clients make up a share of their clientele, these national and regional firms also provide services to high net worth families, endowments, pensions, and other institutional investors from around the country who have connections to New Orleans.
Leading Local Investment Advisory Firms Based in New Orleans
In addition to the national wirehouse firms, New Orleans hosts a number of locally based boutique registered investment advisory (RIA) firms that provide portfolio management and financial planning primarily to individual investors. Top local investment advisor firms include Fourier Capital, Ei8ht Capital Management, andDuplantis Investment Group. Many of these firms employ Chartered Financial Analyst charterholders and focus on customized investment strategies tailored to each client’s specific needs and risk tolerance. Several also take a more holistic wealth management approach that incorporates areas like tax planning, estate planning, and insurance solutions along with investment portfolio oversight.
Prominent Portfolio Managers with Deep Local Roots
Some of the leading individual portfolio managers in New Orleans boast deep connections to the local community spanning multiple decades. Thomas Guerin of Fourier Capital previously managed funds for institutional clients at local investment firms in New Orleans earlier in his career before founding Fourier. Brock Forester, Chief Investment Officer of Duplantis Investment Group, grew up locally and returned to New Orleans after working for JP Morgan Private Bank in New York. Both leverage their extensive investment experience and local market knowledge to produce strong risk-adjusted returns for clients focused on preserving wealth.
University Endowments Turn to Top Talent
Major universities in New Orleans also rely on the expertise of top-tier investment management professionals to grow and manage their multi-billion dollar endowments. Tulane University’s $1.4 billion endowment is overseen by Chief Investment Officer Didier DeJourdan, while Marc Papazyan leads investment strategy as Chief Investment Officer for Loyola University’s $300 million endowment. Both employ a globally diversified, multi-asset class approach focused on consistent long-term returns to support vital university programs and initiatives.
New Orleans provides an attractive locale for both large national investment firms and specialized local boutique advisors. Investors can access award-winning expertise both from longstanding Portfolio Managers with deep local roots, as well as major wealth management institutions with a substantial regional presence.