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As of September 30, 2007, Winans International manages approximately $98 million of equity and fixed income investments for 104 clients with varying asset allocations and investment restrictions, an asset increase of 1,329% since the company's inception. A 2006 study conducted by Schwab rated our client loyalty rate at 98%. The Winans International Preferred Stock Index (WIPSI)â„¢ and the Winans International Real Estate Index (patent pending) (WIREI)â„¢ are considered leading market benchmarks and are used by major financial and academic institutions. In 2007, Ken published the first book written on preferred stocks since the 1930's entitled, "Preferreds - Wall Street's Best Kept Income Secret". An early indication that Ken was destined for a career in the financial arena was his avid interest in reading the Wall Street Journal - every day. At the time, he was a 15-year-old high school student in a small California town. 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 performing real estate analyses and brokerage services. E.F. Hutton & Company then hired Ken to assist in conducting investment analysis for a money manager with $110 million in assets under management. It was here that he was encouraged to compete in the 1986 National U.S. Investing Championship sponsored by Investor's Business Daily and Barron's. Ken finished ninth in the championship; he was 23. As a graduate student at the University of San Francisco working towards a Masters in Finance, Ken joined the San Francisco-based firm of Sutro & Company. He concentrated on expanding the company's quantitative investment research effort, but also worked with the firm's corporate finance department on several public offerings. After completing his academic studies, one of his former bosses at E.F. Hutton asked him to become Director of Research for the Chicago-based Compass Investment Group. His creativity and detailed insight was put to the test when he was made responsible for the development and implementation of the quantitative computer models that performed the asset allocation and investment selection on the firm's portfolios. In 1988, Ken became a Registered Investment Advisor. While at Merrill Lynch & Company, starting in 1990, he honed his portfolio management style and learned how to successfully market investment services. During this time, he received numerous corporate awards for his achievements. He is a member of the Market Technicians Association and has earned the Chartered Market Technician (CMT) accreditation. Ken is also a member of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute and has served on several committees for the San Francisco Chapter. He served as adjunct faculty member of the Graduate School of Business at St. Mary's College of California from 1996 to 2001. In 2004, the University of San Francisco named him one of its most celebrated graduates in its 150-year history. Ken and his wife, Debbie, are long-time residents of Marin County and are active in industry and community groups. 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. He also serves on the board of the Chabot Space Science Center. In his spare time, Ken ski races in the U.S. Ski Association's Masters Program and is a renowned collector of artifacts from space exploration as well as antique financial documents. Many pieces of his collection are on display at leading museums coast to coast.