Tom Putnam Discusses Succession Planning with the Albany Business Review

Both the long tenure of the other Portfolio Managers and their consistent investment approach play integral roles in the succession plan. “I always had a philosophy that the way to be successful is to find talented people who are curious and have intellectual honesty and can grow,” Tom said. “If you find those people and they have those qualities, you give them responsibilities and let them run with it.”

Things change, but Tom wanted to reiterate what will remain the same – the continued goal of investing for long-term success.

“I get letters all the time, ‘We’ve been with you for 20 years and if you weren’t fostering our assets the way you have, we wouldn’t be able to have the second home, or send our kids to college, or generate funds for our grandchildren,'” he added. “That’s the rewarding part of our businesses and why we do it.”

Marc Roberts Named Portfolio
Manager of Fenimore Mutual Fund

In 2016, he relocated to Chicago and continued his career in the investment industry before returning to Fenimore in March 2020. Mr. Roberts holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) designation and focuses on understanding and evaluating quality businesses including, but not limited to, those in the core bank processing and payments, connectors and sensors, and specialty insurance industries. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Finance from Siena College.

“Marc made a very welcome return to the Fenimore family last year and quickly reminded us of his investment research acumen and commitment to our investment philosophy,” said Fenimore CEO John Fox. “He has demonstrated tremendous value for our investors in the past as a Portfolio Manager and we look forward to seeing his talents at work for our FAM Value Fund shareholders in the years to come.”

Mr. Roberts joins Chief Executive Officer John Fox and Portfolio Manager Drew Wilson in managing the FAM Value Fund. Fenimore’s Founder & Executive Chairman Tom Putnam has announced that he will transition away from his Portfolio Manager role in all three of the FAM Funds at the end of 2021 to concentrate fully on his role as Executive Chairman. Mr. Putnam actively guides the firm’s overall investment-research and service-focused culture.

Founded by Mr. Putnam in 1974, Fenimore Asset Management is an independent, nationally recognized investment advisor with more than $4.2 billion in assets under management, as of September 30, 2021, through its Cobleskill and Albany offices. Fenimore offers both customized separately managed accounts and a family of mutual funds that can be used for retirement and other long-term investment planning. The firm’s team of professionals prides itself on investing in carefully selected quality businesses and providing its investors with highly personalized investment services.