Spotlight on Matthew W. Lauer
Equity Portfolio Associate & Securities Trader

At Oakwood Capital Management, our goal is to provide our clients with top quality investment management. We welcomed Matt Lauer to our ranks about a year ago, where he has become a valuable member of the Equity Investments team. In his role as Equity Portfolio Associate and Securities Trader, Matt is responsible for the day to day trading in client equity accounts. He manages the trades when clients add funds to their accounts, as well as responds to client requests for withdrawals. He meets with the portfolio managers on a regular basis to discuss portfolio construction and individual stock positions. When the decision is made to make a change in a portfolio, he is responsible for executing those trades. Matt assists the portfolio managers on long term projects, helping in the creation of valuation models and in-house research reports. He coordinates closely with the fixed income department on asset allocation decisions for Oakwood’s balanced client accounts as well.

Matt’s keen eye for detail is a valuable asset when he is analyzing data and creating detailed quantitative reports on the companies that the Equity Investments team follows. His computer skills come into play on a regular basis as well. Matt says “I have been interested in computers and computer technology since I was in grade school, and have taken a lot of classes in programming. I understand the logic behind most software programs and that allows me to grasp new programs pretty easily.”

Matt is a graduate of California State University, Northridge, (CSUN) where he earned his Business Administration Degree with a Concentration in Finance, graduating cum laude. Graduating with honors is a commendable task, but doubly so when it is accomplished while working full time. Matt was employed in various positions in the retail and insurance industries while completing his degree, bringing an attention to detail and a high quality of client service to these jobs. Most recently, Matt was with White and Company Insurance in Santa Monica, where he served as an Account Manager, fulfilling clients’ complex insurance needs.

Matt enjoyed his classes at CSUN, particularly those that focused on the valuation of stocks and the stock market, and remains in touch with several of his finance professors. His introduction to the financial services industry came when he took an internship position at Merrill Lynch, where he analyzed client portfolios and made recommendations on appropriate investment strategies. Matt also has made it a priority to pursue his Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.

As busy as Matt is at Oakwood, he has been busy in his personal life, too. Matt got married this October to his fiancée, Jackie. The couple met at Moorpark College, where Matt started his college education. Jackie became enamored with Matt when their professor sprung a pop quiz on the class, and Jackie didn’t have a pencil. Matt, already entranced by Jackie, broke his pencil in half and gave her the sharpened end. The couple enjoys mountain biking, going to movies, and going out with friends on the weekend. They wed in Calabasas, California, honeymooned in Italy, and will make their home in Agoura Hills, California, with their Chihuahua, Hank.