About Us
Ascension Investment Management Advantages
By aligning our portfolio with our Socially Responsible Investing (“SRI”) policy, we are better able to work toward our goal of maximizing returns for faith-based investors while balancing risk, providing diversification, and capitalizing on economies of scale. Our goal is to deliver:
Distinctive Access
Our team’s institutional reputation and long-standing
relationships provide access to a broad slate of talented
managers, which we believe present the best available
execution of each strategy.
Customized Solutions
Clients customize allocations according to risk
tolerance, liquidity preferences, and return targets.
Investment Expertise
Decades of experience enable us to employ disciplined
investment and risk management processes to provide
clients with comprehensive solutions.
Economies of Scale
We leverage our large asset base to access top-tier
investment skill and to negotiate for lower fees
and more favorable terms.
Our Story
Ascension Investment Management (“AIM”) stands at the intersection of legacy, leadership, and faith in values-driven investing. Our foundation began within Ascension Health, one of the nation’s largest non-profit Catholic healthcare systems.
From 2009 onward, under the direction of David Erickson, AIM developed an investment office rooted in Catholic social teaching. The team has evolved a disciplined investment model and follows defined standards of socially responsible investing. Our approach demonstrates that it is possible to integrate ethical values and rigorous research.
In 2012, recognizing a broader need for principled investment expertise, AIM registered with the SEC and extended its investment advisory services to a wider range of faith-based organizations. Our team offers a range of investment solutions across public and private markets. These strategies are informed by our Catholic- based Socially Responsible Investment Policy, which guides our decision-making to align with principles of justice, compassion, and care for others.
AIM’s team draws upon deep experience, including three professionals who have served as chief investment officers and whose average industry experience exceeds two decades. Their insights help identify opportunities carefully chosen to reflect our values. Professionals in operations, client service, and legal/compliance provide support so that client needs remain at the forefront.
Inspired by Ascension's vision, "answering God's call to bring health, healing, and hope to all," AIM manages each relationship with the utmost care and responsibility. We seek to partner with organizations who wish to orient their investment portfolios with their values, working thoughtfully to support both financial goals and a broader mission.
Our Culture
Our culture is one of trust, appreciation, and professional development, which fosters an environment that promotes employee satisfaction and loyalty. We have experienced low turnover generally since the inception of the firm, particularly at the senior level.
Our culture is reflected in our steadfast focus on three fundamental pillars:
Teamwork
Collaboration and mutual respect define our team dynamic. We highly value each team member's talents, skill sets, and opinions, fostering a free-flowing dialogue and open debate that leads to innovative idea generation. Many of our Investment Directors possess experience in multiple asset classes, enabling us to nimbly source opportunistic investments.
Respect
We believe that a culture of respect is essential for building a cohesive team that communicates effectively and trusts one another. It also extends to how we treat our managers and clients, which we believe results in our team being a sought-after partner for many managers. We consider this responsibility a privilege and are committed to performing diligently and prudently on our clients' behalf.
Mindfulness of the Mission
Our culture is influenced by our ultimate parent company, Ascension, which was founded to provide healthcare to the most vulnerable in society. This mission-driven approach influences the entire organization. We strive to be good stewards of our clients' assets and to foster a sincere partnership with those we work with. AIM's philosophy of investing rooted in Catholic values and respect for our clients’ missions is inherent in our team culture and investment process.
Mission, Vision, Values
OUR MISSION
AIM is committed to empowering faith-based organizations by thoughtfully managing their capital in harmony with Catholic teachings and ethical values as reflected in our SRI policy. We deliver investment solutions that not only strive for sound financial results but also honor our clients' spiritual and moral commitments, promoting stewardship in support of their operational and mission-driven goals over the long-term.
OUR VISION
We aspire to be a trusted and respected advisor within the faith-based investment community, known for our deep commitment to integrating Catholic values throughout our investment process. Through thoughtful innovation and a steadfast dedication to our clients' missions, we aim to foster lasting partnerships and support our clients’ spiritual and financial goals.
OUR VALUES
- Faith-Centered Commitment: Our work is grounded in Catholic social teaching, and considers moral responsibility and ethical stewardship in a manner intended to align with our client's values.
- Integrity and Trust: We uphold high ethical standards and promote open and honest communication.
- Client-Focused Excellence:We deliver a positive, personalized experience that respects each institution’s unique mission.
- Leadership: We are dedicated to advancing investment practices that uphold our faith-based principles and support the diverse objectives of our clients.
- Targeted Impact:We offer impact investment options intended to generate measurable social and environmental outcomes, complementing our wider dedication to values-driven stewardship.
Key Milestones at AIM
The AIM Difference
At AIM, our foundation is rooted in faith-based values. As a subsidiary of Ascension, a nonprofit Catholic organization, we are dedicated to offering clients socially responsible strategies that honor a Catholic mission and pursue investment goals.
Our approach is designed for mission-based institutions. We bring deep experience aligning portfolios with Catholic values expressed in our policy, informed by regular consultation with Ascension's professional Ethics team, who are able to incorporate theological expertise on evolving issues in socially responsible investing.
AIM's due diligence process integrates ESG considerations and requires annual reviews of underlying managers' policies. We recognize that responsible investing evolves, and we work thoughtfully to evaluate whether portfolios continue to reflect faith-based principles.
Over the past decade, AIM has deepened its commitment to mission-driven investing. Some of the ways we lived this mission include launching an impact investment strategy focused on private investments that we believed would advance a Catholic mission, accompanied by annual impact measurement reports for clients. We also introduced a liquid fixed-income impact strategy that provides daily liquidity and supports mission-aligned initiatives. In response to Pope Francis' call to care for our common home, the earth, AIM updated its SRI policy to incorporate fossil fuel restrictions. It's all part of our commitment to manage investments with integrity, responsibility, and respect for values that matter to our clients.
Our dedication is clear: manage investments with integrity, responsibility, and respect for values that matter to our clients.
Our Team
LEADERSHIP
David Erickson, CFA, Chief Investment Officer
INVESTMENT TEAM
Michael Griswold, CFA
Deputy Chief Investment Officer
Michael LeVar, CFA
Managing Director of Strategy & Manager Research
Joshua Kaplan, AAMS
Managing Director of Investments
Maurice Perry, CFA
Managing Director of Investments
Vincent Stegman, CFA
Managing Director of Investments
Tyler Blickhan, CFA, CAIA
Associate Director of Investments
Jingwan Chen, CFA CAIA
Associate Director of Investments
Scott Schleiffarth, CFA
Associate Director of Investments
Abhishek Rane, FRM
Associate Director of Strategy & Risk Management
Zachary Rasure
Associate Director of Investments
Alex Poynter
Senior Investment Analyst
OPERATIONS
Timothy McDowell, CPA, CTP
Managing Director of Finance & Investment Operations
Matthew Goessling
Senior Director of Finance & Investment Operations
Jonathan Gierich, CPA
Director of Finance & Investment Operations
Melinda Beuttel
Senior Accountant
Jacob Styve
Senior Accountant
Nathan Johns
Senior Associate of Investment Operations
Mark Duncan
Associate Director of Performance
Cherie Browning Baur
Accountant
Nakeeta Miller
Senior Executive Assistant
Jill Barlow
Senior Executive Assistant
CLIENT SERVICE
Jessica Cook
Managing Director of Business Development
Kayla Zalis
Associate Director of Investor Relations
Erin Carnes
Senior Investor Relations Associate
LEGAL/COMPLIANCE
Todd Turall
General Counsel & Chief Operating Officer
Amanda White
Chief Compliance Officer & Associate General Counsel
