Media - News Release

Milwaukee, WI — Wednesday, May 27, 2009. Brian Kinney, Vice President of State Street Global Advisors (SSgA), provided his insights into the various asset purchase programs created by the U.S. government in response to the tight credit and lending markets at the May 27th Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Society of Milwaukee luncheon held at the Milwaukee Athletic Club.  Regarding the Term Asset-Backed Loan Facility (TALF) program that was restructured in March, Mr. Kinney noted, "It has been successful, at least the early indications are, on both a (interest rate yield) spread level and also on a broader level of acceptance from the issuers and their ability to access the markets."  Kinney also spoke on the White House  Public Private-Investment Program (PPIP). 

Mr. Kinney, CFA, manages aggregate and mortgage-backed securities (MBS) bond portfolios for the Fixed Income Department at SSgA and has managed fixed income portfolios since joining the firm in 2003.

"Part of TALF's slow start had to do with the skepticism of the markets. TALF is quite onerous in terms of complying with the considerable regulatory requirements of the program," Mr. Kinney said. "Now there is a wider array of investors that understand the way the program works.  This has allowed for some flexibility in the money management world and broader investment community to understand how to use TALF in ways that meet investment objectives in ways that they had not thought of in the past."

The CFA Society of Milwaukee meetings provide an opportunity for investment professionals, students, and interested parties to engage in a timely discussion of relevant events in the financial markets.    

The CFA Society of Milwaukee promotes ethical and professional standards within the investment industry, encourages professional development through the CFA® Program, and facilitates the open exchange of information and opinions. The Milwaukee Society is a member of the CFA Institute, a global association of investment professionals promoting the highest ethical standards along with offering educational opportunities.

For more information, Please Contact CFA Society of Milwaukee President, David Becker, Northern Oak Capital Management (414) 278-0590 dbecker@northern-oak.com

About the CFA Society of Milwaukee

The CFA Society of Milwaukee was established in 1955 as the Milwaukee Investment Analysts Society and incorporated in 1970. The name was changed to CFA Society of Milwaukee in 2005.  In 1995 the society formed a Madison (WI) Chapter of the Milwaukee Society. The society was organized to provide a forum for local investment management professionals to gather on a regular basis to attend corporate/analyst presentations, share ideas, and develop their knowledge and understanding of the securities markets. The society plays a vital role within the Wisconsin investment community.  The goals of the society are to serve the needs of professionals in the investment decision-making process by providing a high-quality educational program and to promote high standards of professional ethics, conduct, and competence.  For more information on the CFA Society of Milwaukee, please call Membership Chair Kristin M. Lindblom, CFA at 414 -298-5961 or e-mail KLindblom@rwbaird.com.

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