Company Market Research Report: Vest Financial LLC

Company Overview

• Name: Vest Financial LLC

• Mission: No explicit mission statement available, but the company is dedicated to bringing more certainty to investors through innovative options-based investment strategies.

• Founded: 2012

• Founders: Jeff Chang and Karan Sood, with Bill Kung and Daniel Roos joining in 2014.

• Key People:

• Karan Sood, CEO

• Jeff Chang, President

• Steve Neamtz, Senior Advisor, Business Development

• Jeremy Sperlazza, Chief Compliance Officer, Chief Legal Officer

• Howard Rubin, Managing Director, Head of Portfolio Management

• Linda Werner, CMO & Managing Director, Head of Marketing

• Joanne Hill, Chief Advisor for Research and Strategy

• Headquarters: 8350 Broad St., Suite 240, McLean, VA 22102-5150

• Number of Employees: No information is available.

• Revenue: No information is available.

• What is the Company Known For: Vest is known for its options-based investment advisory services and products, particularly its Target Outcome Investments designed to provide targeted protection and returns.

Products

Target Outcome Investments

Vest's offerings include strategies and tools to buffer losses, amplify gains, target certain income levels, and manage risk. These are structured via:

• Mutual Funds

• Access to Target Outcome Strategies including buffer and income strategies.

• ETFs (Exchange-Traded Funds)

• Strategies aimed at providing protection against downside losses and opportunity for growth.

• Retirement Funds

• Includes 10% and 20% buffer strategies for pensions and retirement plans.

• Insurance Funds

• Provides buffer strategies available in insurance and annuity products.

• UITs (Unit Investment Trusts)

• Access to Target Outcome Strategies, offered through sub-advisory services.

Key Features

• Strategies designed to optimize investment returns by incorporating risk management.

• Utilizes options to provide specific investment outcomes.

• Offers strategies for downside protection, target growth, and target income.

Recent Developments

• New Launches:

• January 11, 2024: Vest announced the launch of a new ETF aimed at offsetting the risk of rising shorter-term interest rates.

• February 6, 2023: Cboe Vest introduced a first-of-its-kind ETF to manage interest rate risks.

• Partnerships:

• Cboe Holdings Inc. made a majority investment in Vest in 2016, expanding Vest's capabilities by integrating CBOE's product offerings.

• New Funds and Strategies:

• Introduction of the Cboe Vest S&P 500® Dividend Aristocrats® Target Income ETF (Ticker: KNG) which combines dividend growth and options strategy.

• Launch of the Vest Bitcoin Strategy Managed Volatility Fund, providing access to Bitcoin futures with managed volatility.

Insights & Research

Vest also provides educational resources and publications, such as:

• Blogs and Papers: Covering market strategies, such as managing downside equity risk and risk-managed bitcoin exposure.

• Educational Videos: Explaining the genesis of Target Outcome Investing and its applications.

Market Position and Strategy

• Vest's strategic focus is on creating structured outcome investments that appeal to risk-averse investors.

• The company capitalizes on its technological platforms for customized options-based investment strategies.

• Being a majority-owned subsidiary of Cboe allows the synergistic leverage of extensive options expertise and product innovations.

Conclusion

Vest Financial LLC is positioned uniquely within the financial advisory market with a strong emphasis on options-based investments offering targeted outcomes. Their comprehensive range of products addresses various investor needs for growth, income, and risk management through structured and innovative financial strategies.