Austin, Calvert & Flavin, Inc. (ACF) has in-house expertise in the management of core equity and high-quality fixed income strategies. 

Our equity process focuses on companies that combine attractive valuation and improving fundamentals. These are companies that we feel possess leading positions in their respective industries, solid management teams, strong balance sheets and high barriers to competition. We look for companies with a proven record of executing their business plan and delivering attractive returns on investment. Once these companies are identified, we consider valuation, both from an absolute and a relative standpoint. The final step is an analysis of sector, industry and security exposure as the portfolio is developed and monitored.

The firm’s emphasis on extensive internal research and on-site company management visits helps to set it apart. We believe that this emphasis on in-depth fundamental research not only is crucial for identifying superior investments, but also provides the potential for capital appreciation while seeking to identify risk. 

Given our size, we are able to manage each client relationship separately. With our team approach to portfolio management and client service, each client has a primary as well as a secondary contact.

 ACF is a San Antonio based investment advisor registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Edward Austin, Jr. founded ACF in 1981 and was joined by Jonathan Calvert in 1982. In 1988, Harry Flavin joined the firm as Chief Investment Officer, where he served until October 2004. Mr. Flavin retired from Austin, Calvert & Flavin, Inc. in February of 2006.

Today, Cynthia Prince-Fox serves as the firm’s Chief Investment Officer. A member of ACF’s investment staff since 2000, Ms. Prince-Fox worked closely with Mr. Flavin, serving as co-CIO from 2002 to 2004. Ms. Prince-Fox entered the investment management business in 1983, when she joined ACF’s parent company, Waddell & Reed in Kansas City. 

Sarah Calvert Doerr was appointed CEO in 2005. Ms. Doerr joined ACF in 1985. In January 2002, she was named its Chief Operating Officer, and in October 2004 its Chief Compliance Officer. Ms. Doerr has been involved with the trading operation during most of her tenure at Austin, Calvert & Flavin, Inc., and was its head trader for a number of years prior to being named COO.
In August of 1999, ACF became wholly owned by Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company, a subsidiary of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc.

Back to Top

Austin, Calvert & Flavin, Inc. (ACF) is a San Antonio based investment advisor registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Edward Austin, Jr. founded ACF in 1981. Jonathan Calvert joined a year later in 1982 and Harry Flavin, CFA joined the firm as Chief Investment Officer in 1988. Today, Cynthia Prince-Fox is our Chief Investment Officer. Sarah Calvert Doerr was appointed Chief Executive Officer in 2005.

We emphasize the importance of a diversified approach to investment management and focus on risk-appropriate asset allocations in an effort to meet our clients’ objectives. ACF has in-house expertise in the management of core equity and high-quality fixed income strategies.

Our equity management philosophy is research-driven and characterized as having a bias toward large capitalization, high-quality companies. Our investment tools help our analysts recognize value and identify risk. Our in-depth process focuses on companies that combine attractive valuation with improving fundamentals. These are firms that we feel possess leading positions in their respective industries, solid management teams, strong balance sheets and high barriers to competition. After examining relative and absolute valuation measures, we then carefully select individual stocks and construct portfolios, reviewing our sector, industry and security exposure.

The firm’s fixed income process is characterized by a top-down, value-oriented bias toward high credit quality portfolios. The Chief Investment Officer is responsible for managing the firm’s fixed income investments.

We conduct a thorough analysis of the current economic environment and base strategic allocations on anticipated changes in the environment. Monetary policy, fiscal policy, investor sentiment, credit quality trends, and yield curve position are all major factors used in our analysis. We use relative valuation to help us determine the attractiveness of individual securities. Our process results in what we feel is a strategically sound portfolio that is tailored to the unique risk and return objectives of each client.

A primary focus of the client relationship team is on our clients and their investment needs. We meet with our clients and provide a portfolio review on an annual basis at a minimum. In many instances, clients prefer a timelier update and meetings are scheduled on a quarterly basis. When appropriate, we include family members and tax/legal advisors in our meetings to verify that our strategies are in-line with any tax or estate plans that a client may have. In addition to scheduled meetings, we are always available to meet and address any client concern or question.

Back to Top

Parent Company
Waddell & Reed

The services described in this website are sold only in the United States. Nothing in this website should be considered a solicitation to buy or an offer to sell such services in any jurisdiction where the offer or solicitation would be unlawful under the laws of such jurisdiction. Austin, Calvert & Flavin, Inc. offer separate account management for a $1 million minimum. For more complete information, please contact your Austin, Calvert & Flavin, Inc. financial advisor, by calling 1-877-353-0500.                              © Austin, Calvert & Flavin, Inc. 1981-2008. All Rights Reserved.