Investment Professionals

Jeffrey D. Slater, CFA, President

Jeff has over 20 years of experience in the financial markets and serves as the President of MuniCrest Investment Management Company, a firm he founded in 2000. He began his investment management career at General Reinsurance Corporation in 1991, where he was the lead credit analyst and an assistant portfolio manager on the firm's $7 billion municipal bond portfolio. In 1994, he was named Vice President and Head of the Municipal Bond Group, a position he held until 1998. Mr. Slater's responsibilities at General Reinsurance Corporation included the management and strategic direction of the tax-exempt bond portfolio, as well as oversight of the preferred stock portfolio and the cash management operation for the domestic property and casualty companies. Most recently Jeff was Vice President and Fixed Income Portfolio Manager at CGU Asset Management.  Mr. Slater earned his undergraduate degree in Mathematics from Syracuse University and his MBA in Finance from the State University of New York at Albany.  In 1997, Mr. Slater's fixed-income acumen was recognized when his chapter entitled “Managing Municipal Bond Portfolios,” was published by Frank Fabozzi Associates in Managing Fixed Income Portfolios, and Selected Topics in Bond Portfolio Management. The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Bloomberg Business News, and The Bond Buyer have all published Mr. Slater’s comments on market developments.

Joseph J. Trainor, CFA, Managing Partner

Joe has over 25 years of financial market and investment management experience.  In addition to chairing the investment committee at MuniCrest, Joe is also a managing partner with Boston Hill Advisors, the parent company of MuniCrest. Prior to joining Boston Hill Advisors and MuniCrest, Joe was a Managing Director for U.S. Trust, President of U.S. Trust Institutional, President of MFS Institutional Advisors, Chief Investment Officer Partners HealthCare System (Affiliate of Harvard Medical School teaching hospitals), Deputy Treasurer Partners HealthCare System, Chief Financial Officer Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Treasury Manager for Honeywell Information Systems. Joe is a Chartered Financial Analyst, a member of the Boston Security Analysts Society and has an MBA from Northeastern University.

Michael F. Edwards, CFA, Managing Partner

Michael has over 15 years of experience in investment research.  In addition to his portfolio management responsibilities with MuniCrest, Mike is also a managing partner with Boston Hill Advisors, the parent company of MuniCrest. Prior to joining Boston Hill Advisors and MuniCrest, Michael served as Vice President and Director of Fund Analysis and Research at Fidelity Management and Research Company.  Michael also held the positions of Manager of Institutional Research and Investment Specialist at MFS Institutional Advisors.  Prior to MFS, Michael was Manager of Capital Markets and Manager of Cash Management and Banking at Partners Healthcare System. Mike is a Chartered Financial Analyst, a member Boston Security Analysts Society and has an MBA in Finance from Bentley College. Mike's undergraduate degree is from Saint Anselm College.

Michael A. Berardi, Managing Partner

Michael has over 17 years of executive business, sales and marketing experience.  In addition to his responsibilities with MuniCrest, Michael is also a managing partner with Boston Hill Advisors, the parent company of MuniCrest. As an experienced equity and derivatives trader he specializes in technical analysis and uses this information to complement the fundamental and macroeconomic analysis of the MuniCrest investment committee.  Michael works with high net worth individuals and institutions to build comprehensive financial plans.  In addition, Michael is a frequent speaker at area corporations on job transition and related financial planning issues.  Prior to joining MuniCrest and Boston Hill Advisors, Michael served as Financial Advisor for New England Financial.  Prior to New England Financial, Michael held the positions of Partner and Sales Executive for D.A. Crowley & Associates.  Michael has his Series 65, is a member of the Market Technician Association, and has his certification in long-term care planning and degree in Electrical Engineering.