Our Story
Founded in 2006 by John Rothe CMT, Riverbend Investment Management manages portfolios for clients across the US using tactical and adaptive investment strategies.
Since the 1990’s the financial services industry has gone through massive changes. The demographic shift caused by the Baby Boomers, and their desire to be well-prepared for retirement, has caused Wall Street to shift from investment managers to investment product salespeople.
As a result, investors are often offered the same, piecemeal approach to their portfolios. However, this is becoming a problem for many investors.
Stock market crashes, like that of 2001-2002 and 2008-2009, can stall the growth of a financial plan for 10 years or more – – a serious problem for investors in their 40s, 50s, and 60s.
Investors want solid investment strategies to help them grow in rising markets and be protected from major market drops — a concept that seems to be ignored by most of Wall Street.
Riverbend Investment Management was created to fill this void. We manage money for clients across the US using tactical and adaptive investment strategies.
We believe a proactive and adaptive strategy is the best way to invest for stable, long- term growth in today’s market.
About John Rothe
John Rothe, CMT
Founder & Chief Investment Officer
Portfolio Manager
John Rothe, CMT is the Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Riverbend Investment Management, an independent Registered Investment Advisor (RIA). He has spent more than 25 years helping clients reach their financial goals.
John is a Chartered Market Technician (CMT) and the portfolio manager for Riverbend’s investment strategies, available to both individual and institutional investors.
Prior to starting Riverbend in 2006, John managed money for US-based clients at Oppenheimer and Morgan Stanley.
His investment management strategies and advice have appeared in various media outlets, such as Forbes, CNBC, Reuters, US News, Investment News, Financial Planning Magazine, and on Wall Street Business Network syndicated radio broadcasts.
John is also an active member of the National Association of Active Investment Managers (NAAIM) and The Chartered Market Technicians Association.
CMT Charterholder
John Rothe is a CMT Charterholder. Those who earn the CMT charter hold the highest credential within the discipline of technical analysis of capital markets. CMT Charterholders employ advanced knowledge in analyzing and interpreting market action, which includes applying classical pattern recognition, quantitative approaches to market research, and rules-based trading system design and testing. Completing the CMT Program demonstrates mastery of a core body of technical analysis knowledge used in trading and investing.
About the CMT Association
The CMT Association is a global credentialing body with nearly 50 years of service to the financial industry. The Chartered Market Technician® (CMT) designation marks the highest education within the discipline and is the preeminent designation for practitioners of technical analysis worldwide. The CMT Association strives to further the profession with diverse value through diverse education and networking opportunities, member advocacy, and career advancement.
Why I Started Riverbend
Over the course of my career in finance, I have witnessed two major upheavals in the markets that have drastically and negatively affected investors’ portfolios… and in many cases, the lifestyle they wished to live.
During the tech bust, most of those affected were young entrepreneurs who were able to start over again and find success.
But the second bust — in 2008 — saw too many people near or at retirement getting wiped out. In many cases, those affected by the tech bubble had ignored the advice and gotten greedy.
But in 2008, most of the investors were following the traditional advice of the Wall Street marketing machine and still got burned.
For nearly 25 years in the financial industry, I have worked for Morgan Stanley and Oppenheimer, earned some impressive “VP” titles, and learned from some of the “best” on how to look after your own interests and those of the firm. I also learned that the traditional advice about investing (buy and hold for the long term) was a great way for the firms to make money, but not always in the best interest for clients.
With that epiphany, I decided in 2006 that I would never again be beholden to a firm. I knew there was a better, more independent way to run a successful business while looking out for the best interests of my clients. So I started Riverbend Investment Management and have never looked back.
Since then, I have worked tirelessly to create a tactical system of investing that takes into account all of the resources available to me: computer modeling, historical trends, and seasonal patterns, as well as the day-to-day news that affects the markets.
No longer tied to the Wall Street marketing machine, my firm can implement tactical investment models that first and foremost is about making money for our clients — short term, long term, through bubbles and busts.
John Rothe, CMT
Founder & Chief Investment Officer
Portfolio Manager
