Managed Accounts

AAM’s in-house portfolio management team is led by six highly qualified investment professionals. Our unique combination of industry professionals allows for the open exchange and debate of ideas to effectively manage portfolio risk and take advantage of market opportunities and inefficiencies. These seasoned professionals have confronted, overcome and successfully managed their way through both bull and bear markets. Each possesses the knowledge and the experience to add value at every step of the management process.

Scott Colyer, Chief Executive Officer

Scott Colyer is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Advisors Asset Management (AAM), a position he has held since 1998. He also served as the Chief Investment Officer for 23 years and remains actively involved in the investment management process, implementing income strategies, and sharing insights on macro and micro economic trends while spending more time on long-term strategic development. 

With over 35 years of industry experience, Mr. Colyer has become a highly respected and accomplished fixed income strategist and investment counselor whose insight is frequently featured in leading financial media outlets such as Barrons, The Bond Buyer, Business Week, CNBC, CNNMoney, Fortune Magazine, Fox Business TV, InvestmentNews, MarketWatch, Pensions & Investments, TheStreet.com and The Wall Street Journal. He is a sought-after speaker on topics including advisor industry trends, economic and market commentary, and fixed income/equity investing. He is also a member of the Forbes Intelligent Investor Panel.

Mr. Colyer earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Pittsburg State University in 1982 and his Juris Doctorate Cum Laude from Washburn University School of Law in 1985.

Cliff Corso, President & Chief Investment Officer

Cliff serves as the President and Chief Investment Officer of AAM. He joined the firm in 2021, bringing with him his reputation for leadership and deep understanding of the financial markets. Prior to AAM, Cliff was at Insight Investment and served as the Executive Chairman, North America. Cliff joined Insight in January 2015 following BNY Mellon’s acquisition of Cutwater Asset Management (Cutwater). While at Cutwater, Cliff held the dual roles of CEO and Chief Investment Officer and helped build the firm to one of the largest fixed income managers in the world. Prior to Cutwater, Cliff served as a senior fixed income portfolio manager at Alliance Capital Management. Throughout his career, he has also served as a credit analyst, lender, restructuring specialist and trader.  

Cliff was an early pioneer in the secured and credit derivatives markets, developing several investment programs starting in the 1990s, expanding this area to create cash and synthetic CDOs and conduit. He is a frequent guest on CNBC and has lectured on finance at various universities.

Mr. Corso graduated from Yale University with a degree in economics and earned an MBA from Columbia University. He currently holds Series 7, 24, and 63 licenses from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and is a member of the Fixed Income Analysts Society.

Jim Costas, Executive Vice President, Asset Management

Jim Costas serves as Executive Vice President of Asset Management. Mr. Costas has over 35 years of bond trading experience, previously serving as Vice President/Trader for both EF Hutton and Prudential Securities. In addition, he served as Director/Trader at SunTrust Bank and joined the firm in 2002. Mr. Costas received a Bachelor of Science degree from Ithaca College in 1977.

Brian Gilbert, Senior Vice President, Portfolio Manager

Brian Gilbert is Senior Vice President of the Managed Accounts Department as well as a Portfolio Manager. Mr. Gilbert has been with AAM since 2006 and has over 25 years of industry experience. Previously, he has held positions at Charles Schwab (Schwab Institutional), Murphey Favre Inc. and Merrill Lynch. Mr. Gilbert earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business (Finance) from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

JB Golden, CFA, Executive Director, Portfolio Manager

JB Golden is an Executive Director and Portfolio Manager with Advisors Asset Management and has over 16 years of investment experience. Prior to joining the portfolio management team, Mr. Golden served as 1st Vice President/Regional Director, managing AAM’s South Region fixed income sales and service desk. In addition, he has served the firm in both a fixed income sales and trading capacity since joining the firm in 2004.

Mr. Golden earned his undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University and his law degree and MBA from the University of Houston. He holds FINRA 7, 24, 65 and 66 registrations and is a CFA® charterholder.

Jacob Johnston, CFA, Executive Director, Portfolio Manager

Jacob Johnston is Vice President, Portfolio Manager with Advisors Asset Management and has over 13 years of investment experience. He currently oversees security selection and supervision for several of the firm’s unit investment trusts including quantitative strategies and themed portfolios and also serves as a portfolio manager for separately managed accounts.

Mr. Johnston earned his undergraduate degree from Western Illinois University and his graduate degree from Keller Graduate School of Management. He holds a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) designation and Series 7, 24 and 66 registrations.

External Portfolio Management Teams

AAM’s strategic alliance with institutional-quality investment managers has allowed us to expand the suite of investment solutions that are available to you and your clients. For more information on our network of strategic partners, click here.