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Cortland Associates Inc

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Client assets under management

$929,900,000

Clients

380

57% high-net worth

Advisors

4

of 7 employees

Firm type

Team

4-10 advisors or $500M+ in AUM

Clients per advisor

95

High

Average account size

$2,447,105

About

Cortland Associates is a fee-based investment adviser that manages discretionary equity and balanced portfolios for individuals (including high-net-worth clients), trusts, retirement plans, endowments and similar organizations, with a stated account minimum typically at $500,000. The firm reports managing approximately $958 million in client assets through a small team of advisors and provides regular account appraisals and quarterly performance reviews to clients.

The firm follows an all‑cap value equity strategy combined with a customized balanced strategy that allocates to short/medium duration, investment‑grade fixed income when appropriate, and emphasizes concentrated portfolios with a limited number of holdings. Investment decisions are driven by detailed fundamental research — including financial analysis, company visits and industry interviews — and the firm exercises discretionary trading authority while tailoring allocations and excluding client‑directed securities restrictions when requested.

Compared with many peers, Cortland operates with relatively high assets per adviser and participates in wrap‑fee programs, and its principals are involved in private art and collectible investment vehicles that may be offered to clients (with disclosed conflicts and an agreement to cease management of assets invested in those vehicles). The firm’s practice of providing firm‑level and account performance materials, including hypothetical or illustrative results in its disclosures, and its trading rotation among custodians are also features that distinguish it from most firms in its category.

Client services

Portfolio management

Expertise

Active portfolio management

Fee options

Percentage

1.00% annually or 0.25% per quarter of the average quarterly assets under management

Other

Account minimum: $500,000

Main office location

Cortland Associates Inc

8000 Maryland Avenue, Suite 730

St. Louis MO 63105, United States

Number of offices

2

Most active in

California · Colorado · Connecticut · Florida · Illinois · Indiana · Massachusetts · Michigan · Missouri · Nebraska · New Jersey · New York · North Carolina · Texas · Virginia

Disclosures

Exclamation point means they have disclosures of this type. Check mark means no disclosures of this type were found.

Business activities & affiliations

Advisors at this firm

user avatar

Thomas P

Series 65

St. Louis, MO

Cortland Associates Inc

Thomas Podlesny is a financial advisor with Cortland Associates Inc. in St. Louis, MO, holding a Series 65 designation and 28 years of industry experience. He has been with Cortland Associates since 1992. Outside of his advisory role, he is a managing member of several entities that manage investments in Chinese antiquities. Cortland Associates is a fee-based investment adviser managing discretionary equity and balanced portfolios for individuals, trusts, pension plans, and endowments. The firm employs a value-oriented, all-cap equity strategy combined with investment-grade fixed income, overseeing over $1 billion in discretionary assets with a small team.

Active portfolio management
user avatar

William C

Series 63, Series 65

St. Louis, MO

Cortland Associates Inc

William Carey is a financial advisor at Cortland Associates Inc. in St. Louis, MO, with 28 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Cortland Associates since 1989. Outside of his advisory role, Carey is a managing member of several entities that manage investments in Chinese antiquities. Cortland Associates is a fee-based investment adviser managing discretionary equity and balanced portfolios for individuals, trusts, pension plans, and endowments. The firm employs a value-oriented, all-cap equity strategy combined with investment-grade fixed income, making investment decisions based on fundamental analysis and managing accounts with client-specific allocations and regular performance reviews.

Active portfolio management
user avatar

Matthew H

Series 63, Series 65

Ridgefield, CT

Cortland Associates Inc

Matthew Hicks III is a financial advisor at Cortland Associates Inc with four years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Prior to joining Cortland Associates in 2021, he worked at AAFMAA Wealth Management & Trust from 2018 to 2021 and was self-employed from 2011 to 2018. Cortland Associates is a fee-based investment adviser managing discretionary equity and balanced portfolios for individuals, trusts, pension plans, and endowments. The firm employs a value-oriented, all-cap equity strategy complemented by investment-grade fixed income and manages over $1 billion in assets with a small team.

Active portfolio management
user avatar

John O

Series 63

St. Louis, MO

Cortland Associates Inc

John O'Keefe is a financial advisor at Cortland Associates Inc with 55 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 63 designation and has worked at Cortland Associates since 2017, following an eight-year tenure at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Cortland Associates is a fee-based investment adviser managing discretionary equity and balanced portfolios for individuals, trusts, pension plans, and endowments. The firm employs a value-oriented, all-cap equity strategy combined with investment-grade fixed income, using fundamental analysis and maintaining focused portfolios with regular performance reviews.

Active portfolio management
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