Our Investment Committee
Drawing on decades of evidence, the insights of leading academics, and original research, Symmetry’s Investment Committee is responsible for setting the firm’s investment policy as well as developing new evidence-based investment solutions and strategies, including the Panoramic Funds and Models and PrecisonCore ETF Models. You can also download our Investment Committee flyer below.
David E. Connelly, Jr.
Principal and Co-Founder
David E. Connelly Jr., is a founding partner
of Symmetry Partners. He focuses his time
on portfolio management and strategic
growth of the firm. He co-founded
Symmetry Partners in 1994, originally to
serve pensions, closely-held businesses,
non-profit trusts and high-net worth investors, and has
transitioned the firm into focusing on pension plans and
independent fee-based advisors. Prior to co-founding
Symmetry Partners, Mr. Connelly was a financial advisor
with Dean Witter Reynolds serving high-net worth clients.
Prior to Dean Witter Reynolds, he was with Merrill Lynch
and Putnam Mutual Funds. He has also worked in the
aerospace industry.
Mr. Connelly received his B.S. in Finance from Northeastern
University and his M.B.A. from the University of New Haven.
Patrick A. Sweeny
Principal & Co-Founder
Patrick A. Sweeny is a founding partner
of Symmetry Partners. Prior to co-founding
he company in 1994, he spent a number
of years on Wall Street with Weeden &
Company and Dean Witter Reynolds
in institutional trading and sales in both
the equity and fixed income markets. Additionally, he was
a member of the Commodities Exchange as a floor trader
with Paine Webber.
Mr. Sweeny is a recognized speaker on asset class investing
and transforming advisor businesses into more efficient
models. He speaks at industry conferences and regularly
guest lectures at universities. He received his B.A. in
Economics from Fairfield University
Philip McDonald, CFA, CAIA, CIPM
Managing Director, Research & Investments;
President and Portfolio Manager, Panoramic Mutual Funds
Philip McDonald is directly responsible for
overseeing Symmetry Partners’ Research.
Mr. McDonald joined Symmetry in April
of 2010. Prior to joining Symmetry, he
held several international investment
management positions at Prudential
Capital Group and worked as an internal consultant for
The Hartford Financial Services Group.
Mr. McDonald received his B.S. in International Finance
& Commerce from Georgetown University’s School of
Foreign Service and his M.B.A. in Finance and Venture
Consulting from the University of Connecticut. He became
a CFA® charterholder in 2003, and a CAIA® charterholder
in 2011.
John B. McDermott, Ph.D.
Chief Investment Strategist; Portfolio Manager, Panoramic Mutual Funds
Department of Finance, Fairfield University
Dr. McDermott is renowned for his
academic research on the role of liquidity
in financial markets. He has been published
in numerous academic journals, including
The Journal of Banking and Finance,
The Journal of Financial Markets and
The Journal of Futures Markets. Dr. McDermott received his
undergraduate degree from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy,
his M.B.A. from Columbia University and his Ph.D. from
the University of Connecticut. The Financial Management
Association International and American Association of
Individual Investors honored him with the 2000 Best
Completed Dissertation Award for the dissertation that
“makes the most significant contribution to the field of
investment analysis” for his dissertation entitled “Essays
on Liquidity in Financial Markets.”
A frequent speaker at Symmetry conferences,
Dr. McDermott has been affiliated with Symmetry
since 2005.
Tom Romano
Head of Strategic Relationships and Product Development
Tom Romano is responsible for supporting the business growth objectives of Symmetry’s strategic relationships. As Head of Strategic Relationships and Product Development, he works closely with the Symmetry team and financial advisor community to identify and implement a variety of solutions, tools, and resources. He has held a number of Sales Management and leadership roles at Symmetry and has more than two decades of experience in the financial services industry. He previously worked at Advest, Inc. as a Relationship Marketing Consultant in the Asset Management Services Department. He graduated from Assumption College in Worcester, MA earning a degree in Business Management.
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