FOUNDER & MANAGING PARTNER

Tom has over 30 years of experience in the municipal bond market, beginning his career at Merrill Lynch in 1994 as a Senior Vice President in the Institutional Advisory Division. He has extensive expertise working with insurance companies, mutual funds, bank trust departments, broker-dealers, and high-net-worth investors, managing both tax-exempt and taxable fixed income portfolios.

He founded Riverbend Capital to provide clients with customized, actively managed municipal bond strategies—combining disciplined credit research, transparency, and alignment with client interests. His vision was to create a boutique, client-focused alternative to larger, commoditized platforms.

Tom holds a B.A. in Political Science from the College of the Holy Cross and an M.B.A. in Finance and Marketing from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He lives in Glencoe, Illinois with his wife and five children.

MANAGING PARTNER

Tim brings over 30 years of municipal bond experience to Riverbend Capital. Before joining the firm, he spent more than 15 years as Director of Municipal Fixed Income at Northern Trust, where he specialized in building and managing custom municipal strategies for institutional and private clients.

At Riverbend, Tim oversees investment strategies, manages client portfolios, and contributes to business development. A two-time winner of Institutional Investor’s Municipal Fixed Income Manager of the Year award, he has also served multiple advisory terms on the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB). His disciplined approach is rooted in work ethic, teamwork, and integrity—values that define Riverbend’s commitment to clients.

Tim holds a B.A. in Economics from Indiana University and is a CFA® charterholder. He lives with his wife and three children and enjoys time with his extended family across the U.S. and Canada.

COMPLIANCE & ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER

Ioanna oversees Riverbend Capital’s operations, ensuring accurate trade reconciliation, account maintenance, and compliance across custodians and platforms. She serves as a key client and custodian contact, upholding the firm’s standards of accuracy, transparency, and regulatory integrity.

Before joining Riverbend, Ioanna worked at Guaranteed Rate Affinity in Chicago as a Sales Assistant and Business Development Manager, following leadership roles at Sears Holdings and Performics/Google. Her career has given her a strong foundation in client service, process optimization, and operational efficiency—all of which she brings to her current role.

She earned her B.A. from DePaul University and lives in Glenview, Illinois with her family.

INVESTMENT ASSOCIATE

Charlie supports Riverbend Capital’s trading and portfolio management team, assisting with security selection, trade processing, and credit research to align portfolios with client objectives. He also manages the firm’s Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS) compliance, maintaining certification and ensuring accurate performance reporting.

A graduate of Santa Clara University’s Leavey School of Business, Charlie holds a B.S. in Finance. His attention to detail and collaborative approach make him integral to Riverbend’s ability to deliver transparent, high-quality results for clients.

Outside of work, Charlie is a lifelong tennis player and an avid reader, particularly of biographies. He lives in Chicago’s Lake View neighborhood.

CREDIT RESEARCH CONSULTANT

John is a nationally recognized municipal and fixed income analyst with over 45 years of experience at leading firms including S&P Global Ratings, FGIC, Merrill Lynch, MBIA, Bank of America Securities, Assured Guaranty, and most recently The Bond Buyer.

An expert in state and local fiscal affairs, his background spans ratings, insurance, public finance, and sell-side research across all sectors and bond structures. He began his career as a Power sector analyst and grew into one of the industry’s most respected thought leaders.

John has served as Chair of MAGNY, President of the Society of Municipal Analysts, Board Member of NFMA, and Chair of SIFMA’s Credit Research Committee. His honors include multiple Institutional Investor All-Star designations, the NFMA Award of Excellence, and the Terry Smith’s All Stars Lifetime Achievement Award.