Christopher Hess, Cfa Email & Phone Number

Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida Area

• Support sales efforts and client retention for institutional clients and consultants. Assist with questions covering a variety of products including equity, fixed income, and alternative strategy mutual funds.
• Field complex ongoing and ad-hoc requests.
• Work closely with internal business partners to complete/review and approve RFIs, RFPs, compliance reports, and Due Diligence questionnaires.
• Assist with onboarding new Institutional separate accounts, private placement 3c7s, and 3c11 Collective Investment Trusts.
• Assist with Redemptions In-Kind and Transfers In-Kind.
• Participate in client meetings and conference calls.

Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida Area

• Handled all aspects of service for Investment Platform Business Development, Consultant Relations, Institutional Sales, and Institutional Relationship Management, covering a variety of products including equity, fixed.
• Field complex ongoing and ad-hoc requests.
• Respond to client inquiries and requests regarding portfolio composition, performance attribution, and strategy/positioning.
• Work closely with internal business partners to complete/review and approve RFIs, RFPs, compliance reports, and Due Diligence questionnaires.
• Assist with onboarding new Institutional separate accounts, private placement 3c7s, and 3c11 commingled trusts.
• Assist with Redemptions In-Kind and Transfers In-Kind.

Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida Area

• Established and supported firm relationships by addressing escalated issues, conducting firm visits, and identifying opportunities to improve or enhance service delivery.
• Negotiated service and fee agreements with firms to allow Franklin Templeton's funds to be offered for sale through various Defined Contribution retirement plans, Fund of Funds products, and 529 plans.
• Represented Franklin Templeton on industry committees through the Investment Company Institute (ICI) and the Broker Dealer Advisory Committee (BDAC).
• Created and distributed blast email/fax notifications, communicating prospectus policy changes, corporate actions, tender offers, and other updates.
• Worked with internal business resources and industry counterparts to define, build, and implement a third-party oversight program. Reviewed firms’ SSAE-16 and Financial Intermediary Control and Compliance Assessment.
• Managed Franklin Templeton’s fund data on the DTCC’s Mutual Fund Profile Service II and participated on industry committees to encourage use of the service and improve its features.

Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida Area

• Organized and coordinated Relationship Management Team to ensure completion of projects and quality service.
• Planned and Coordinated annual client appreciation events for regional target firms in locations around the country.
• Completed complex fund specification packages, fact sheets, and proposals for firms.
• Participated in visits with broker dealer target firms, prepared PowerPoint agendas, and followed up on action items.
• Supported the Main Office Services Analyst Team by pulling ad hoc reports, responding to inquiries, analyzing data, and running macros.
• Supported Sales Key Account Managers with operational inquiries and customer issues.

Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida Area

• Management Trainee Program with four-month rotations. Rotations included Retirement Services, Sales, Testing Services, and Main Office Services.
• Performed interface quality assurance testing for Advisor Central Release 2.0- A website that enables Financial Advisors to access their clients' investment portfolios and execute transactions.
• Organized, tracked, and promoted sales contests for marketing initiatives.
• Led efficiency gains time studies and completed Cost Benefit Analyses.
• Assisted with preparation of training documents.

Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida Area

• Assisted shareholders and investment representatives with inquiries regarding fund performance, manager commentaries, taxes, account information, and market conditions.
• Trained new associates and assisted co-workers with questions and issues.
• Proactively suggested workflow improvements for the department and participated on teams responsible for the implementation of changes.

Bachelor Of Science (B.S.), Criminology (Minors Psychology And Sociology)

Activities and Societies: Sigma Alpha Epsilon

Master Of Business Administration - Mba