Title: Director of Fixed Income Strategy
Firm: Charles Schwab Center for Financial Research
Age: 38
The ever-changing nature of the municipal market is what keeps Cooper Howard enthusiastic about his role as director of fixed income strategy at the Schwab Center for Financial Research.
Providing education and municipal commentary to investors and advisors and helping them to understand market dynamics fuels the 38-year-old in his current role.
"There's always a new issue you might not be aware of; with 50 states you are constantly learning something new," Cooper said. "It's not a homogenized market."
Cooper arrived at Schwab after graduating from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a bachelor's degree in finance in 2007.
He began with the firm in an equity role but transitioned to a fixed income team, buying and selling bonds and building portfolios as a fixed income specialist, reporting to chief fixed income strategist Kathy Jones.
"He is responsible for providing timely and actionable insights on the muni market for all Charles Schwab clients and advisors," said Jones, who nominated her colleague.
Cooper is also a member of the Charles Schwab Asset Allocation Working Group, which is an investment committee that covers all major asset classes and is responsible for developing a point of view and strategic asset allocation for select clients.
Cooper is a member of the National Federation of Municipal Analysts as well as the Certified Financial Analysts Society of Colorado.
Cooper and his wife, Elizabeth, have two daughters, ages two and five, and live in Denver.
Outside of the municipal market, last year Cooper completed the IRONMAN Texas triathlon in the Woodlands, outside of Houston.
The challenge included a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and running a 26.2-mile marathon.
"I was happy I was able to finish and talk about it — and still walk," he said.
