Ryan Layton is a portfolio manager and the founder of EmeraldSpark Investments. He specializes in developing asset allocation strategies and incorporating behavioral finance into the client profiling and investment decision-making process. Mr. Layton is a frequent speaker at trust and wealth management conferences across the country, covering a number of topics including behavioral finance, alternative investments, investment management outsourcing, and the Prudent Investor Rule.

Mr. Layton has ten years of investment management experience. Prior to founding EmeraldSpark in 2013, Ryan worked for MainStreet Advisors in Chicago, Illinois for three years as a portfolio manager and as the Director of Asset Allocation. He spent the first seven years of his career as an Assistant Vice President and Investment Manager with Wells Fargo Wealth Management Group in Minneapolis, Minnesota where he was actively involved in the firm’s asset allocation and investment selection processes.

Ryan has earned the right to use the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) designation and holds a B.S. degree in Finance from Michigan Technological University. He is a member of the CFA Society of Chicago and enjoys writing, running, and adventure travel.