Sam Pfister
Sam Pfister
PARTNER / DIRECTOR OF ANALYSIS
As Director of Analysis, Sam develops and maintains proprietary statistical software systems to enable efficient, accurate and customizable portfolio construction. Sam’s extensive experience at NASA and Cal Tech anchors the foundation of CCA’s technology platform.
Prior to joining Checchi Capital Advisers, Sam was a postdoctoral researcher at the California Institute of Technology and a technical lead in the government-sponsored DARPA Grand Challenge autonomous vehicle competition. He was a doctoral student at Caltech, earning his Ph.D. for development of algorithms to enable robust statistical sensor processing in robotic applications. Sam also worked on the Mars Exploration Rover mission run by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. During operations, he developed tools and techniques to model uncertainty and reduce risk and improve overall Rover operational efficiency.
Sam received a Bachelor of Science degree from Harvard University, and a Master of Science and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology. Sam is married with one child.
Lawrence Walter
Lawrence Walter
SENIOR DEVELOPER / DATA
As a Senior Developer with primary responsibilities over CCA’s databases, Larry focuses on the design and maintenance of the firm’s data and software systems. He manages all aspects of CCA’s data requirements and is an architect of the firm’s proprietary order management and trading system. Larry’s experience in technology companies both as a consultant and entrepreneur drives CCA’s innovative data management process.
Before joining Checchi Capital Advisers, Larry was a Senior Engineer at Technical Systems and consultant to Vivendi Universal Net, where he provided lead technical and logistical services. Prior to his work at Technical Systems, Larry was a key consultant and engineer at Little Consulting, a boutique consultancy. During his career, he has built complex transactional systems, complete web-based products and destinations, resilient, enterprise-grade databases and complete IT infrastructures. Prior to Little Consulting, Larry acted as an Engineer for General Facilities, where his responsibilities included creating and checking detailed engineering plans and support of general technical infrastructure.
Larry holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Computer Engineering from the University of Southern California. He is a Los Angeles resident.
Gregoire Lepoutre
Gregoire Lepoutre
DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING
Gregoire is Director of Research and Engineering at CCA, responsible for overseeing investment research, research tools, and systematizing the research process at CCA.
Prior to joining CCA, Gregoire was a Researcher at Bridgewater Associates, the world’s largest hedge fund, in Westport, CT. At Bridgewater, he was responsible for producing the research and analytics supporting Bridgewater’s flagship publication, the Daily Observations©. Gregoire worked in Bridgewater’s research department for five years, specializing in data, systematic investing and engineering. Gregoire started his career at Schlumberger, where he joined the selective Tech & Field program, which sent him to various drilling rigs in Siberia and the Middle East.
Gregoire is originally from France, and holds a Master’s in Electric and Computer Engineering from Ecole Superieure d’Electricite (Supelec), and a Master of Arts in Mathematics of Finance from Columbia University. He lives in Santa Monica with his wife and son.
Sukaya Nawpar
Sukaya Nawpar
DATABASE ENGINEER
Sukaya Nawpar is a Database Engineer at CCA, where he responsible for database architecture and reporting.
Sukaya has over 10 years of experience teaching database development and over 20 years of experience as a software developer, database administrator, database architecture and quantitative developer. Prior to CCA, Sukaya worked at Wilshire Associates, specifically working with the manager research teams and fund management teams to develop and design databases, data warehousing, reporting, and quantitative modules. Over his career, Sukaya has also worked with other well-known financial and insurance companies including Answer Financial and A-Mark Precious Metals.
Sukaya earned his B.Sc. (Hons) and M.Sc. in Mathematics from the Rangoon University in Burma.
Michael Samuels
Michael Samuels
Data Scientist
Mike is a Senior Data Scientist at CCA, responsible for conducting investment research, developing and refining research tools and methodology, and systematizing CCA’s investment tools and processes.
Mike spent the first few years of his career as an analyst at the J.P. Morgan Private Bank in San Francisco, where he helped some of the bank’s wealthiest clients with their banking, investing, credit, and estate planning needs. He partnered with the banking and investing teams on a variety of tasks including client performance reviews, investment implementation plans, charitable giving solutions, as well as bespoke analyses and ad hoc client requests. He collaborated with Michael Cembalest, J.P. Morgan Asset Management’s Chairman of Market and Investment Strategy, and his team on a white paper on the risks associated with concentrated stock ownership.
After leaving J.P. Morgan, Mike worked as a data analyst and consultant, first spending time analyzing the volatility markets and later helping a newly formed credit hedge fund with their data needs. He moved back home to Los Angeles a few years ago to work at AdColony, where he worked under the CFO as a senior financial planning and analysis manager, helping AdColony with their forecasting, budgeting, planning, and strategy.
Mike studied Math and Economics at Stanford University, where he also earned his Master’s in Management Science and Engineering and was the Stanford Tree from 2011-2012.
Rita Sachechelashvili
Rita Sachechelashvili
SOFTWARE DEVELOPER
Rita is a Software Developer at CCA, responsible for financial asset data management, analysis, visualization, and modeling.
Before joining CAA, Rita served as a Chief Technology Specialist at Mariner West, where she was in charge of the company’s digital operations. During her time at Chapman University, Rita took part in managing the school’s multimillion-dollar investment portfolio and made trading decisions utilizing financial analysis and data tools such as Bloomberg. Rita also developed a several programming projects specifically applications that interact with MySQL databases.
Rita graduated with a triple major in Business Finance, Computer Information Systems, and Political Science from Chapman University. She lives in Los Angeles and is fluent in Russian.
Terry Burnham
Terry Burnham
ADVISORY ECONOMIST
Terry is an Associate Professor at Chapman University in Orange, CA. Before joining the faculty at Chapman, Terry was a professor at Harvard’s Kennedy School, the University of Michigan, and the Harvard Business School.
From 2005-2011, Terry was the Director of Economics, and Director, Portfolio Management at Acadian Asset Management, a Boston-based institutional equity manager. While Terry was at Acadian he oversaw portfolios with over $90 Billion in assets under management. Terry has worked, or consulted, for a variety of other firms including Goldman, Sachs & Co., and Deutsche Bank.
Terry was the President and Chief Financial Officer of Progenics Pharmaceuticals, Inc., then a start-up biotech company. While CFO, Terry raised the several early rounds of private financing for Progenics, which is now publicly traded (symbol PGNX).
Terry is the co-author of Mean Genes, and the author of Mean Markets and Lizard Brains: How to Profit From the Science of Irrationality. He writes regularly for the PBS Making Sen$e page, and has appeared on CNBC, The Lehrer NewsHour, and Bloomberg TV.
