Who We Are
James A. (Jay) Martin
Jay began his investment career as a portfolio manager with Chase Manhattan Bank in New York City in 1969. In 1974 he moved to Atlanta and co-founded Roe, Martin & Neiman Inc. (RM&N), a registered investment advisor. Jay served as the firm’s Director of Research. In 1988, Jay purchased the Investment Advisory portion of RM&N and renamed it Sterling Investment Management, Inc.
Jay is a pioneer in the field of alternative investments. In 1997 he formed Phoenician Trading Partners, a Fund of Funds Hedge Fund. This enabled his Sterling clients to participate in the alternative investment arena.
Jay is a Chartered Financial Analyst and has been a member of the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts since 1985. He was instrumental in the formation of The Southeast Hedge Fund Association and currently serves on its board of directors. Jay also served as the Chairman of the Alternative Asset Study Group for National Advisors Trust and he is the Chairman of Atlanta’s Hedge Funds Care, a charitable organization supported by hedge fund managers nationwide. Jay also serves on the national board of Hedge Funds Care and is a member of its Executive Committee. Jay is a frequent speaker on various topics concerning alternative investments, diversification and the investment management process.
Jay holds an undergraduate degree from Boston College and an MBA from Long Island University.
Michael W. (Mike) Masters
Mike is an experienced investment analyst and portfolio manager who has been active in the financial markets in a variety of roles since 1992. Mike joined Sterling Investment Management as Vice President and shareowner in 2010.
Prior to joining Sterling, Mike worked as Portfolio Manager at The Daniel Financial Group where he was responsible for more than $50 million in assets under management. He has also worked in the equity research department of a mutual fund company with more than $500 million in assets under management.
Mike has performed buy-side equity research for a private investment partnership where he supported a team that managed a concentrated portfolio of 20 to 30 stocks.
Mike holds a BA in Philosophy from Emory University where he graduated with honors. He holds an MBA in Finance and Real Estate from Georgia State University. Mike is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Atlanta. He is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, the International Honor Society recognizing academic achievement among business school students, and he also received the Wall Street Journal Award in recognition of his outstanding academic achievement.
Outside of work, Mike and his wife Kathy are avid cyclists and fitness enthusiasts. They enjoy training for fitness and touring the countryside by bicycle. The two have logged more than 25,000 miles together and have contributed to numerous cycling and fitness charity events.