Management Profile: John L. Shields

John Shields, CPA is Managing Principal and Founder of MainStay Consulting Group. John has over 32 years of asset management industry experience, including product development, infrastructure, technology, governance, compliance, risk management, sales and marketing, administration, distribution and portfolio management. His main areas of focus in recent years include assisting investment managers and program sponsors overcome the challenges of efficiently participating in the separately managed accounts (“SMA”) marketplace, and working with mutual fund companies in issues of distribution and compliance. John has also been heavily involved in support of SMA industry data standards and other initiatives through the Money Management Institute.

John also serves as independent Trustee and chair of the Audit Committee of the Domini family of mutual funds. John’s prior experience includes:

  • CEO of Open Investing, Inc., a registered investment advisory firm serving the needs of retail high net worth investors and institutions.
  • CEO of the Harris Insight Funds, a $13 billion mutual fund group sponsored by Harris Bank and the Bank of Montreal.
  • Managing Director at Navigant Consulting, Inc., a publicly traded management consulting firm where he headed the Investment Management consulting group.
  • Managing Principal of Shields Smith & Webber, LLC, a consulting firm serving financial services companies.
  • President and CEO of Citizens Advisers, Inc. and Citizens Securities, Inc., the investment manager and distribution company of a family of no-load mutual funds, Citizens Funds. He also served as President and Trustee of the funds.
  • Heading the consulting practice of Cerulli Associates, Inc., a Boston-based consulting firm that designs and implements products, strategies, and distribution channels for mutual fund companies, banks, insurance companies, institutional money managers, securities broker/dealers and service organizations to the financial services industry.
  • Running State Street Research Investment Services, MetLife’s mutual fund distribution company.
  • Holding several management positions at Fidelity Investments, including Director of Internal Audit and Director of Acquisitions at Fidelity Capital.

John is a frequent speaker on current industry issues at trade organization meetings and conferences including the Money Management Institute, American Bankers Association, Great Lakes Investment Management Operations Group, Securities Operations Forum, National Investment Company Services Association, ICSA, ICI, Financial Research Association, and NAPFA. He began his career as an auditor in the New York office of Deloitte. A graduate of Saint Peter’s College, John attended the Graduate School of Business at Boston University.

John can be reached by email at jshields@mainstaycg.com or by phone at 603.430.8317.