Research Overview
Value Added Services
BRV Research is a decision support entity formed to deliver value added solutions to the institutional investment management market. Using fundamental, technical and quantitative disciplines, our research approach addresses the two key areas of active management – stock selection and portfolio selection. Whether an individual idea, or a more encompassing equity strategy, the BRV team provides turnkey solutions that deliver long-term, risk-adjusted superior returns.
A Consultative Approach
We engage in discussion with clients to understand the environment and requirements of their investment policy and process. We then tailor our work to offer stock and portfolio strategies consistent with those specifications.
Our Work
Through the use of our proprietary research platform, we examine combinations of the factors shown to explain stock price and portfolio performance. Our analysts combine fundamental rigor with quantitative discipline to effect strategies that deliver consistent alpha within required levels of active risk. A sample of recently published research report summaries can be viewed here.
Our Platform
ELROI is a web-based, on-demand application that delivers integrated financial data and analytics to 
institutional investment professionals. Through daily coverage of over 4500 U.S. domestic stocks and ADRs, ELROI allows for the examination of the key factors shown to impact stock price and portfolio performance, and for the creation and testing of portfolio strategies. It serves BRV as the firm’s primary research product distributed to and used for institutional clients.
The Research Team
Steven Singleton, Executive Vice President – Director of Research
Mr. Singleton has over 24 years of experience in developing fundamental, technical, and quantitative models to understand the various factors that effect stock price and equity portfolio performance and is the creator of ELROI. Prior to joining Robert Van Securities in 1995, he spent 10 years in the financial information services business with Fact Set Research Systems, Interactive Data Corporation and Lotus One Source Information selling and supporting services that require the manipulation of fundamental, pricing and expectational data. He is a General Securitites Principal, Registered Representative and Registered Research Analyst (NASD Series 7, 24, 63, 65, 86 and 87). Steven earned a B.A. in Mathematics/Economics from Claremont McKenna College (formerly Claremont Men’s College).
Sean McKenna, Sr. Vice President – Research
Mr. McKenna has several years experience as a published sell-side analyst. Prior to joining the firm, he held research positions at Wells Fargo Securities and other boutique firms including Merriman Curhan Ford. He most recently held the position of Senior Analyst at Infinium Securities where his area of expertise included medical devices and diagnostics. Sean is a registered research analyst (NASD Series 7, 63, 86 and 87). Mr. McKenna holds a BA in Economics with honors from Clark University and an MBA from Vanderbilt University.
Clayton Earle, Sr. Vice President – Research
Mr. Earle has over 18 years experience in equity research and portfolio management. Mr. Earle has worked in senior positions at Woodford Capital Management, Montgomery Securities and Lehman Brothers. Mr. Earle graduated with an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1994 and was an analyst at Merrill Lynch’s New York City headquarters in the Investment Banking Division prior to business school. Clayton is a registered research analyst and investment advisor ( Series (NASD Series 7, 66, 86 and 87). Mr. Earle holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Brown University with graduate work in computer networks, artificial intelligence, and robotics.
Joel Achramowicz, Sr. Vice President – Research
Mr. Achramowicz holds more than 25 years of experience monitoring developments in the technology sector as both a tech executive and as a sell-side Street analyst for fifteen years. Prior to joining Blaylock, Robert Van he was director of Equity Research for MDB Capital Group LLC; Mr. Achramowicz has also worked with four other boutique investment banks during his tenure on Wall Street. Before his financial services career, he spent close to a decade with HP along with years at GE and a number of smaller technology ventures. Joel is a registered investment advisor. He took his B.A. in Economics from Claremont McKenna College; a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University; and, his M.S. in Computer Architecture from the University of Southern California. Mr. Achramowicz is a member of the CFA Institute and the IEEE.
Kevin Wood, Sr. Vice President – Chief Technology Officer
Mr. Wood has over 26 years of experience with digital systems design, systems integration and IT Capital Project Management. His career began in 1977 at Hewlett-Packard Co., including a term at HP Labs. He’s also held technical contributor positions at Intel, and Information System Design. Prior to joining RVS, Mr. Wood consulted to and supported computers and network information systems for energy sector clients Pacific Gas & Electric, and Chevron’s Richmond Technology Center, and Financial Services clients including Robert Van Securities, and Woodford Capital Management. Mr. Wood holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Howard University.