About Alpha Architect

Our mission is to empower investors through education.

Built on Research

Founded in 2010 by Wesley R. Gray, PhD, Alpha Architect is an industry leader in factor investing, systematic strategies, portfolio construction, and behavioral finance.

Affordable Active For All

Our aim is to turn rigorous academic research into highly differentiated investment products at lower costs, giving sophisticated investors a higher chance of winning.

Service-Oriented Culture

Communicating complicated ideas simply is foundation of great investment management. We empower investors with straightforward communication, resources, and tools.

Want to build? Talk to us

Leadership

Wes Gray, MBA, PhD
Chief Executive Officer
Chief Investment Officer
Portfolio Manager

Wes Gray, PhD

After serving as a Captain in the United States Marine Corps, Dr. Gray earned an MBA and a PhD in finance from the University of Chicago where he studied under Nobel Prize Winner Eugene Fama. Next, Wes took an academic job in his wife’s hometown of Philadelphia and worked as a finance professor at Drexel University. Dr. Gray’s interest in bridging the research gap between academia and industry led him to found Alpha Architect, an asset management firm dedicated to an impact mission of empowering investors through education. He is a contributor to multiple industry publications and regularly speaks to professional investor groups across the country. Wes has published multiple academic papers and four books, including Embedded (Naval Institute Press, 2009), Quantitative Value (Wiley, 2012), DIY Financial Advisor (Wiley, 2015), and Quantitative Momentum (Wiley, 2016). Dr. Gray currently resides in Palmas Del Mar Puerto Rico with his wife and three children.

Jack Vogel, MBA, PhD
Chief Financial Officer
Chief Investment Officer
Portfolio Manager

Jack Vogel, PhD

Dr. Vogel conducts research in empirical asset pricing and behavioral finance. Dr. Vogel is a co-author of DIY FINANCIAL ADVISOR: A Simple Solution to Build and Protect Your Wealth and QUANTITATIVE MOMENTUM: A Practitioner’s Guide to Building a Momentum-Based Stock Selection System. His academic background includes experience as an instructor and research assistant at Drexel University in both the Finance and Mathematics departments, as well as a Finance instructor at Villanova University. He has a Ph.D. in Finance and an MS in Mathematics from Drexel University. Dr. Vogel graduated summa cum laude with a BS in Mathematics and Education from The University of Scranton.

Ryan Kirlin
Head of Capital Markets

Ryan Kirlin

Ryan Patrick Kirlin is Head of Capital Markets and Sales for Alpha Architect. He works with financial advisors to analyze and create affordable, tax-efficient, investment portfolios in partnership with Alpha Architect and our investment strategies. And, once portfolio decisions are made, assists them in executing fair ETF trades. His previous roles in the New York Stock Exchange’s ETF Group (where he was part of launching about 650 ETFs) and at RevenueShares ETFs help give him a well-rounded view on ETF structure and the opportunities for investors within the industry. When RevenueShares was acquired by the mutual fund behemoth Oppenheimer Funds, Ryan received an inside look at the challenges faced by legacy asset managers in adapting to the future of asset management.

Ryan attended Fordham University for his undergraduate degree. He was a member of the US Rowing Team in 2011 and competed at the Pan American Games. He stills rows and his backtested performance results look great. He’s not as confident in his forward expected returns due to new unaccounted transaction costs in his life (family, age, and golf).

Alpha Architect events

Alpha Architect regularly holds online and in-person events so you can connect with our leadership and portfolio management teams. Come deep dive with us!

View Upcoming Events

Compliance & Portfolio Management

Jess Leighty
Chief Compliance Officer

Jess Leighty

Ms. Leighty is currently the Chief Compliance Officer of Alpha Architect where she oversees the firm’s compliance program. Previously, Ms. Leighty served as the Chief Compliance Officer & Director of Operations for Snow Capital Management, L.P. She holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Minnesota and an M.S. in Business Ethics and Compliance from New England College of Business.

Brandon Koepke, CFA
Chief Technology Officer
Senior Portfolio Manager

Brandon Koepke, CFA

Mr. Koepke is a full-stack developer and currently serves as the Chief Technology Officer and Senior Portfolio Manager for ETF Architect. He has fifteen years of experience working with technology ranging from small businesses to large corporations including Disney and Amazon. Mr. Koepke is a CFA® charterholder, has a BSc in Computer Science specializing in Software Engineering at the University of Calgary, and a BComm in Finance from the Haskayne School of Business.

Richard Shaner, CFA
Portfolio Manager

Richard Shaner, CFA

Rich Shaner, CFA®, graduated from The University of Colorado in 2001 with a degree in Kinesiology and Applied Physiology. Prior to Alpha Architect, he was a fundamental stock analyst that managed a value portfolio within a family fund and traded equity options as a valuation and hedging strategy. Prior to this role he worked on the floor of the Philadelphia Stock Exchange and spent several years as a market maker in equity options.

Yang Feng
Portfolio Manager

Yang Feng

Ms. Feng serves as Portfolio Management Analyst at Alpha Architect. In this capacity, Ms. Feng supports portfolio management operations for all funds and strategies, to include 1940 Act Exchange Traded Funds, private funds, and separately managed accounts. In addition, Ms. Feng programs and maintains data processes and algorithms in support of the firm’s trading operations. Ms. Feng graduated from the LeBow College of Business at Drexel University in Philadelphia with dual degrees in Finance and Business Analytics. She passed CFA Level I in 2018 and is currently a CFA Level II candidate. Previously, Ms. Feng worked as a Data Analyst intern for the Alibaba Group.

Josh Russell, PhD, CFA
Portfolio Manager

Josh Russell, PhD, CFA

Dr. Russell is a Senior Portfolio Manager for ETF Architect. Previously he was an Equity Portfolio Manager at Carson Group. In this capacity he managed over $1.7 billion in assets across fourteen thousand accounts. Prior to working in asset management, Josh worked on research grants for the Army, the Air Force, and NASA. Dr. Russell is a CFA charterholder. He earned a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering and a Masters in Economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara

Megan Lin
Portfolio Manager

Megan Lin

As a Junior Portfolio Manager at Alpha Architect, Megan supports daily trading activities for all funds and strategies, programs algorithms and maintains data system process in support of quantitative investing operation. Prior to joining Alpha Architect, Megan worked for iFresh Inc. as a Digital Marketing Analyst. Megan received her Bachelor’s degree in Accounting & Finance and Master’s degree in Business Analytics from Drexel University, and she is currently a CFA Level I Candidate.

Sales & Marketing

Jess Bost, RICP
Vice President – Brand Partnerships

Jess Bost, RICP

Jess is driven to create a win-win partnership culture for financial advisors in which they can grow efficient practices to scale and build relationship-focused client service models. Her respect for overall portfolio alpha derived through comprehensive financial planning serves as catalyst for her passion to help RIAs identify opportunistic areas in which they can deliver value for their investors.

Her background in CrossFit, Olympic Weightlifting, and Nutrition coaching provides a framework for teaching and supporting the long-term effects of a methodical, evidence-based, disciplined approach. Jess has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Berry College, holds a CrossFit-L1 certification, and has Series 7, 65 & 63 licenses. She is a Retirement Income Certified Professional(RICP®) and is currently a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) candidate.

Currently residing in Augusta, GA, Jess and her husband are raising two strong little ladies. When she’s not out looking for adventures and opportunities to make memories with her people, you’ll most likely find her in the gym lifting something heavy.

Alexander Clark
Vice President – Marketing

Alexander Clark

Alex serves as Vice President – Marketing for Alpha Architect. He consults with Alpha Architect’s clients to develop strategic solutions that align with their investment philosophy to drive deeper client relationships. His prior experience includes leading content marketing strategy for a large independent broker-dealer, a mid-market private equity real estate firm, and a boutique alternative investment fund. He’s produced content on a range of topics, including direct indexing, opportunity zone strategies, private debt/direct lending strategies, and trend-following.

In his free time, Alex is building out a gym in his garage under the delusion that will get him to work out again. When he’s not thinking about working out, Alex practices his cooking skills where he excels at using three pans when one would suffice. Alex obtained a BA in English Literature from Arizona State University. He and his wife live in a suburb of Phoenix with their son and two dogs.

Let’s work together.

schedule a call below

About Alpha Architect

Our mission is to empower investors through education.

Leadership

Alpha Architect events

Compliance & Portfolio Management

Sales & Marketing

Let’s work together.

About Alpha Architect

Alpha Architect For Advisors Build with conviction.

Alpha Architect For Advisors
Build with conviction.