Bill Bahl and Vere Gaynor saw firsthand, the shortcomings inherent in working at large, structured money management firms. In 1990 they left executive positions to join forces, strong in the belief that by owning stocks of superior companies which grew sales, earnings, and dividends, they would better serve clients. What began as a five-person office managing assets of a handful of individuals quickly expanded, though there were trials along the way.
Precisely one month after Bahl & Gaynor began business, Saddam Hussein invaded neighboring Kuwait. The market plunged. In the years that followed, the firm’s income growth investment philosophy faced shrinking bond income and dividends fell out of favor.
Still, within one year, assets under management at B&G more than doubled. A Cincinnati Business Record article (June 30th, 1991) already called Bahl & Gaynor “one of the largest money management firms in Greater Cincinnati.”
The founders credited their growth to attracting back to Cincinnati, local money that had been managed by larger firms outside the area.
Bahl & Gaynor also began handling accounts for endowments and foundations. Vere noted that B&G’s philosophy was especially attractive to organizations needing a growing stream of income.
Yet Bill claimed “Bahl and Gaynor doesn’t aspire to be one of the largest investment firms in the city.” He told reporter Steve Watkins the firm wants to limit its assets under management at some point below $1 billion.
That point was lost, and the billion-dollar limit surpassed in 1996. By the end of the decade, Bill and Vere’s original team of 5 became a staff of 17. Assets under management (AUM1) equaled more than $2.3 billion.
Owners act differently
I can describe our company culture in one word: integrity. 
*Bahl & Gaynor regulatory assets under management were $20,095M and SMA platform assets under advisement were $31,778M as of 12/31/2024. Bahl & Gaynor identifies assets under management as assets over which the firm has discretion (including high net worth and institutional accounts and certain platform assets). Assets under advisement include model-only platform assets over which the firm does not have discretion.
We are proud of our involvement in the community. Bahl & Gaynor supports dozens of non-profit organizations and many of the charities to which our team members devote their time and resources. Find some of them HERE.
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