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Art & Science of Investing

In an interview for the website JustLuxe earlier this month, Washington and Lee alumnus and trustee Robert Balentine, of the Class of 1979, repeats a motto that his father used: “If you listen to your clients, they will tell you how to run your business.”

That, Robert tells the interviewers for JustLuxe, remains a guiding principle of Atlanta-based Balentine, which he co-founded with his father in 1987.

In the insightful “Thought Leader” interview, Robert discusses the distinctive nature of his investment counseling, which is based, in part, on the company’s motto, “The Art and Science of Investing.” Asked to describe what intuition and creativity have to do with successful investing, Robert says: “Intuition is a very strong element in the investment world, as it is based on greater understanding, and on that understanding, solid judgment. By adopting an intuitive, art based approach to investment management, we can recognize opportunities that aren’t always reflected in our scientific models.”

Robert began his investment career with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith. He was the youngest vice president in Merrill Lynch history. A French major at W&L, Robert joined the University’s Board of Trustees in 2006 and was re-elected in 2010.

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