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Prime Buchholz
Prime Buchholz: independent investment consulting firm founded 1988 by Jon Prime & Jim Buchholz, led by President Bill McCarron.
Prime Buchholz
Jon Prime and Jim Buchholz founded Prime Buchholz in 1988 after working as CFOs at universities and growing frustrated with money managers who faced conflicts of interest. Bill McCarron joined in 1990 and now serves as president. The firm has remained wholly independent since its start. The firm builds custom portfolios for each client across asset classes including listed equities, fixed income, private equity, hedge funds, real estate, and infrastructure. It operates as a fund-of-funds manager, constructing multi-manager programs rather than taking direct positions. Prime Buchholz serves institutions such as community foundations, hospitals, schools, pensions, religious organizations, and endowments, primarily across the eastern United States. Prime Buchholz employs roughly 70 professionals (per the firm, 2024). Offices are located in Portsmouth, NH; Boston, MA; and Atlanta, GA. The firm does not operate a philanthropic foundation or separate investment vehicle. In September 2024, the firm published a piece on the strategic allocation shift in infrastructure, a newer area for many clients. The firm's structural differentiator is its refusal to accept any compensation from external managers, and its pledge that clients will not see extra service charges or fees on invoices. This independence, set at founding, allows Prime Buchholz to recommend products solely based on client fit, without influence from outside business relationships.
General information
Firm type
Fund of Funds
Year founded
1988
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Portsmouth
Corporate office
273 Corporate Drive, Suite 250, Portsmouth, NH 03801, United States
Additional offices
99 High Street, 22nd Floor, Boston, MA 02109 · 3715 Northside Parkway, Building 100 – Suite 500, Atlanta, GA 30327
Principals
Jon Prime
Founder
Jim Buchholz
Co-Founder
Bill McCarron
President
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Prime Buchholz?
Bill McCarron serves as president and has been with the firm since 1990. The firm has a multi-functional team structure where senior professionals are directly accessible to clients. Founders Jon Prime and Jim Buchholz established the firm's investment philosophy, which remains the foundation of portfolio construction (per firm website).
How does Prime Buchholz source its investment opportunities?
Prime Buchholz constructs custom multi-manager portfolios for each client, drawing from a broad universe of external investment managers. The firm does not accept compensation from any manager and does not have outside business relationships that could influence manager selection. This independence is intended to ensure that recommendations are based solely on client fit (per firm website).
Is Prime Buchholz structured as a family office or an asset manager?
Prime Buchholz is an independent investment consulting firm and fund-of-funds manager. It serves institutional clients including community foundations, hospitals, schools, pensions, and endowments. It does not operate as a single-family or multi-family office.
What asset classes does Prime Buchholz typically invest in?
The firm builds custom portfolios across listed equities, fixed income, private equity, hedge funds, real estate, and infrastructure. The specific mix is tailored to each client's unique objectives and risk profile (per firm website).
Does Prime Buchholz make direct investments or co-investments?
Prime Buchholz operates as a fund-of-funds manager, selecting external investment managers and constructing multi-manager programs. It does not engage in direct investments or co-investments in individual companies.
Where does the underlying wealth of Prime Buchholz's clients come from?
Client wealth comes from institutional pools of capital such as endowments, foundations, pension funds, hospitals, schools, and faith-based organizations. The firm does not manage personal family fortunes; it serves diverse institutions across the eastern United States.
What is Prime Buchholz's known posture on fees?
Prime Buchholz operates under a full-service model with no extra service charges or fees beyond what is agreed upon. The firm does not accept compensation from managers and states that clients will never see surprise charges on invoices (per firm website).
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