Chris Cutler

Chris Cutler founded Manager Analysis Services, LLC [MAS] in March 2003 to provide outsourced due diligence services on investment managers. MAS covers all types of investment managers, with a focus on managers with alternative investment strategies: hedge funds, private equity, real estate, and venture capital. Clients include foundations, family offices/HNW, FOFs, and others. Cumulatively MAS has reviewed over 1,500 hedge funds since its founding 12 years ago.

MAS advises investors on the attractiveness of investments with each manager by assessing whether the manager has a meaningful edge in its strategy, whether the strategy has a favorable outlook or presents an elevated risk of poor performance, and whether the strategy is an appropriate fit in an investor\’s portfolio. MAS also conducts comprehensive operational due diligence, and coordinate background reviews, as requested by clients. Prior to founding MAS, Chris worked at Deutsche Bank from 1994 for 2003. He managed risk for specialized fixed income derivatives products, marketed OTC interest rate derivatives, and developed structured financial products. Chris conducted due diligence calls as early as 1995, when managing risk for the stable value Wraps business, where he reviewed the trading strategies of the largest US fixed income managers, and of hedge funds involved in structured product vehicles.

Chris was as an economist and bank regulator at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York from 1988 to 1994. He co-authored the Federal Reserve System\’s original Trading Activities Manual, the comprehensive guide to the Federal Reserve System\’s examiners when they examine banks\’ trading floors.

Chris has an MBA in Finance from NYU\’s Stern School of Business Executive Program, a BA in Economics from the University of Chicago, and is a CFA Charterholder. He is also active in the NY Chapter of the CFA Institute, NYSSA, where he co-led a successful governance reform effort. He chaired its “Alternative Investments Committee” from 2005 to 2007 and from 2014 to 2015, where he created Alternative Analysts’ Forums for leading hedge fund industry participants to discuss the most compelling issues they face today.