Morningstar said today that
Dr. Paul D. Kaplan, formerly vice president and chief economist of
Ibbotson Associates, will be joining the financial information firm next week as director of its newly established Center for Quantitative Research.
In his new position, Kaplan, 39, will lead a team of three research analysts in developing innovative methods for building investment portfolios. In addition, the center will be creating new tools for analyzing stocks and mutual funds.
He will be reporting to directly to
John Rekenthaler, Morningstar research director. "Morningstar established the Center for Quantitative Research in recognition of the growing importance of quantitative analysis in all aspects of the investment process," said Rekenthaler.
A spokesperson at Ibbotson said Kaplan's position at the company had not been filled but they are presently looking for a replacement.
In August Morningstar announced it would be jumping into the advice arena. Rekenthaler told the 401kWire.com that Kaplan's addition to the Morningstar team is in direct relation to the transition taking place at the company.
"Morningstar is in transition from being a company that provides information on a security or mutual fund to one that provides information on a portfolio," Rekenthaler said. "Portfolio analysis needs heavy duty quantitative analysis and then suitability issues come up. When you combine assets you have to think about how these assets work together." 
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