Brian Portnoy

Formal First Name

Brian

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Location

Brian Portnoy is the Founder and CEO of Shaping Wealth, a leading provider of behavioral-science learning and engagement solutions for the global wealth-management industry. Widely recognized as one of the world’s foremost experts on the psychology of money, Brian helps financial advisors, investors, and organizations understand the intersection of human behavior and financial planning. His work focuses on decision-making, emotional intelligence, advisor-client communication, and how money contributes to a meaningful and fulfilling life. Before launching Shaping Wealth, Brian spent more than two decades in the hedge fund and mutual fund industries as an investor, researcher, and educator. He previously served as Vice President and Director of Investment Education at Virtus Investment Partners and Head of Education at Magnetar Capital, where he led thought-leadership initiatives and contributed to firm-wide financial literacy programs. Brian is also a three-time published author in behavioral finance, with his books translated into 15 languages. His acclaimed book The Geometry of Wealth is a widely cited guide on the pursuit of “funded contentment,” which provided the conceptual inspiration for his work at Shaping Wealth.

More about Brian Portnoy

Asset Classes

	Equity
	Fixed Income
	Private Equity

Entity Types

	Exchange Traded Fund
	Hedge Fund
	Mutual Fund

Industries

Strategies

	Asset Allocation
	Investment Strategy

Terms

	Alternative Investments
	Investment Banking
	Investment Management
	Portfolio Management
	Wealth Management

Professional Experience

Founder and CEO

Founder

2020 - present

Shaping Wealth
Head Of Education

Head

2019 - 2020

Magnetar Capital
Director of Investment Education

Director

2014 - 2019

Virtus Investment Partners
Senior Analyst

Senior Analyst

2000 - 2003

Morningstar
Lecturer and Teaching Assistant

Lecturer

1994 - 1999

The University of Chicago

Academic History

Ph.D., International Political Economy

Doctor of Philosophy

1993 - 2000

The University of Chicago
A.B., Political Science

Bachelors Degree

1987 - 1991

University of Michigan

@brianportnoy

The Investor's Paradox

Book

The Geometry of Wealth

Book

2019

EARLY CAREER

Before founding Shaping Wealth, Brian Portnoy held senior investment, research, and strategy roles at leading firms including Virtus Investment Partners, Chicago Equity Partners, Mesirow Financial, and Morningstar.
At Magnetar Capital, he served as Head of Education, directing thought leadership and contributing to the firm’s financial literacy initiatives.
At Virtus Investment Partners, he developed the firm’s educational content and behavioral-advice platform for the wealth management industry.
He also served as Head of Alternatives and Strategic Initiatives at Chicago Equity Partners and as Portfolio Manager at Vestian Investment Management.
Earlier in his career, Brian was a Senior Analyst at Morningstar, analyzing equity and fixed-income mutual funds across multiple investment styles and geographies.

MEDIA PRESENCE & SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

Brian Portnoy’s insights have been featured in top-tier outlets including the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, USA Today, Reuters, CNBC, and Cheddar.com, as well as numerous podcasts.
He delivers keynote speeches, workshops, and private consultations globally, addressing topics such as the relationship between money and happiness, behavioral finance, and effective investment decision-making.
Through these engagements, he has reached thousands of individuals, financial advisors, and institutions worldwide.

People

Brian Portnoy