About Us - Who We Are

Our History

Aston is a relatively new name with a 17-year history of bringing experienced investment managers to the mutual fund marketplace. The firm collaborates with independent money managers that aim to achieve consistent performance using disciplined investment processes and best-in-class business standards. Aston seeks to build lasting relationships with these managers through an equitable economic partnership and the co-branding of its funds.

Led by CEO Stuart Bilton and President Ken Anderson, the organization has historically distributed its funds to consultants, fund investment platforms, registered investment advisors, broker/dealers, and retirement plans. Together, Bilton and Anderson have more than 50 years of investment management and mutual fund industry experience.

Chicago Title & Trust

The firm's roots trace back to venerable Chicago Title & Trust Company (founded in 1887), which managed institutional and high net-worth portfolios, and Lincoln Financial with its large annuity client base. Created as the Chicago Trust Funds in 1993 under Bilton, with Anderson as its first employee, the firm launched a series of mutual funds for trust company clients interested in rolling over their 401k assets. It began with three in-house funds—growth, core-plus fixed-income, and municipal bond—and quickly embarked on what became its current model by entering into a partnership in 1994 with Montag & Caldwell, a highly regarded investment firm widely known for its skill in running large-cap growth portfolios.

Chicago Title & Trust's then parent firm, holding company Alleghany Corporation, spun off the asset manager as an independent entity in 1996, rebranding the group as Alleghany Funds. The firm continued to build relationships and entered into agreements with noted subadvisors such as Veredus Asset Management, Optimum Investment Advisors, and TAMRO Capital Partners.

In 2000, holding company Alleghany Corporation agreed to sell the fund advisory business to Dutch bank ABN AMRO for what was described as an offer it couldn't refuse. Predictably, expectations for synergies with the bank's U.S. and European products didn't pan out. Still, the formation in 2005 of a relationship with River Road Asset Management—a recently established Louisville-based firm boasting some fine manager pedigrees and an outstanding investment track record—continued management's strategy of adding quality managers to its fund family.

Rebirth As Aston Funds

In November 2006, Highbury Financial Inc., in cooperation with the firm's long-standing executive team, purchased the mutual fund business from ABN AMRO—renaming the funds the Aston Funds.

During 2007, its first full year in existence, Aston made up for lost time by entering into a number of new relationships. The firm introduced several new subadvisors, including Neptune Investment Management, Baring Asset Management, and Cardinal Capital Management, as well as new funds from established partners Montag & Caldwell, River Road, and Optimum, in an effort to enhance and broaden its lineup of offerings. In 2008, Aston also added three alternative strategies—two Funds of ETFs and a covered call fund.

Growth continued in 2009 and 2010 with the addition of several new subadvisory relationships with experienced managers at Lake Partners, Fasciano Associates, and Herndon Capital Management. In April 2010, Affiliated Managers Group (AMG) acquired Highbury's interest in Aston, leaving Aston management with an enhanced equity position in the firm. 

With its rigorous due diligence process provided by long-time industry veterans, Aston continues to offer investors time-tested managers in a mutual fund format.