Mr. Weisbrod brings a wealth of experience and an eclectic background that enhances his ability to evaluate what's going on in the world and in the marketplace.  This, coupled with a thoughtful list of what he calls "working principles" produce a unique approach to financial and money management. 

J. Andre Weisbrod
President & CEO
Founder of the STAAR Investment Trust
Manager of the highly rated STAAR AltCat Fund

A theme expressed elsewhere on this site is that to get the most out of life we need to get the most out of our money.  This does not mean being extremely rich.  It means that your resources are directed to support the qualities of life that are most important to you.

Among the credentials and life experiences that uniquely qualify Mr. Weisbrod in his work:

He has over 28 years of experience in financial services.  He received training and credentials in insurance, investments and financial planning before focusing on investment management.  He is a Chartered Financial Consultant.

He is among a small minority of mutual fund managers that have run the same fund or funds for over 13 years.

Prior to entry in the financial services industry he practiced corporate product management with Sea Breeze Laboratories and Clairol.  He has a particular empathy for entrepreneurs and has many small business owners as clients.

Mr. Weisbrod is a published author and has written articles for various publications.  He has appeared as a guest on TV and radio programs and been interviewed and quoted by various local and national media including the Wall Street Journal, Investors Business Daily, TheStreet.com, Business News Network, Wall Street Transcript, Ticker.com and Paul Harvey.

He is thankful for three wonderful children and three grandchildren.   His son is a high school teacher specializing in photography and computer graphics.  One daughter is an EMT and firefighter and his other daughter does special psychological work with obese children.

He has been involved both professionally and as a volunteer in youth work and community service.  His Christian faith provides the rudder for doing business with integrity, honesty and with as much excellence as he can achieve.  He is always learning and is cognizant of his human imperfection.  He may make mistakes, but they are honest ones and he tries to learn from them, knowing that wisdom is the sum of both successes and failures and what one does with what one has learned.

A successful athlete, he has finshed in the top ten in the World Masters Swimming Championships and finished third in the 55-59 year-old age bracket in the 2005 Alcatraz Sharkfest Swim race from Alcatraz Island to San Francisco, completing the 1.5 mile choppy, cross current swim in 58 degree water in just over 35 minutes.

He has scuba dived in some of the best diving spots in the world from the Carribean to Hawaii to Australia's Great Barrier Reef.  His underwater photography has been published by Sport Diver Magazine.

He has a degree in fine arts and enjoys avocational endeavors with published works of art, photography and music.

Mr. Weisbrod believes that life is a precious gift to be experienced and enjoyed as fully as possible and he wants to help others do the same.