Ronald A. Nyberg
About Ronald A. Nyberg
Ronald A. Nyberg (year of birth: 1953) is an Independent Trustee of Guggenheim Strategic Opportunities Fund (GOF) and currently serves as Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee. He has been on the GOF board since 2007, with legal and governance credentials developed as an attorney and former Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary at Van Kampen Investments .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Van Kampen Investments | Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary | 1982–1999 | Asset management firm; senior legal and corporate governance leadership . |
| Nyberg & Cassioppi, LLC (law firm) | Partner | 2000–2016 | Private legal practice; governance and regulatory experience . |
| Momkus LLP (law firm) | Of Counsel (formerly Partner) | 2016–present | Ongoing legal advisory role . |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advent Convertible and Income Fund | Trustee/Director | 2003–present | Ongoing board oversight at a registered investment company . |
| PPM Funds | Trustee/Director | 2018–2024 | Former directorship in investment funds . |
| Endeavor Health | Board member | 2012–2024 | Former board role at a health system . |
| Western Asset Inflation-Linked Opportunities & Income Fund | Trustee/Director | 2004–2020 | Former directorship in closed-end funds . |
| Western Asset Inflation-Linked Income Fund | Trustee/Director | 2003–2020 | Former directorship in closed-end funds . |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments (GOF/closed-end fund complex):
- Audit Committee: Member .
- Nominating & Governance Committee: Chair .
- Contracts Review Committee: Member .
- Valuation Oversight Committee: Member .
- Independence: Classified as an Independent Trustee under the 1940 Act and NYSE independence rules; none of the Independent Trustees nor their immediate family members had any interest in the Adviser/Sub-Adviser as of December 31, 2024 .
- Board leadership: Independent Chair of the Board is Ronald E. Toupin, Jr. (Nyberg is not Chair) .
- Years of service on GOF: Since 2007 (Class II Trustee nominee for 2025 election; term through 2027 if elected) .
- Attendance and engagement:
- Meeting counts (FY ended 5/31/2024 – GOF): Board 6; Audit 7; Nominating & Governance 3; Contracts Review 2; Valuation Oversight 4 .
- Attendance: Each Trustee attended at least 75% of Board and applicable committee meetings during FY2024 .
Fixed Compensation
| Item | Amount/Detail |
|---|---|
| Total compensation from Fund Complex (calendar 2024) | $377,500 . |
| GOF aggregate compensation (calendar 2024) | $36,128 . |
| Pension/Retirement benefits | None (Funds do not accrue/pay retirement or pension benefits to Trustees) . |
| Compensation structure | General annual retainer; additional annual retainers for Independent Chair and committee Chairs; fees for special Board/Committee meetings; reimbursed travel/out-of-pocket expenses; each Fund pays proportionately by per capita and net assets . |
| Change in compensation | Independent Trustee compensation amounts changed effective January 1, 2025 . |
Performance Compensation
| Metric/Element | Disclosure |
|---|---|
| Performance-tied compensation (bonus, metrics) | Not applicable for Independent Trustees; structure consists of retainers and meeting fees; no performance metrics disclosed . |
| Equity/Option awards to Trustees | Not disclosed; proxy describes cash retainers/fees and specifies no pension/retirement benefits . |
| Clawback provisions (Trustee pay) | Not disclosed . |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Entity | Type | Overlap/Interlock Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Advent Convertible and Income Fund | Registered investment company | External fund directorship; no disclosed related-party ties to GOF’s Adviser/Sub-Adviser . |
| PPM Funds; Western Asset closed-end funds | Registered investment companies | Former fund directorships; no disclosed related-party ties to GOF’s Adviser/Sub-Adviser . |
| Endeavor Health | Healthcare system | Former board role; no disclosed transactions with GOF . |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Governance and legal expertise: Attorney with senior GC/Corporate Secretary experience at Van Kampen Investments; Chair of Nominating & Governance Committee; experienced in financial, regulatory, and governance matters .
- Registered investment company oversight: Long-tenured trustee across the Guggenheim fund complex and other funds; familiarity with 1940 Act requirements and fund operations .
Equity Ownership
| Fund | Dollar Range of Equity Securities | Aggregate Dollar Range Across Fund Complex |
|---|---|---|
| GBAB | $0–$10,000 . | $50,001–$100,000 . |
| GOF | $50,001–$100,000 . | $50,001–$100,000 . |
| GUG | $10,001–$50,000 . | $50,001–$100,000 . |
| Trustees/officers as a group | Less than 1% of outstanding Shares of each Fund . | — |
Governance Assessment
- Strengths:
- Independent status with no adviser/sub-adviser interests for Nyberg or immediate family; robust committee independence under NYSE rules .
- Chair of Nominating & Governance Committee—direct influence on board composition, independence, and shareholder-recommended candidates; charter available publicly .
- Active committee participation (Audit, Contracts Review, Valuation Oversight) supports oversight of financial reporting, advisory contracts, and valuation processes .
- Documented meeting cadence and minimum attendance threshold met in FY2024; board led by an Independent Chair .
- Potential watch items:
- No standing compensation committee at the board level (common for funds but reduces a dedicated forum for Trustee compensation oversight; compensation handled via disclosed retainers/fees) .
- Ownership alignment is present via personal holdings in GOF ($50,001–$100,000), but overall trustee/officer group ownership is <1%, typical for funds yet offers limited direct economic alignment with shareholders at the fund level .
- RED FLAGS:
- None disclosed regarding related-party transactions, loans, hedging/pledging, or legal proceedings in the proxy; Audit Committee independence and pre-approval controls for auditor services are in place .