Matt Hayner

Matt Hayner serves as Principal and Portfolio Manager at Kovitz Investment Group Partners, LLC, where he is part of the Chicago-based Core Equity Strategy investment team. His responsibilities focus on equity research and analysis, employing a value-oriented investment philosophy rooted in principles established by Benjamin Graham and refined by Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger. Hayner is closely involved in managing diversified portfolios of U.S. equities, targeting competitively advantaged and financially stable companies for long-term capital appreciation within Kovitz’s equity strategies.

Before joining Kovitz in 2022, Hayner spent twenty years at Madison Investment Advisors, where he acted as lead manager for the firm’s U.S. large cap equity strategy and contributed deep expertise as an equity analyst. His buy-side investment experience includes managing mutual funds, customized accounts, and institutional portfolios, emphasizing large-cap U.S. stocks throughout his career. Prior to entering asset management, he worked in product development at The Valspar Corp., leveraging his scientific background for a Fortune 500 company.

Hayner holds a BS in Chemistry from Eastern Illinois University and an MBA in Finance from the University of St. Thomas - Opus College of Business; he is also a CFA Charterholder. His notable industry contributions include guiding core equity strategies, mentoring investment teams, and supporting Kovitz clients in identifying long-term equity investments to help meet financial goals. Hayner is based in Lake Forest, IL, and remains committed to upholding a research-driven, private owner investment mindset across the U.S. equity landscape.