David J. Merkel, CFA, FSA is Principal of the equity asset management firm Aleph Investments, LLC, and writes The Aleph Blog. Previously, he was the Director of Research for Finacorp Securities, Senior Investment Analyst at Hovde Capital, and a leading commentator at
RealMoney.com.

Before that, he managed corporate bonds for Dwight Asset Management, mortgage bonds and investment risk at Mount Washington Investment Group, after working with Provident Mutual, AIG and Pacific Standard Life.

He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Johns Hopkins. In his spare time, he takes care of his eight children with his wonderful wife Ruth.