About PFM

Mr. Perkins is the Founder and Managing Partner for Perkins Fund Marketing and is responsible for the overall operation of the firm, new business development, management of the sales force as well as for sales in named accounts.

Mr. Perkins was born and raised in Rochester, New York. In 1973, he graduated from the Berkshire School. In 1977, after graduating from St. Lawrence University, Mr. Perkins worked as a manufacturer’s representative in the ski industry from 1977–1982. In 1982, Mr. Perkins began working in the technology arena. He was involved in two start-up businesses that eventually led to the founding of Platinum Software, where he was a Director and Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing. In 1989, after a bid from IBM to market Platinum, Mr. Perkins joined IBM as Manager of Software Marketing for the United States. In 1992, Platinum Software went public and Mr. Perkins and began investing in hedge funds. As an alternatives investor, he became convinced that these asset classes offer a superior investment option and decided to dedicate his career to the alternative investment industry.

In 1996 he joined Asset Management Services as a marketing and sales representative in the alternative investment field. In 1997, utilizing his years of experience in sales and marketing, Mr. Perkins formed his own alternative investment-marketing firm and broker/dealer; Perkins Fund Marketing, LLC. Since the firm’s founding in 1997, Perkins has raised assets in excess of $6.7 billion for its fund managers.

Mr. Perkins received a B.S in Economics from St. Lawrence University in 1977.  Mr. Perkins is also a member of the Connecticut Hedge Fund Association and has participated at numerous, domestic and international hedge fund/alternative investment conferences as a panelist, chairperson and moderator. Mr. Perkins holds Series 7, 24,63 and 99 securities licenses.

Ms. Stearn, Senior Managing Director, is responsible for institutional and family office sales in the US and Europe. She also works with Mr. Perkins on new manager research and selection.

Ms. Stearn rejoined Perkins Fund Marketing in 2020 and has over 20 years of experience working with credit, fixed income and equity strategies in hedge funds, long-only and draw-down vehicles for established and emerging managers. She’s raised over a billion dollars from a broad range of institutions, including endowments, foundations, bank platforms, pensions and funds of hedge funds, as well as family offices across the United States, Canada and Europe. Previously, she was the head of business development for The Mitchell Group, a long-only energy equity manager. Prior to The Mitchell Group, she had a leading role in business development, marketing and investor relations at Varadero Capital.  Prior to Varadero Capital she spent five years at Perkins Fund Marketing where she was responsible for introducing a broad range of hedge fund strategies and selected managers to the institutional investor community.  Before that, Ms. Stearn was the Global Head of Capital Introductions at Lehman Brothers where she managed a team of 12 professionals with the responsibility for managing and building relationships with institutional investors and overseeing the successful introductions for the firm’s hedge fund clients. Prior to Lehman, she was Managing Director, Capital Introductions at Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.

Ms. Stearn earned a B.S. in Finance from Lehigh University. She holds the Series 7 and 63 securities licenses.

Mr. Newsome, Managing Director and Director of Research is responsible for sales within various regions in the U.S. He also is the firm’s Director of New Manager Research and selection and is the firm lead in private equity.

Mr. Newsome joined Perkins Fund Marketing in August 2012 with over 25 years of industry experience working with hedge funds, private equity funds and traditional investment strategies. Previously, he was a Managing Director with Babson Capital Management, where he marketed multiple strategies to pension funds, foundations, endowments, financial institutions and family offices. Prior to Babson Capital, he was a Managing Director at PricewaterhouseCoopers Corporate Finance LLC. Prior to PWC, he was founder and Chief Executive Officer of GMS Technologies, Inc., a financial technology firm. Prior to GMS, Mr. Newsome headed debt capital markets and built out the syndicated loan, U.S. private placement and corporate bond businesses at Santander Investment. Prior to Santander, Mr. Newsome helped build out the US private placement business for Barclays de Zoete Wedd (now Barclays Capital). Mr. Newsome began his career as an investment analyst at New York Life Insurance Company (now New York Life Investments).

Mr. Newsome graduated from Muhlenberg College and earned an MBA from Lehigh University. He was awarded the CFA designation and has earned a certificate from the AIMSE/Wharton Institute for Investment Management Sales Executives. He holds the Series 7, 24, 50 and 63 securities licenses.

Mr. Cunningham, Managing Director, is responsible for sales in various territories in both Canada and the U.S.  He also works with Mr. Perkins on new manager research and selection.

Mr. Cunningham has over 30 years of experience in capital markets, wealth management and hedge fund marketing. Previously, he was head of marketing for Singleterry Mansley Asset Management where he marketed the Beachwood Fund, a total return strategy which primarily invested in mortgage and asset backed securities. Prior to Singleterry, he was a Principal at Hunthill Capital where he marketed multiple strategies to endowments, foundations, pension funds, family offices, financial institutions and high net worth individuals. Mr. Cunningham spent 22 years at Lehman Brothers where he was a Managing Director. Mr. Cunningham’s roles included National Short Term Credit Sales Manager, National Corporate Bond Sales Manager, New York Fixed Income Sales Manager and also ran Wealth Management in the Boston Office.

Mr. Cunningham graduated from Fairfield University with a B.A. degree in Political Science and a minor in Economics. He holds the Series 7 , 24, 50 and 63 securities licenses.

H. Deane Armstrong is the Firm’s Chief Compliance Officer, responsible for overseeing the drafting, implementation, and adherence to the Firms policies and procedures.

Deane brings over forty years of industry experience to the Firm, having held both trading and compliance roles during his career.

Deane has participated in committees at both SIFMA and the MSRB, is a past-president of the Municipal Bond Club of Philadelphia, and an active member of the Bond Club of Philadelphia. Deane holds various securities licenses, including Series 7 (General Securities Representative), Series 53 (Municipal Supervising Principal), and Series 24 (Securities Principal). He earned his CRCP from the FINRA/Wharton program in 2009.

Deane received his bachelor’s degree in Economics from Dickinson College, after having graduated from The Haverford School.

Mr. Steinschneider is the firm’s Chief Technology Officer responsible for the design, maintenance and implementation of the firm’s technology systems. These systems support various elements of the firm including compliance, security, investor relations, communications, the tracking of fundraising efforts and disaster recovery.

Mr. Steinschneider has worked closely with Perkins Fund Marketing since 2003, beginning with projects to improve client communication and later to streamline the firm’s technology infrastructure using server virtualization and cloud computing initiatives. He has over 25 years of experience working with both large and small firms in similar capacities.

Mr. Steinschneider graduated from Bucknell University in 1978 with a B.A. in Economics.