OUR PEOPLE

James Brilliant, CFA®

Chairman, Chief Investment Officer, Portfolio Manager

Jim joined Century Management in 1987 and earned his Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) designation in 1992.  Over the years he has served in the role of research analyst, portfolio manager, and is now the firm’s co-chief investment officer (co-CIO). As co-CIO, Jim helps to oversee the firm’s various investment strategies, along with providing leadership regarding investment themes, portfolio allocations, and macroeconomic guidance. 

With years of leadership in portfolio management, Jim has a deep understanding of the equity market as well as fixed income securities. He currently serves as chairman of the CM Advisors Family of Funds Board of Trustees and is the lead portfolio manager for the CM Advisors Fixed Income Fund (CMFIX).

Jim has been quoted by or contributed to numerous publications such as: 

• Bloomberg (TV & Radio)
• Wall Street Journal
• Barron’s
• Forbes
• BusinessWeek
• Graham and Doddsville blog
• Outstanding Investor Digest

Arnold Van Den Berg

Portfolio Manager, Principal

Arnold founded Century Management in 1974. He serves as the company's CEO. Active in managing investment strategies for the firm, Arnold is the lead portfolio manager for the CM Value I (All-Cap Value) separate account strategy and for all of the balanced separate account strategies. He is the co-portfolio manager for the CM Fixed Income separate account strategy and the CM Advisors Fixed Income Fund (CMFIX).

Arnold's accomplishments in the world of investing have been recognized by many:

• Featured in the Epilogue of Richer, Wiser, Happier: How the World's Greatest Investors Win In Markets and Life by William Green
• Included in The Great Minds of Investing, Profiles by William Green, Photographs by Michael O’Brien
• Featured in The World's 99 Greatest Investors: The Secret of Success by Magnus Angenfelt, 2013 (pp 226-227)
• Included on the list of "SuperInvestors" on the Graham and Doddsville blog
• Featured on the list of investment gurus on GuruFocus.com.
• Interviewed, quoted and referenced by numerous publications such as:
  • Outstanding Investor Digest
  • Seeking Alpha
  • Outlook Profit Magazine (India)
  • Money Manager Review
  • NASDAQ.com
  • Forbes.com
  • Austin Business Journal

While Arnold has no formal college education, his rigorous self-study, tremendous dedication, and years of industry experience are the foundation of his extensive market knowledge. He began in the industry working for several financial services companies. However, he quickly found that he didn’t always agree with leadership and he wanted to be in a business that he loved at a place that he believed in. Wanted to make his own decisions, Arnold formed Century Management in 1974.

Involved in research and strategies of advising clients on how to meet their financial goals. He has found in this business that there are many other things he consults on beyond investments. He considers this business not just wealth management but life management as a good advisor also becomes involved in health, wealth, and lifestyle issues.

He is a lifelong student of the financial services business. It has also led him into studying many other fields, not just financial services including philosophy, psychology, studying the subconscious mind,  and spiritual matters.

His childhood years, in the 1940s, were filled with angst. He and his family were living in Holland, just down the street from Anne Frank. Taken over by the Germans, both of Arnold’s parents survived Auschwitz. However, a 19-year-old girl saved Arnold by miraculously sneaking him through the German lines. Today Arnold shares his story by speaking at schools on his experiences growing up, being a holocaust survivor, and helping young people learn from those who have been through tough times. 

Arnold is a vegetarian, active in yoga, and spends time with his wife, their three children and seven grandchildren.

Bill Brilliant

Fixed Income Analyst, Trader

As a fixed income analyst, Bill specializes in assessing the value and performance of debt instruments. Bill is also a fixed income portfolio manager for the separately managed client accounts and serves as a member of the CM trading team. Before becoming a fixed income analyst, he was an advisor working with new clients at Century Management from 2003 to 2009 and as a relationship manager from 2002 until present.

Prior to joining Century Management in 2002, Bill was a business owner and foreman where he supervised teams on large commercial and residential sites. Bill attended St. Louis University Parks College with focused studies on engineering.

Bill and his wife have been married for over 30 years. They have a daughter who lives in the Austin area. They enjoy reading, cooking and spending time outdoors with their pets. Additionally, he enjoys spending some free time on classic auto restoration.

Scott S. Van Den Berg, CFP®, ChFC®, CEPA®, AIF®, CRPS®, CMFC®, AWMA®

Secretary, Treasurer

Growing up in the financial services industry, Scott had observed and listened to his father – Arnold Van Den Berg - discussing stocks, bonds, and the financial markets since he was young.  This early education led him to a lifetime of learning and caring about helping people achieve financial success.

Starting his career in real estate, Scott later joined his father at Century Management in 1993 where he learned and advanced by occupying every position in the company prior to taking on a leadership role.  Today Scott is President of the firm and co-portfolio manager.  Scott also serves as secretary and treasurer for the CM Advisors Family of Funds.

A perpetual student, Scott holds multiple industry specializations and designations.  He attended Glendale College and California State University at Northridge on a track and field scholarship, focusing his studies on Finance.

Designations:

• Certified Financial Planner® - CFP®
• Chartered Financial Consultant® - ChFC® 
• Certified Exit Planning Advisor® - CEPA®
• Accredited Investment Fiduciary® - AIF®
• Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist – CRPS®
• Chartered Mutual Fund Counselor – CMFC®
• Accredited Wealth Management Advisor – AWMA®

Scott and his wife Kelly have been married since 2022. They each have three adult children and two grandchildren from former marriages. They treasure family vacations. Israel, Italy, Spain, Caribbean Islands, Hawaii, Napa Valley, Alaska, and Disney World are some of their favorite destinations. They also believe in giving back to the community. They help support Helping Hand Home, a local orphanage for abused children, Center For Child Protection, Make A Wish Foundation, and several military and veteran charitable organizations such as Wounded Warrior Project, Tunnels to Towers, and the Navy SEAL Foundation.

Lisa Stroud, IACCP^®

Chief Compliance Officer

In the industry since 1994, Lisa joined Century Management in 2002. She finds the firm’s family-like culture and commitment to clients an industry differentiator.

As the Chief Compliance Officer, Lisa’s duties include, but are not limited to, administering the Advisor’s policies and procedures, reviewing and updating the Advisor’s internal trading policies and procedures on an annual basis, and implementing any additional procedures as may be necessary to ensure complete and proper adherence to the Advisor’s internal trading policies and procedures.

Prior to joining Century Management, Lisa worked for Charles Schwab & Company as a client service representative, for AIM Investments in their operational trading department, and as a portfolio accounting supervisor at Beutel Goodman Capital Management.

Lisa graduated from the University of Houston, Clear Lake, with a BS in Psychology and Sociology.

Designation:
        • Investment Adviser Certified Compliance Professional® (IACCP®)

Lisa has been married for over 20 years. She and her husband have two sons who are extremely active in sports and enjoy attending a constant stream of their friends’ birthday parties.