Decades of advice: Goelzer Investment Management and Goelzer Investment Banking build on 35 years of trust, integrity and commitment.

• Author: Beck, Bill
• Position: Profile

IN MAY OF 1969, GOELZER & Co. Inc., the predecessor to Goelzer Investment Management and Goelzer Investment Banking, was established by Don W. Goelzer as a registered broker/dealer with the Securities and Exchange Commission, NASD and the state of Indiana. "The investment firm was principally organized with a vision to build a company based on trust, integrity and commitment, while providing the highest level of personalized service for clients," says Don Goelzer.

With a business degree from Indiana University, 19 years of investment experience with City Securities and a vision in place, Goelzer and the firm embarked on a journey, giving sound investment counsel to individual and institutional investors within the fast-growing and evolving financial-services industry.

To address a growing need within Indiana and to complement the firm's investment management capabilities, Goelzer & Co. Inc. formalized the special Business Appraisal Group to serve both public and privately held Indiana companies in 1972. The group specifically focused on providing business appraisals and financial opinions. "The firm was quickly recognized as an expert witness in the U.S. Tax Court and the U.S. District Court and was often retained for valuation services by private council, bank trust departments and regional council and the Appellate Division of the Internal Revenue Service," Goelzer recalls

Early to recognize a trend, Don Goelzer registered Goelzer & Co. as a Registered Investment Advisor with the Securities and Exchange Commission in 1981. The idea was to build on his investment counsel capabilities by adding fee-based asset-management services for the affluent, institutional and not-for-profit investors.

In 1983, Goelzer & Co. acquired Kiser Cohn & Shumaker, a prominent Indianapolis based investment-banking firm founded in 1933. The firm was involved in many local initial public offerings and brought a wealth of industry experience and history to Goelzer. The acquisition confirmed Don Goelzer's belief in the importance of forging long-term relationships with both clients and line professionals who would join the firm in the years to come.

In January 1989, Goelzer & Co. complemented its asset-management capabilities by engaging the services of two noted senior portfolio managers, Thomas S. Hollett and Frederick S. Cuthbert II. Their services became available through the retirement of the founder of Collett & Co., an Indianapolis-based...