Ben Miller, CFA, is co-head of US high yield and a senior portfolio manager responsible for US and global high yield portfolio management. Prior to his current role, Ben held various investment responsibilities ranging from private placement analyst to public fixed income research analyst. He has been in the industry since and started with the firm and its affiliates in 1993. Ben received his BA from the University of Northern Iowa and his MBA from the University of Iowa. He is a CFA® charterholder.

Kevin Bakker, CFA, is co-head of US high yield and a senior portfolio manager responsible for US and global high yield portfolio management. Prior to his current role, he was a public fixed income research analyst covering high yield and investment grade corporate securities. Prior to joining the firm, Kevin was employed by Archer Daniels Midland in various roles within their commodities trading division. He has been in the industry since and started with the firm in 2003. Kevin received his BA from Loras College and his MBA from the University of Iowa. He is a CFA® charterholder.

Jim Schaeffer is head of US leveraged finance & global CLOs and serves as a portfolio manager for the various leveraged finance strategies. He is also responsible for stressed and special situation securities, and all restructuring and bankruptcy situations for the firm. In addition, he is a member of the Aegon Asset Management Steering Committee that sets global macro and asset allocation strategies (global macro views) and has responsibility for implementation of those views in the US.