Ave Maria Rising Dividend AVEDX

On Jan. 1, 2024, George Schwartz stepped down as CEO of Schwartz Investment Counsel, the advisor to the Ave Maria mutual funds, and was succeeded in the role by his son Timothy Schwartz, president of the firm since 2020. This move was not a surprise, since it's part of a well-orchestrated succession plan in which George Schwartz, who founded the firm in 1980, has been gradually turning over more control to others. He remains chairman of the firm and a portfolio manager of Ave Maria Rising Dividend AVEDX and Ave Maria Bond AVEFX. At the same time, George Schwartz's comanager on Rising Dividend, Brandon Scheitler, was promoted to lead manager, and Scheitler was also promoted to chief investment officer of the firm, taking over that role from Timothy Schwartz. These moves do nothing to change Ave Maria's Parent rating of Average or the Morningstar Medalist Ratings of Neutral for Ave Maria Rising Dividend or Ave Maria Growth AVEGX.