John Neff

Definition

John B. Neff, CFA, is an American investor, mutual fund manager, and philanthropist. He is notable for his contrarian and value investing styles as well as for heading Vanguard’s Windsor Fund. Windsor became the highest returning, and subsequently largest mutual fund in existence during Neff’s management—eventually closing to new investors for a period in the 1980s. Neff retired from Vanguard in 1995. During Neff’s 31 years, from 1964 to 1995, Windsor returned 13.7% annually versus 10.6% for the S&P 500.


John Neff

What is ‘John Neff’

One of the most acclaimed mutual fund investors and portfolio managers of the past 40 years. John Neff is often considered a contrarian investor who is not largely concerned with rigorous security analysis and implemented such strategies as emphasizing a low P/E ratio investments. He resembles other investors such as Warren Buffett in that he looks strongly to ROE (return on equity) as a prime quality indicator.

Explaining ‘John Neff’

John managed Vanguard’s Windsor fund from 1961 to 1995. In that time, the fund averaged 13.7% per year, compared to 10.6% for the Standard and Poor’s 500 Index. He also published a highly acclaimed book on investment strategies in 2001, “John Neff on Investing”.

Further Reading

  • Respite care: an essential yet unmet need for families with children with special health care needs – jamanetwork.com [PDF]
  • John Neff on Investing (a review) – www.tandfonline.com [PDF]
  • Trends in pediatric hospitalizations of children in Washington state by insurance and chronic condition status, 1991-1998 – jamanetwork.com [PDF]
  • Pediatric carve outs: the use of disease-specific conditions as risk adjusters in capitated payment systems – jamanetwork.com [PDF]
  • Paid Family Leave for Parents of Chronically Ill Children – jamanetwork.com [PDF]
  • Universal health coverage and intersectoral action for health: key messages from Disease Control Priorities – www.sciencedirect.com [PDF]