Who We Are
Our unique story and owners makes us a universe of one.
Not Business As Usual—This Is Personal
It started with a powerful vision: help clients all over the world achieve financial success. And for over 65 years, our performance-first focus has not wavered—but that's not the end of the story.
How we invest matters, too. For us, it means directing 40% of our profits to find cures that touch all of us. So, the better we do for you, the more we can do for everyone.
If we make our clients successful, then we, in turn, will be successful.
Quick Facts*
1,400+
EMPLOYEES
9
GLOBAL OFFICES
Jonathan Thomas
CHAIRMAN, CEO & PRESIDENT
James E. Stowers Jr.
FOUNDER
What Sets Us Apart
Four qualities differentiate us from other firms and make us who we are for you and the world.
Powerful Purposes
Our company was started with a passion to help people become financially independent. Now, it's so much more because our founders, Jim and Virginia Stowers, gave an audacious gift to the world.
Many donate to worthy causes. But give away an investment firm you’ve spent decades building to help cure cancer? Only our founders can say they did that. Their over $2 billion gift established the Stowers Institute for Medical Research—an incredible organization dedicated to defeating diseases that touch all of us. It also made the Stowers Institute our controlling owner.
Our number one goal is to help clients succeed financially. Doing so also supports life-changing medical research. Directing 40% of our profits to the Institute annually isn't just a transaction. It’s prospering with purpose.
Performance Focused for Over 65 Years
Our investment culture has a common goal: Deliver superior, long-term, risk-adjusted performance. How do we work towards that? Teamwork. Top professionals with diverse backgrounds, talents and views manage each product.
Pure-Play Business Model
Investment management is our sole business focus. It's what we do. That means no other businesses can spread us too thin or compete for the time we spend investing for and serving you.
Privately Controlled and Independent
With no quarterly earnings pressure, our ownership structure allows us to keep a long-term view. And it lets us think independently. We question. Debate. And work to create strategies that can solve and empower.
A Timeline of Innovation and Giving Back
Our story is about passion for helping people achieve financial independence and giving back something more valuable than money.
1958
Dreaming Big
With two funds, three employees, 24 clients and $100K—and a lot of grit—James E. Stowers Jr. launches what is now American Century Investments.1970s
Embarking on Innovations
Jim Stowers develops one of the first computer-driven stock screening processes—an innovative move that pays off for clients.1980s
Focusing on Growth
Money magazine spotlights the firm by naming Jim a top stock picker. The firm offered its first fixed-income fund and forged its first intermediary sales relationship.1990s
Expanding Products and the Vision
American Century adds to its fixed-income lineup by acquiring the Benham Group, launches its first international and value funds, and serves sub-advisory and institutional clients for the first time.A new vision is formed as Jim and Virginia, now cancer survivors, establish the Stowers Institute for Medical Research with their personal wealth. They imagine a new model to keep it funded.
2000s
Making an Even Bigger Impact
The Stowers Institute opens, as does BioMed Valley Discoveries (BVD) for treatments. Inspired by the Stowers, employees can have donations of time and money matched by the company.American Century exports its investment management capabilities to global clients and opens its first international offices in London and Hong Kong.
2010s
Developing and Advancing Relationships
Nomura Holdings acquires a non-controlling interest in the firm, and Avantis Investors® is established to develop tax-efficient, cost-effective solutions based on financial science. Both milestones expand the firm's products and reach.2020s
Chartering New Territory
American Century is the first to launch active semi-transparent exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The firm now ranks among the top 20 ETF issuers in AUM and the top 5 active ETF issuers in AUM.1New territories include entering the private equity markets and Avantis Investors expanding outside the U.S.
¹Source: Morningstar data out of 367 ETF issuers overall and 326 active ETF issuers, as of September 30, 2025.
Investing for Your Tomorrows and Everyone Else's Too
*As of 12/31/2024.
Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) are bought and sold through exchange trading at market price (not NAV), and are not individually redeemed from the fund. Shares may trade at a premium or discount to their NAV in the secondary market. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns.
Investment return and principal value of security investments will fluctuate. The value at the time of redemption may be more or less than the original cost. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
This material has been prepared for educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide, and should not be relied upon for, investment, accounting, legal or tax advice.