About Forest Investment Associates

Independent

We are an independent firm with broad employee ownership and a culture rooted in our strong values.
Trusted

We aspire to be our clients’ most trusted adviser.
Sustainable

We believe in the sustainable nature of forest investments and the multiple benefits provided by working forests.
Forest Stewards

We commit to being excellent forest stewards and to promoting the highest standards in forest management.

Our History

Since our founding in 1986, FIA has reached significant milestones:

1981

Future FIA co-founder, Charley Tarver, leads the creation of the nation’s first pooled timberland investment fund for pension plans at First National Bank of Atlanta
1984

Charley Tarver and others form Wagner Southern Forest Investments, Inc., a Registered Investment Adviser offering timberland investments
1986
- Forest Investment Associates (FIA) is formed as a Timberland Investment Management Organization (TIMO) by Charley Tarver, Kate Robie, and David Graham
- FIA becomes a Registered Investment Adviser (RIA)
- FIA gains first separate account investor
1987

FIA completes its first timberland acquisition in the U.S. South (GA)
1992

FIA is recognized in Pensions & Investment Age as one of the fastest growing investment managers in the U.S.
1995

FIA completes its first Allegheny hardwood timberland acquisition (PA)
1997

FIA creates an employee stock purchase plan allowing all qualified employees to purchase equity in the company
1998
- Smethport, PA field office opens
- FIA completes acquisition of 174,900 acres of Allegheny hardwood timberland in PA and NY
1999

$1 billion in assets under management
2000
- Jackson, MS field office opens
- FIA completes its first timberland acquisition in the Pacific Northwest (WA)
2003
- 1 million acres under management
- FIA gains its 10^th separate account client
2004
- First commingled fund, FIA Timber Partners, L.P., is formed
- $2 billion in assets under management
2006
- FIA acquires 542,000 acres in the Southeast from International Paper Company - our largest acquisition to date
- Second commingled fund, FIA Timber Partners Special Situation Fund, L.P., is formed
- First Lake States hardwood acquisition (WI)
2007
- Statesboro, GA field office opens
- Raleigh, NC field office opens
2008
- L. Michael Kelly becomes FIA’s second President
- Charley Tarver retires with employees acquiring his remaining equity interest
- Third commingled fund, FIA Timber Growth Partners, L.P., is formed
- FIA’s first wetlands mitigation bank becomes operational
- FIA has first TIMO managed carbon sequestration project
- $3 billion in assets under management
2009

Fourth commingled fund, FIA Timber Partners II, L.P., is formed
2010
- FIA is named one of the "Focus 6" investment management firms from the Focus Consulting Group
- 2 million acres under management
2011
- FIA celebrates its 25th anniversary
- FIA gains its 15^th separate account client
2012
- FIA completes its first international timberland acquisition in Brazil
- FIA receives first Focus Elite award from the Focus Consulting Group
2013
- São Paulo, Brazil international field office opens
- Vancouver, WA field office opens
- $4 billion in assets under management
- FIA receives second Focus Elite award from the Focus Consulting Group
2014

FIA receives third Focus Elite award from the Focus Consulting Group
2015

Fifth commingled fund, FIA Growth & Value Partners, L.P., is formed
2016
- Marc A. Walley becomes FIA’s third President
- FIA completes its first timberland acquisition in Chile.
- FIA gains its 20^th separate account client
2018
- Santiago, Chile international field office opens
- FIA fully liquidates second commingled fund, FIA Timber Partners Special Situation Fund, L.P.
2020

FIA fully liquidates first commingled fund, FIA Timber Partners, L.P.

Clear Communication

We communicate frequently and openly. We clearly share our expectations of each other, and we honor the commitments we make. This enables us to have more effective and efficient working relationships.
Excellence

We seek the highest possible quality in people, work environment, client service, investment assets and asset management. Our attention to excellence means that we ascribe to high professional standards in everything we do. From this, we gain success in the business and satisfaction from having our standards recognized. This distinguishes us in the marketplace.
Enjoying Our Work

We create a positive work environment which allows everyone to enjoy and gain satisfaction and personal growth from the work they do. This leads to increased fulfillment, higher morale, improved performance and less stress.
Honesty and Integrity

We are committed to the highest levels of ethical conduct in our dealings with each other and with those outside the organization. We always act with our clients’ best interests in mind. We believe this fosters loyalty and strong, long-term working relationships.
Initiative and a Strong Work Ethic

We are committed to putting forth our best effort in all endeavors. Hard work, motivation and initiative are essential elements of our success, and we recognize and reward all employees for their individual contributions. This provides satisfaction and pride in a job well done. Our reward system enables everyone to share in the financial success of the firm.
Trust and Respect

We promote a sense of personal self-worth by treating each other with respect and by trusting each other to fulfill individual responsibilities. We respect our differences and provide freedom and flexibility to perform the work and achieve the goals we have agreed upon. This makes us more effective, cohesive and fulfilled in our work.
Teamwork

We work in ways that capture the collaborative efforts of everyone in Forest Investment Associates. This team atmosphere includes the functional teams within the company and the overall Forest Investment Associates team. We make better decisions as teams than we make individually. We recognize our need for leadership and balance this with the power of teamwork.

What Sets Us Apart

Experience
- Formed in 1986, in business for over 30 years
- Disciplined acquisitions of high-quality properties
- Hands-on, customized and financially-focused forest management
- Opportunistic dispositions of timber and timberland
Client Service
- More than three decades of proven investment performance
- Extremely low client turnover
- Strict attention to detail
- Highly responsive
Structure and Culture
- Majority employee-owned with an entrepreneurial spirit
- Shared success
- Unique depth and breadth of talent
- Innovative thinking to discover new ways to add value

A Legacy of Excellence

About Us

Our Mission

The Broad Arrow

Our History

1981

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Our People

Our Values

What Sets Us Apart

Our Footprint

Learn More About FIA