Team

Hans Fredrikson, CFA

Chief Investment Officer

Hans Fredrikson is Principia’s Chief Investment Officer, a position he has held since 2023. Hans has worked in the fields of finance and investments for over 30 years. He started his career in New York City with Morgan Stanley. After two years in real estate, he joined Wells Fargo Advisors where he was a municipal bond trader and underwriter and was an equity research analyst.

In 2000, Hans joined the JP Morgan Private Bank in Dallas and spent 14 years as a private banker, as head of two investment teams, and in 2011, as a Managing Director, he ran the JP Morgan Private banking business for Missouri. He later ran his own hedge fund as well as worked for a long/short equity hedge fund focused on investing in banks.

Originally from Sweden, Hans is a graduate of both the Principia School and Principia College. Hans also has an MBA from the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago, is a CFA charter holder and is active in the CFA Society in St. Louis. Hans has served on the Principia Alumni Board, the Principia Board of Trustees, and is currently the Vice Chair of the Ways & Means Commission for Town & Country, MO.

Ben Kniola, CFA

Director of Investments

Ben Kniola is Principia’s Investment Officer and has over 10 years of experience working in financial services and investment management. His responsibilities at Principia include investment due diligence, portfolio management, and operations.

Previously, he worked at the Washington State Auditor’s Office where he led financial and accountability audits of local governments which included overseeing the use of federal grant dollars. Ben is a CFA charter holder and member of the CFA Society St. Louis. He also holds the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst designation (CAIA) and CFA Institute Certificate in ESG Investing.

Ben is a trustee for The Nature Conservancy and served as a grants panelist for the United Way in determining the allocation of federal and state tax dollars to organizations dedicated to affordable housing

Ben graduated from Principia College with a B.A. in Political Science and Mass Communication. He grew up in Long Beach, CA with the Lovegren family who also attended the Upper School and College.

Leander Linsler

Investment Analyst

Leander Linsler supports the endowment through a blend of operational, administrative, and due diligence work. His responsibilities include investment reporting, assisting with manager research, and improving internal workflows, with an emphasis on increasing efficiency and exploring the use of AI tools to enhance our systems

Previously, Leander interned year-round with the Principia Investment Office and gained additional experience through investment internships at Azarias Capital Management in Philadelphia and Kennedy Capital in St. Louis. He is a CFA Level I scholarship recipient, pursuing the full designation.

Leander graduated with highest honors from Principia College with a B.A. in Business Administration and Economics, concentrating in Finance. He founded both the Principia Student-Managed Investment Fund and the Investment Club and studied German law before transitioning into finance.

Originally from Germany, Leander was recruited to Principia as a varsity soccer player, later becoming the team Captain, and went on to serve as President of the Investment Club, House President in Student Government, and a teaching assistant in economics