As of January 2023, Ralph Scherer is partially retired. While he is no longer actively meeting with clients, he will remain involved with the Investment Committee and act as counsel to the firm.

When Ralph Scherer came to Foster & Motley, he was looking to partner long-term with people he could trust and respect.  It didn’t matter that Foster & Motley was just a fledgling firm with only two partners and limited resources.  He was excited to be the third partner, because he knew that Mark and Dave were talented professionals with impeccable ethics who were innovating by offering clients investment expertise and financial planning expertise under one roof.  Ralph is stimulated by great investment opportunities, and this firm was the best such opportunity he’d ever seen. 

Every year, Ralph goes on one big backpacking trip with one of his three daughters. Together, in the outdoors, and relying on what they can carry on their backs, it is clear that Ralph places a high priority on challenging experiences that lead to growth. And one thing’s for sure, the pathway he took to where he is now definitely reflects this.

Ralph grew up in Kansas and devoted much of his time in high school to debate and investing in the stock market (with money and with a board game).  He loved the debate concept of having to be prepared to argue each side of the topic in successive contests.  He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration at Washburn University in Topeka in furtherance of his investment interests and then moved on to the University of Michigan law school where he earned a Juris Doctor degree in 1978.  For the next four years he was a Captain in the U.S. Air Force serving as a Judge Advocate and put his debate skills to good use.  But his love of investments lured him back to school at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania where he graduated in 1984 with an MBA with distinction in Finance.

His work then took him to New York City where he worked with equities at the Home Insurance Company and Lieber & Co. (Evergreen Mutual Funds), and he also earned the CFA® designation. Before joining Foster & Motley, he worked with Bartlett & Company in Cincinnati, first as an equity analyst and then as the director of research.

At Foster & Motley, Ralph is a shareholder and is valued for his analytical acumen and thoughtful opinions.  He sees great overlap between law and investments; both the best lawyers and the best investors have good judgement and the ability to analyze all sides of an issue. He has been quoted on investment matters in the Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati Business Courier, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and The Wall Street Transcript. He’s a member of the Cincinnati CFA Society and serves on the Investment Committee of the Children’s Home of Cincinnati.

Along with his wife Linda, Ralph could not be more proud of his three daughters, Anne, Katharine, and Julie. They each work or study in areas that they are passionate about, and Ralph and his wife make it a point to spend as much time with them as possible.

Quick Facts:

• Graduate of the Washburn University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree cum laude, 1975
• Graduate of University of Michigan Law School with a Juris Doctor degree, 1978
• Captain in the U.S. Air Force serving as a judge advocate for four years
• Graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with an MBA degree with distinction in Finance, 1984
• Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®)
• Member, Cincinnati CFA Society