Paul joined the economic research unit of The Northern Trust Company in 1986 as Vice President and Economist, being named Senior Vice President and Director of Economic Research in 2000.  His economic and interest rate forecasts are used both internally and by clients. The accuracy of the Economic Research Department’s forecasts has consistently been highly-ranked in the Blue Chip survey of about 50 forecasters over the years. To that point, Paul received the prestigious 2006 Lawrence R. Klein Award for having the most accurate economic forecast among the Blue Chip survey participants for the years 2002 through 2005.  The accuracy of Paul’s 2008 economic forecast was ranked in the top five of The Wall Street Journal survey panel of economists. In January 2009, The Wall Street Journal and Forbes cited Paul as one of the few who identified early on the formation of the housing bubble and foresaw the economic and financial market havoc that would ensue after the bubble inevitably burst. Through written commentaries containing his straightforward and often nonconsensus analysis of economic and financial market issues, Paul has developed a loyal following in the financial community. The Northern’s economic website was listed as one of the top ten most interesting by The Wall Street Journal. Paul is the co-author of a book entitled Seven Indicators That Move Markets.
 
Paul began his career as a research economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. He has taught courses in finance at the DePaul University Kellstadt Graduate School of Business and at the Northwestern University Kellogg Graduate School of Management. Paul serves on the Economic Advisory Committee of the American Bankers Association.

Victoria Marklew is a Vice President at The Northern Trust Company, Chicago. She joined the Bank in 1991, and now heads the Country Risk Management unit, assessing country lending and investment risk around the world. Dr. Marklew has a B.A. degree from the University of London, an M.Sc. from the London School of Economics, and a Ph.D. in Political Economy from the University of Pennsylvania. She is the author of Cash, Crisis, and Corporate Governance: The Role of National Financial Systems in Industrial Restructuring (University of Michigan Press, 1995). She and her husband, Michael, reside in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania.

Asha Bangalore - Vice President and Economist

Asha Bangalore is Vice President and Economist at The Northern Trust Company, Chicago. Prior to joining the bank in 1994, she was Consultant to savings and loan institutions and commercial banks at Financial & Economic Strategies Corporation, Chicago. Ms. Bangalore was a faculty member of the Department of Economics, Trinity College, Connecticut, during 1990-1992. She was graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bangalore University, India. She received Master of Arts and Ph.D degrees in Economics from the University of Connecticut. Ms. Bangalore is a member of the National Association of Business Economists and the American Economic Association.

James Pressler - Second Vice President

Jim Pressler is a Second Vice President at The Northern Trust Company, Chicago. Mr. Pressler joined the bank in 1993, and since 1995 has been an economist in the Country Risk Unit, assessing country lending and investment risk around the world. With a general focus toward developing economies, Mr. Pressler specializes in China and the roles of the dominant Asian countries, and has spoken extensively on the topic. He received a B.S. degree in Statistics and Operations Research from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Richard Thies - International Economist

Richard Thies is an Associate International Economist at The Northern Trust Company, Chicago. Prior to joining the bank in 2009, Mr. Thies worked in international microfinance banking and has served as a Consultant to the International Finance Corporation of The World Bank Group and the US Department of State. Mr. Thies holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Emory University as well as a Master’s Degree from the University of Chicago focused on international political economy. He currently monitors markets in the Americas, sub-Saharan Africa and Australia.