Brinson has been called one of the investment field's "Living Legends" alongside investors such as George Russell, Jr., Warren Buffett, and Bill Gross.
In 1979, Brinson left Travelers to join the trust department of First National Bank of Chicago as chief investment officer.
[3] Brinson pushed for allocation across stocks, bonds, cash, real estate, venture capital and other alternative asset classes using simple cost effective investment strategies.
[4] In 1989, Brinson led a US$100 million management buyout of his firm from First Chicago Corporation, acquiring approximately 75% of the company with a large group of partners and investors.
Brinson had grown disenfranchised over the previous years with the runaway internet bubble and its detachment from fundamentals and value investing.