Robert Fithen, PhD

Professional website highlighting Robert Fithen’s shift toward finance research, 5thN Financial, and portfolio computational methods.

CEO, 5thN Financial • finance research • portfolio computation

Robert Fithen, PhD

A computational engineer and educator whose current professional direction is shifting toward finance research: Portfolio Computational Methods, Expanded Portfolio Theory, and backtesting with the new HiFuPi asset model.

Active Research Explore Career Corporate Experience View Publications

CEO Leads 5thN Financial with a finance-forward research and implementation agenda

EPT Expanded Portfolio Theory is the central current portfolio-research framework

HiFuPi New asset model used for structured EPT backtesting and portfolio experiments

30+ Years in engineering education, computational modeling, and numerical research

Profile

Finance research built on computational engineering

Robert Fithen’s career began in engineering mechanics, finite element analysis, computational fluid dynamics, numerical methods, and scientific computing. That foundation now supports a growing research focus in finance: computational portfolio methods, AI, machine-learning-informed allocation, and implementation-aware portfolio construction.

Current emphasis: CEO of 5thN Financial and active researcher in Portfolio Computational Methods, Expanded Portfolio Theory, and HiFuPi-based backtesting.

Portfolio Computational Methods

Finance research using numerical optimization, historical simulation, machine learning signals, constraint logic, turnover discipline, and implementation-aware portfolio design.

Expanded Portfolio Theory

A current research direction extending portfolio theory into a broader computational framework for constraint-aware allocation and backtested portfolio construction.

Computational Engineering Foundation

Finite elements, CFD, Navier-Stokes simulation, fluid-structure interaction, computational electromagnetics, semiconductor modeling, and high-performance scientific computing.

Current roles

A finance-forward professional direction

CEO, 5thN Financial

Leading 5thN Financial while developing a finance-research agenda around portfolio methodology, computational backtesting, and practical implementation.

Portfolio Manager & Researcher

State-licensed financial advisor and portfolio manager focused on machine-learning-based predictive portfolio methodology, robust implementation, and compliance-aware portfolio operations.

Professor, Arkansas Tech University

Tenured faculty member in Engineering since 1998, with teaching and research across computational mechanics, numerical methods, fluids, vibrations, finite elements, design, and engineering modeling.

Researcher and Builder

Developed computational tools, finite element software, server infrastructure, Moodle systems, and applied research programs across academic, government, and private settings.

Corporate Experience

Previous private-sector work includes General Dynamics / Lockheed, AT&T Consumer Products, Dunham Manufacturing, and 5thN / StressComp finite element software development.

Selected credentials

Education and professional foundation

• Ph.D., Engineering Mechanics, Virginia Tech University, 1993
  
• M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University, 1987
  
• B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Louisiana Tech University, Magna Cum Laude, 1984
  
• Licensed Professional Engineer in Mechanical Engineering, State of Louisiana, Registration #27728
  
• Series 65 / Uniform Securities Law Exam

5thN Financial CEO Expanded Portfolio Theory HiFuPi Portfolio Optimization Machine Learning CFD Finite Elements Scientific Computing

Source note: this Quarto site consolidates the uploaded resume PDFs and has been updated to emphasize the current shift toward finance research, 5thN Financial, Expanded Portfolio Theory, and HiFuPi backtesting.