Rayna Penelova is Director of Research, Portfolio Manager at Hightower Las Vegas. Rayna leads the team’s research functions, which include macroeconomic analysis, quantitative modeling and individual company research. Rayna, through her analytical skills and financial market acumen, is a key contributor to the team’s high-level portfolio strategy.

Rayna joined Hightower in 2015 as a junior analyst and has worked her way up through the portfolio management team. Prior to joining Hightower Las Vegas, Rayna was an intern at Merrill Lynch. She also worked as an intern at the Investments Branch of the Bulgarian Financial Supervision Commission, where she was introduced to the regulatory side of the financial industry.

A Bulgarian native and fluent Spanish-speaker, Rayna’s diverse background and life experiences enable her to bring distinct perspectives to both the team and clients.

Rayna earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree with a focus on Finance from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. In her spare time, Rayna enjoys gardening, skiing, traveling, and spending time with her sons, Boyan and Krum.