Founder of California-based Check Capital Management — a former engineer who built his firm on Warren Buffett's philosophy.
Life story
Steven Check trained and worked as an engineer before moving into investing. Little is publicly known about his birth year, family background, childhood or education; he is married with two children.
How they got started
Check founded the investment adviser Check Capital Management in Costa Mesa, California, in 1987 and grew it into a billion-dollar firm. In 2019 the Orange County Business Journal named him to its OC 500 list of the region's most influential people, when the firm managed about $1.4bn; by 2026 that had grown to about $2.4bn. The firm has more than 1,200 clients in 46 US states.
Check built the firm around Buffett's principles. As of 2019 he had attended 24 consecutive Berkshire Hathaway annual meetings, leading groups of clients to Omaha; he compared seeing Buffett in person to the chance of seeing Benjamin Franklin.
Investment style
The firm aims to buy stocks of exceptional businesses only when they sell at bargain prices, thinks like a business owner and stresses a culture of avoiding losses. The portfolio is fairly compact (about 20 investments in 2019), and Berkshire Hathaway has long been its largest holding.
Its fee structure is unusual: instead of the standard 1% management fee, qualified clients pay only when their account increases in value — 10% of the profits. In a down year the firm earns nothing.
Best decisions
Loyalty to Berkshire Hathaway
Check has long held Berkshire Hathaway as the portfolio's core position, arguing that it would outperform the S&P 500 in a tougher market.
Aligning with clients
Charging only on profits ties the firm's income to the growth of client accounts: if clients don't gain, the firm isn't paid.
Biggest mistakes
Limited information
We found no verified public account of Check's specific mistakes or failed investments.
Today
In 2026 Check Capital operates from Costa Mesa and managed about $2.4bn as of September 30, 2026. It offers Quality Growth, Berkshire covered-call and other programmes.
What to learn from following the portfolio
- Check is a low-turnover, Buffett-style investor — long-held positions are his most meaningful signal.
- Conglomerates that rely heavily on insurance and finance, such as Berkshire Hathaway, usually fail halal screening; technology and consumer companies are more likely to pass. Check each position's halal status in the Portfolio tab.
- 13F is 45 days delayed and shows only long US positions; option strategies are not fully reflected.
An introduction based on public sources — not investment advice. Spotted an error? Let us know.