But it's also fair to conclude that the odds are with Oelschlager, who founded Oak Associates in 1985. After all, this fund has typically topped the charts since its 1992 inception. Superior performance isn't the only way the fund stands out. Oelschlager finds stocks he can stick with by zeroing in on the sectors most likely to succeed in the long term. That's meant financials, health-care and technology picks.
Similar demographics support the fund's stake in financials.
The tech holdings were by no means a losing slate in 2000. Ciena, which makes fiber-optic network equipment, held on to a stunning 155 percent gain by the end of the year. The autumn tech slaughter drew a bit of blood here too, but as of Dec. 15 the fund was still up 8.8 percent vs. 13 percent for its peers. Time Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.