History

A History of Success

Mesirow Financial was founded in 1937 when Norman Mesirow purchased a seat on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Since then, the one-man brokerage firm has become a leading Chicago-based financial services firm and one of the largest independent financial services firms in the Midwest.

Here's a look back at some important highlights in our firm's history:

1937     Norman Mesirow purchases a seat on the NYSE
       
late 1960s     Institutional Markets is a new service added to provide fixed-income and equity sales and trading, as well as underwriting and syndication of equities
       
early 1970s     Mesirow Financial enters the clearing business with Correspondent Services (now Clearing Services), providing execution and clearing services to broker-dealers nationwide
       
1972     The NYSE allows member firms to offer life insurance. Mesirow Financial's Insurance Services division is created
       
1974     The Asset Management Group (now Equity Management and Fixed Income Management) is established to provide specialized investment advisory services to institutions and high net worth individuals
       
1980     The Real Estate division is formed
       
1982     Private Equity and Investment Banking (including Corporate Finance, Public Finance and Sale-Leaseback Capital) are added to Mesirow Financial's portfolio of services
       
1990     Mesirow Financial introduces its Advanced Strategies capabilities
       
1992     Mesirow Financial reports its first year of record revenues
       
1997     Mesirow Financial acquires Stein & Company, greatly enhancing the services offered by the Real Estate division
       
1997     The Investment Management Division, uniting Advanced Strategies, Equity Management, Fixed Income Management, Private Equity, and Individuals and Families, is formed
       
2003     Mesirow Financial assumes management of the Chicago-based accounts of Near North Insurance Brokerage, Inc.
       
2004     The Currency Management department and Consulting division are established. Mesirow Financial acquires KPMG LLP's U.S. Corporate Recovery practice, and Diane Swonk joins the firm as chief economist
       
2005     Mesirow Financial reports its thirteenth consecutive year of record revenues
       
2006     Mesirow Financial acquires Settlement Planning Associates, LLC (SPA), a boutique structured settlement firm. The Investment Strategies department and Structured Products business are established.
       
2007     Mesirow Financial celebrates its 70th anniversary. The Giles Organization joins our firm as Mesirow Financial Compensation and Executive Benefit Strategies. The firm launches both a Commodities Management and an Institutional Real Estate business to offer additional strategies for our institutional clients.
       
2008     The firm launches a new corporate identity – the first redesign of the company logo in almost 25 years.
       
2009     Mesirow Financial moves into new corporate headquarters located at 353 North Clark Street in Chicago.