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, we have become a leading Chicago-based financial services firm and one of the largest independent financial services providers 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     An Institutional Sales and Trading group is added to provide distribution and proprietary trading of fixed-income and equities, as well as equity underwriting and syndication.
       
early 1970s     Mesirow Financial enters the clearing business with Correspondent Services (which became 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. This business has since grown to become the third largest fund-of-hedge-funds manager in the world for pension assets, with more than $14 billion under management.
       
1992     Mesirow Financial reports its first year of record revenues.
       
1997     Mesirow Financial enhances its Real Estate capabilities with the acquisition of Stein & Company.
       
2001     Mesirow Financial creates an Institutional Sales and Marketing team to help institutional investors and their consultants find solutions to match specific investment criteria.
       
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. Diane Swonk joins the firm as chief economist, launching the firm's Economic Analysis capabilities.
       
2006     Mesirow Financial acquires Settlement Planning Associates, LLC (SPA), a boutique structured settlement firm, and creates our Structured Settlements group.

Our Investment Strategies business is formed to provide asset allocation strategies and manager selection to institutions. This group now advises on more than $11 billion in assets.
       
2007     Mesirow Financial celebrates its 70th anniversary.

The Giles Organization joins our firm as Mesirow Financial Compensation and Executive Benefit Strategies.

The firm launches Commodities Management and Institutional Real Estate businesses to offer additional strategies to our institutional clients. We open an office in London, expanding the firm's international presence and research capabilities. Our Economic Analysis team expands to offer insight on global economies and trends.
       
2008     The firm launches a new corporate identity – the first redesign of the Mesirow Financial logo in almost 25 years, and a new tagline that reflects our culture of independence and innovation.
       
2009     Mesirow Financial moves into our new corporate headquarters at 353 North Clark Street, an environmentally responsible state-of-the-art building that received gold-level certification from the U.S. Green Building Council under the LEED® for Core & Shell™ rating system. Mesirow Financial's interior space also received LEED gold certification.
       
2010     The firm establishes a China market development initiative to align resources with Chinese businesses that invest in the U.S. and around the world.
       
2011     The firm announces a joint venture in Abu Dhabi, focusing on Commodity and Currency Risk Management services, and opens an office in Hong Kong, further strengthening our ability to serve an increasingly global client base. Today, a full 60% of firm assets come from overseas, as well as 16% of our revenues.

Richard S. Price is named Chairman and CEO, succeeding Jim Tyree, who passed away in March 2011. Our Agricultural Management group is created, expanding the firm's direct alternatives platform to include a farmland real asset strategy.