Our History
Perception. Persistence. Passion.
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 originally known as Mesirow & Company has become a leading Chicago-based financial services firm and one of the largest independent financial services firms in the Midwest.
More importantly, Mesirow Financial has built a solid reputation in the Midwest and throughout the country by focusing on integrity, service and performance.
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 B/D and IA 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
- Late 1990s – 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 and senior managing director.
- 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, providing settlement planning services to insurance companies, federal and local governments, self-insured corporations and mass tort litigation trusts. The Investment Strategy department and Structured Products business are established.
- 2007 – Mesirow Financial celebrates its 70th anniversary.
