Wall Street Access

Wall Street Access is a family-owned, New York-based financial services firm founded in 1981 by Denis P. Kelleher. The firm describes itself as "Proven Leadership, Well Capitalized, Client Focused and Family Owned," and has built its business around institutional clients rather than retail investors. Its core activities span institutional sales and trading, outsourced trading, fixed income trading, and capital solutions. On the institutional sales and trading side, Wall Street Access offers commission sharing arrangements, soft dollar management, agency executions, market making, and listed equity and index options, backed by what the firm calls an extensive liquidity network. Its outsourced trading service is designed to supplement or entirely replace a client's trading desk, ranging from simple order execution to fully integrated decision support and trade execution. The fixed income desk covers corporate credit, certificates of deposit, municipal bonds, US Treasuries, and preferred securities, serving both institutional and inter-dealer clients. The Capital Solutions Group originates, underwrites and places private credit and specialty finance, special situations, asset based lending, and real estate transactions for institutional investors including commercial banks, family offices, hedge funds, private equity firms, endowments, pension funds, asset managers and ultra-high net worth individuals. Transaction sizes range from $5 million up to $500 million, with a normalized band between $20 million and $100 million. The firm's history reaches back to 1981, when Kelleher started Wall Street Clearing Company, specializing in wholesale execution and clearing of securities transactions in partnership with Kansas City Southern Industries. The clearing business was acquired by Alex Brown and Sons in 1990, and the firm was renamed Wall Street Investor Services, developing mutual fund marketing programs for banks and offering discount brokerage, retirement planning and professional money management. In 1993 it won the exclusive endorsement of the American Bankers Association to distribute investment products through ABA member banks. In 1996 the company adopted the name Wall Street Access, reflecting its dedication to superior execution and asset management for high net worth individuals and institutions. Wall Street Access remains privately held and family owned. Its founder and chairman, Denis P. Kelleher, who had previously served as President of Ruane Cunniff & Co., Inc. and as Vice President and Treasurer of the Sequoia Fund, died in 2019; the firm continues to operate on the values he instilled.

Wall Street Access traces its origins to 1981, when Denis P. Kelleher founded Wall Street Clearing Company, a firm specializing in wholesale execution and clearing of securities transactions. The company partnered with Kansas City Southern Industries in this endeavor. Kelleher brought substantial industry pedigree to the venture: he was the former President of Ruane Cunniff & Co., Inc. and had served as Vice President and Treasurer of the Sequoia Fund. In 1990, the clearing business of Wall Street Clearing Co. was acquired by Alex Brown and Sons, which was later acquired by Deutsche Bank. That same year, the firm changed its name to Wall Street Investor Services, pivoting to develop mutual fund marketing programs for banks and to provide discount brokerage, retirement planning and professional money management services for investors. In 1993, the company won the exclusive endorsement of the American Bankers Association to distribute investment products through ABA member banks — a significant distribution milestone that positioned it within the bank channel. In 1996, the company announced its new name — Wall Street Access — reflecting its dedication to providing superior execution and asset management services to high net worth individuals and institutions. Also in 1996, Tom Burnett introduced the Merger Insight research product, expanding the firm's research capabilities. Over the following decades, Wall Street Access evolved into an institutional brokerage and capital solutions firm. Its service lines grew to include institutional sales and trading (with commission sharing arrangements, soft dollar management, agency executions, market making, and listed equity and index options), outsourced trading for clients seeking to supplement or replace their trading desks, fixed income trading across corporate credit, certificates of deposit, municipal bonds, US Treasuries and preferred securities, and a Capital Solutions Group focused on private credit and specialty finance, special situations, asset based lending, and real estate transactions. The firm has emphasized an entrepreneurial culture and continuity of family ownership. Its website notes that sustaining excellence for almost 40 years takes more than hard work, and credits its culture with making a positive impact on its people, clients and the industry since 1981. Founder and Chairman Denis P. Kelleher, described as an illustrious leader and loving father, died in 2019 (1939–2019); the firm stated it would continue the business based on the values he instilled.

• 2019

  Founder and Chairman Denis P. Kelleher dies (1939–2019); the firm continues based on the values he instilled.

• 1996

  The company announces its new name, Wall Street Access, reflecting its dedication to superior execution and asset management services for high net worth individuals and institutions.

• 1996

  Tom Burnett introduces the Merger Insight research product.

• 1993

  The company wins the exclusive endorsement of the American Bankers Association to distribute investment products through ABA member banks.

• 1990

  The clearing business of Wall Street Clearing Co. is acquired by Alex Brown and Sons (later acquired by Deutsche Bank).

• 1990

  The firm is renamed Wall Street Investor Services, developing mutual fund marketing programs for banks and offering discount brokerage, retirement planning and professional money management.

• 1981

  Denis P. Kelleher starts Wall Street Clearing Company, specializing in wholesale execution and clearing of securities transactions, in partnership with Kansas City Southern Industries.

Family-owned, well-capitalized institutional brokerage and capital solutions firm serving institutions and high net worth clients.

• Institutional Sales & Trading

  Commission sharing arrangements, soft dollar management, agency executions, market making, and listed equity and index options, backed by an extensive liquidity network.

• Outsourced Trading

  Tailored programs supporting a client's trading desk, from simple order execution to fully integrated decision support and trade execution.

• Fixed Income Trading

  Institutional and inter-dealer sales and trading in corporate credit, certificates of deposit, municipal bonds, US Treasuries and preferred securities.

• Capital Solutions

  Origination, underwriting and placement of private credit/specialty finance, special situations, asset based lending, and real estate transactions for institutional investors; transaction sizes from $5mm to $500mm, normalized band $20mm–$100mm.

1. 1Wall Street Access | Institutional Sales & Trading, Outsourced Trading, Fixed Income Trading, Capital Solutionswsaccess.com
2. 2History | Wall Street Accesswsaccess.com
3. 3Services Archive | Wall Street Accesswsaccess.com
4. 4Capital Solutions | Wall Street Accesswsaccess.com
5. 5Wall Street Accesswikidata.org