Wedbush Securities
A privately held American financial services firm providing wealth management, investment banking, institutional research, brokerage, clearing, and trade execution.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Wedbush Securities is a privately held American financial services firm founded in Los Angeles in 1955 by Edward W. Wedbush and Robert Werner. The company began as Wedbush & Company and developed from a regional brokerage into a diversified financial-services organization serving individual investors, institutions, corporate clients, investment-banking customers, and other broker-dealers. Its activities are organized around three principal divisions: Wealth Management; Investment Banking & Capital Markets; and Clearing & Execution. The firm's wealth-management and brokerage activities provide investment services to individuals and institutions, while its investment-banking and capital-markets operation supports corporate finance, equity and debt offerings, mergers and acquisitions, sales and trading, and related advisory work. Wedbush is also associated with institutional equity research, with technology-sector coverage forming an important part of its public market profile. Its clearing and execution capabilities support trade processing and execution for its own businesses and for external brokerage relationships. Wedbush's history includes several moves into technology-enabled market infrastructure. In 1972, the firm began offering correspondent clearing services to other brokerage firms. It later acquired Lime Brokerage in 2011 to combine Lime's high-performance trading technology with Wedbush's Advanced Clearing Services. In 2018, Wedbush acquired electronic-trading platform Lightspeed; Lightspeed was subsequently combined with Lime Brokerage, an agency brokerage owned by Wedbush. These transactions broadened the firm's electronic-trading and market-access capabilities. The company has also expanded its international connectivity through strategic relationships. In 2023, it partnered with Maybank, enabling Wedbush clients to access Southeast Asian markets while giving Wedbush access to Maybank research and market insights. That year, Wedbush also became the largest shareholder of Toronto-based global broker-dealer Velocity Trade. In July 2024, it announced a strategic alliance with Hana Securities, intended to extend Wedbush's investment-banking reach into South Korea and provide clients with Hana's research and market intelligence. Wedbush remained privately held and operationally active in 2025. The firm reported that, as of April 2025, it managed approximately $5.7 billion for 10,099 clients. The company unveiled a new headquarters in Pasadena on September 30, 2024, replacing its long-standing Los Angeles headquarters, with the formal relocation expected in 2025. Its current positioning combines full-service brokerage and wealth management with institutional research, investment banking, clearing, execution, and technology-supported market infrastructure.
History
Wedbush Securities was established in Los Angeles in 1955 by Edward W. Wedbush and Robert Werner, who had been high-school friends. Each founder contributed $5,000 to capitalize the business, initially named Wedbush & Company. The name was selected after the partners decided that neither wanted a potential business failure to bear his own surname; a coin toss determined that Wedbush's name would be used. The company opened its first office in 1957 in Los Angeles's Crenshaw district. In 1960, Werner sold his interest to Wedbush, leaving Edward Wedbush as the principal continuing owner of the firm. The business initially operated as a securities brokerage and later expanded its role in the financial-services infrastructure supporting other brokers. In 1972, Wedbush began providing correspondent clearing services, allowing it to execute and process trades for other brokerage firms. Clearing became an important element of the firm's diversified operating model alongside brokerage and client-facing investment services. Wedbush subsequently developed capabilities across wealth management, investment banking, capital markets, institutional research, sales and trading, and execution. Its research franchise became particularly associated with coverage of technology companies and technology-driven industries. The firm also invested in electronic market infrastructure. In 2011, it acquired Lime Brokerage, seeking to combine Lime's high-performance trading technology with Wedbush's Advanced Clearing Services. In 2018, Wedbush acquired Lightspeed, an American electronic-trading platform. Lightspeed was merged with Lime Brokerage, which operated as an agency brokerage owned by Wedbush, further integrating the firm's electronic-trading assets. The company pursued broader international connectivity during the 2020s. In 2023, it entered a partnership with Maybank, Malaysia's largest bank by market capitalization and total assets at the time described in the reference material. The relationship enabled Wedbush clients to trade in Southeast Asian markets and provided access to Maybank research and market insights. Also in 2023, Wedbush became the largest shareholder of Velocity Trade, a Toronto-based global broker-dealer. In July 2024, it announced a strategic alliance with Hana Securities. The arrangement was designed to expand Wedbush's investment-banking presence into South Korea and give clients access to Hana's research and market intelligence. Wedbush has also faced regulatory scrutiny. In 2018, FINRA fined the firm $1.5 million over findings involving customer-protection and net-capital rules, customer-reserve calculations, supervision, and recordkeeping. The findings covered conduct and control issues dating across earlier years, including reported net-capital deficiencies from 2015 to 2016 and repeated inaccuracies in reserve calculations between 2011 and 2016. Wedbush settled without admitting or denying wrongdoing. In 2023, it settled a case for $350,000 concerning the approval of wire transfers allegedly submitted by a hacker without sufficient verification. In 2024, it agreed to pay $425,000 over alleged inaccuracies and delays in publishing securities reports covering 2009 through 2022. On September 30, 2024, Wedbush unveiled a new headquarters in Pasadena, replacing its long-standing Los Angeles headquarters. The company expected to officially move during 2025. As of April 2025, the firm reported approximately $5.7 billion under management and 10,099 clients. Its operating structure at that time comprised Wealth Management, Investment Banking & Capital Markets, and Clearing & Execution, reflecting the evolution from a local brokerage into a privately held, multi-division financial-services company.
- 2025
Reported scale and planned headquarters move
[1]As of April 2025, Wedbush reported $5.7 billion under management and 10,099 clients; the official move to Pasadena was expected during 2025.
- 2024
Pasadena headquarters unveiled
[1]Wedbush unveils a new Pasadena headquarters and prepares to move from its Los Angeles headquarters.
- 2023
Maybank partnership and Velocity Trade investment
[1]Wedbush establishes a Maybank relationship for Southeast Asian market access and becomes the largest shareholder of Velocity Trade.
- 2018
Lightspeed is acquired
[1]Wedbush acquires electronic-trading platform Lightspeed, which is merged with Lime Brokerage.
- 2011
Lime Brokerage is acquired
[1]Wedbush acquires Lime Brokerage to combine its trading technology with Wedbush Advanced Clearing Services.
- 1972
Correspondent clearing begins
[1]Wedbush starts offering clearing services to other brokerage firms.
- 1960
Werner sells his interest
[1]Robert Werner sells his ownership interest to Edward Wedbush.
- 1957
First office opens
[1]Wedbush opens its first office in Los Angeles's Crenshaw district.
- 1955
Wedbush & Company is founded
[1]Edward W. Wedbush and Robert Werner establish the Los Angeles brokerage with equal initial contributions of $5,000.
Products and positioning
A privately held, full-service financial-services firm combining wealth management, institutional brokerage, investment banking, technology-focused research, electronic trading, and clearing infrastructure.
Wealth management
Wealth Management
Wedbush's wealth-management business serves individual and institutional clients through investment, brokerage, and advisory capabilities. It forms one of the firm's three principal operating divisions and complements the company's institutional brokerage, research, and capital-markets activities.
Investment banking
Investment Banking & Capital Markets
This division provides investment-banking and capital-markets services for corporate and institutional clients. The offering includes advisory and financing-related capabilities, supported by sales, trading, and equity-research activities. Its international relationships with Maybank and Hana Securities extend the firm's market and research connectivity.
Clearing and execution · 1972
Clearing & Execution
Wedbush provides trade execution and clearing infrastructure for its own brokerage activities and for other brokerage firms. The business traces back to the firm's correspondent-clearing services launched in 1972 and was later supplemented by electronic-trading capabilities acquired through Lime Brokerage and Lightspeed.
Financial research
Institutional Equity Research
Wedbush publishes institutional equity research and is particularly recognized for technology-sector coverage. Its research supports institutional clients, investment-banking relationships, brokerage activity, and market commentary.
Electronic trading · 2011
Lime Brokerage and Lightspeed electronic trading
Wedbush's electronic-trading capabilities expanded through the 2011 acquisition of Lime Brokerage and the 2018 acquisition of Lightspeed. Lightspeed was merged with Lime Brokerage, integrating trading technology and agency-brokerage functions within the broader Wedbush platform.
Controversies
2024
Securities-reporting accuracy and timeliness settlement
Wedbush agreed to pay $425,000 over allegations concerning inaccuracies and delays in publishing securities reports during the period from 2009 to 2022.
2023
Wire-transfer verification case
Wedbush agreed to a $350,000 fine in a case involving approval of approximately $6.6 million in wire transfers allegedly submitted by a hacker without sufficient verification.
2018
FINRA customer-protection and net-capital settlement
FINRA fined Wedbush $1.5 million over findings involving net-capital deficiencies, inaccurate customer-reserve calculations, and inadequate supervisory and recordkeeping systems. The firm settled without admitting or denying wrongdoing.
Brand decisions
2024
Form strategic alliance with Hana SecuritiesStrategyBackground
Wedbush aimed to extend its investment-banking reach into South Korea and broaden client access to regional research.
Action taken
Wedbush entered a strategic alliance with Hana Securities.
Aftermath
The alliance was intended to provide South Korean market reach and Hana research and market insights to Wedbush clients.
2024
Relocate headquarters to PasadenaStrategyBackground
Wedbush decided to replace its long-standing Los Angeles headquarters with a new facility in Pasadena.
Action taken
The firm unveiled the Pasadena headquarters on September 30, 2024 and planned to complete the official move in 2025.
Aftermath
Pasadena became the planned headquarters location while the company transitioned from its previous Los Angeles base.
2023
Partner with Maybank and invest in Velocity TradeStrategyBackground
Wedbush sought broader international market access and research connectivity.
Action taken
The firm partnered with Maybank for Southeast Asian market access and became the largest shareholder of Velocity Trade.
Aftermath
The relationships expanded Wedbush's connections to Southeast Asian and global brokerage markets.
2018
Acquire LightspeedM&ABackground
Wedbush pursued additional electronic-trading capability through the acquisition of an American electronic-trading platform.
Action taken
Wedbush acquired Lightspeed and merged it with Lime Brokerage.
Aftermath
The transaction consolidated electronic-trading assets within Wedbush's clearing and execution platform.
2011
Acquire Lime BrokerageM&ABackground
Wedbush sought to strengthen its market infrastructure by combining Lime Brokerage's high-performance trading technology with its Advanced Clearing Services.
Action taken
Wedbush acquired Lime Brokerage and integrated it into its clearing and agency-brokerage operations.
Aftermath
The acquisition expanded Wedbush's electronic-trading and clearing capabilities.
Recent events
- 2024
Wedbush announces strategic alliance with Hana Securities[1]
Other
The alliance was intended to extend Wedbush's investment-banking reach into South Korea and give Wedbush clients access to Hana Securities' research and market insights.
- 2024
Wedbush unveils Pasadena headquarters[1]
Other
Wedbush unveiled a new headquarters in Pasadena on September 30, replacing its Los Angeles headquarters. The firm expected to complete the official move in 2025.
- 2023
Wedbush expands Southeast Asian market access through Maybank partnership[1]
M&A · Other
Wedbush entered a partnership with Maybank that enabled Wedbush clients to trade in Southeast Asian markets and provided access to Maybank's research and market insights.
- 2023
Wedbush becomes largest shareholder of Velocity Trade[1]
M&A
Wedbush became the largest shareholder of Toronto-based global broker-dealer Velocity Trade, strengthening its international brokerage and market-access relationships.
Sources2 sources
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