Small Firms Information
SFAB Candidate Profiles – Midwest Region
Eric A. Bederman
Chief Operating & Compliance Officer
Bernardi Securities, Inc.
Biography
Eric Bederman is the Chief Operating & Compliance Officer and a shareholder of Bernardi Securities, Inc., a Chicago based broker dealer specializing in fixed income portfolio management and municipal finance. He has held this position since 1999. Mr. Bederman has 19 years experience supervising broker dealer compliance and operations.
Prior to his role at Bernardi Securities, he served as National Operations Officer for Ernst & Young Investment Advisors, as an Operations Manager at SF Investments, Inc., and began his career with Mesirow Financial.
Mr. Bederman has served on the District Committee of FINRA District 8 and is a current member of the Series 7 Item Development and Content Review Committee. Additionally, he has served as a panelist and speaker for a variety of FINRA Small Firm meetings and seminars.
Mr. Bederman has a BS from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an MBA from the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management-Chicago. Mr. Bederman resides in suburban Wilmette with his wife and son.
Statement
As a fellow officer of a small broker dealer, I know how hard your job is. I understand the challenges you face on a day-to-day basis as you balance the responsibilities of serving your clients, supporting your staff, and remaining profitable all while remaining compliant in an ever-changing regulatory landscape. I also understand the unique challenges small broker dealers face seeking creative and compliant solutions using a finite amount of resources.
Over the past several years I have served on FINRA's District 8 Committee with the objective of representing small firms such as ours. It is important that FINRA understands the impact new rules and regulations, such as Dodd-Frank and fiduciary standards, have on us. One size fits all regulation doesn't always fit us.
This is a pivotal time for our industry. With the current state of the economy, failures and mergers of many large firms, more and more investors will be seeking guidance and service from small broker dealers. We are the local names they know and trust. We are the firms that really provide the personal touch. And our success hinges on our client's success.
If I am elected to the Small Firm Advisory Board, I will work to ensure that FINRA understands our unique service to the investing public. In an environment of change, we are here for the long run. I will be a voice to FINRA representing the strengths of our class of firms. I will work to ensure we have the representation we deserve.
Gina Bokios
Senior Vice President and General Counsel
Regal Securities, Inc.
Biography
My name is Gina Bokios, and I am currently Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Regal Securities. With over 13 years of experience in the industry, I have seen the industry from many different perspectives -- as a broker, compliance director, securities attorney, general counsel of two brokerage firms (in Chicago and on Wall Street), president of an investment advisory firm, assistant trader at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and research assistant to a former SEC Chairman. I previously worked as a mergers and acquisitions attorney at the law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom in New York City for four years, and as a legal manager for the 2004 summer Olympic Games in Europe, drafting and negotiating legal contracts with over 60 countries for the first ever worldwide Olympic torch relay. Currently, I oversee all of Regal's arbitrations, litigations and legal issues, work closely with Regal's compliance department and senior management, and am a strong communicator, writer, and team player. I have a Juris Doctorate degree from Northwestern University School of Law, MBA from Northwestern's Kellogg Graduate School of Management, and a Bachelor of Science degree from Northwestern University. In addition, I have my Series 7, 63, and 24 securities licenses, and am in the process of submitting my application to serve on FINRA arbitration panels. I recently attended FINRA's Midwest regional conference, and am looking forward to getting more involved with FINRA and representing the interests of small firms in the industry.
Statement
I am running for a SFAB seat because I can be a strong, active voice in representing the needs of small firms. With combined experience in legal, compliance and senior management of a broker dealer, I believe that I can add value in providing guidance to FINRA staff on the potential impact of proposed regulatory initiatives on FINRA's small firms. In light of recent events, and the enhanced regulatory scrutiny of broker dealers, it has become difficult to compete in this tense market environment (especially in the small firm landscape). I would like to work closely with FINRA so we are all 'on the same' team and work together to overcome these obstacles. I would also like to re-examine standards and costs with FINRA for arbitration and make it easier and more cost effective for small broker dealers to defend themselves.
Firms should vote for me to represent them on SFAB because of my experience in the securities industry -- working on the trading floor, as a broker, as a securities attorney and on the senior management side, combined with strong communication skills -- I can add significant practical value in assisting in assisting FINRA in taking actions that will serve the best interests of small firms. With both legal and senior management experience in a broker dealer, I can also assist FINRA to balance practical business interests with its compliance and legal obligations. Thank you.
Edward A. Horwitz
President
Horwitz & Associates, Inc.
Biography
I graduated from the The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), B.S. in finance in 1991. I am a graduate of the SIA institute at Wharton and hold the Series 4, 7, 24, 27, 55, 63, 65, and 79 and Life and Health Insurance license. I have completed the CFP classes at DePaul University and am active in the FPA. I have over 20 PLUS years experience running one of the oldest, duly registered member firms (Est. 1970) comprised of 20 branches and composed of Independent Contractors and Foreign Associates. We are a dual clearing firm. Since 2007 I have served as a committee member of FINRA district 8 and am also currently an active member of the Series 7 writing committee. I have participated as a panelist in a number of arbitration hearings and attend many of the FINRA district compliance meetings. I am currently a board member of IL-SIFMA and am formally a board member of The Children's Heart Foundation. Serve Northwestern University as a Chapter Advisor and active in Sigma Alpha Epsilon's Foundation and Alumni Association.
Statement
My Willingness to understand any and all issues and see all prespectives as well as reaching compromise will be beneficial to all. While I am a team player, I am not afraid to challenge the Status Quo. We're seeing consolidation and rapid change - like Small Firms, in order to not just survive but thrive - we need Advisory Board members to envision the future. I have worked with many on the current district committees and current SFAB members and know our synergies work well together. I am your person to represent our (Small Firms) interest before FINRA.