Ben Schwartz (entrepreneur)

Ben Schwartz (born July 27, 1972) is an American trader and entrepreneur.

Life and career

Schwartz was born in Chicago, IL in 1972. He grew up in Northbrook, IL on the Northside of Chicago. At 16 years old, he got his start on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME)^[1] working as a runner for his father, Louis G. Schwartz. This work continued throughout high school. Louis Schwartz was on the Board of Governors and was Vice Chairman of the CME. Schwartz studied at the University of Kansas and spent summers between the Chicago Stock Exchange, Chicago Board of Options Exchange, and Chicago Mercantile Exchange where he explored his passion for financial markets. He spent the next four years clerking in many of the pits of the CME.

In 1994, Schwartz bought a membership of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange in the IOM Division. This was the beginning of a successful career through his trading and brokering of the futures and stock option markets at the CME. Schwartz continued a family tradition of leadership by being involved in exchange governance. He continues to be an active member of the CME.^[2] Schwartz brings more than 19 years of financial markets and trading experience as an active member of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Throughout his career Schwartz has traded many products at the CME including equity indices, raw materials, interest rates, and currency futures.

In addition to his work within the trading community, Schwartz has also been active in many charitable causes, both in Chicago and abroad, including PAWS and Hedge Funds Care,^[3] among others. Schwartz's commentary has been featured in such publications as the New York Times, CNBC, BBC, TheStreet.com, PBS, the Washington Post, and CNNMoney.^{[4][5][6][7][8][9]}

Greenmoor Financial Group

In 2006, Schwartz founded Greenmoor Financial Group (GFG). Greenmoor provided fully disclosed introducing brokerage and execution services to active traders and institutions. GFG services included rapid trade execution, multi-broker access, robust quotes, trader-focused technology support, and custom reporting.

Schwartz helped create the infrastructure and flexible technology solutions necessary for professional traders and GFG’s institutional client base to trade. Further, he established GFG’s prime brokerage and banking relationship with Bank of America Merrill Lynch. In 2011, GFG was acquired by Lightspeed Financial, Inc.^[10]

Lightspeed Financial

Lightspeed Financial is a leading provider of low latency direct market access trading technology, risk management solutions, and brokerage services for professional traders, funds, and institutions. Barron's Magazine awarded Lightspeed “Best for Frequent Traders”^[11] in its “2013 Best Online Brokers Survey.” Lightspeed has won this award four consecutive years. Currently, Schwartz is Chief Market Strategist at Lightspeed Financial. In this role, he provides insight and commentary on market activity, trends, and key economic indicators. He also heads up the institutional sales division.

Licenses / Certifications

• Series 7 – General Securities Representative
• Series 63 – Uniform Securities Agent
• Series 24 – General Securities Principal
• Active Member of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange^[12]

See also

• Lightspeed Financial
• Entrepreneur

References