Firm

We were founded in 2009 by former US Naval Officer Chance Mims, as our nation’s first post 9/11 military veteran and disabled veteran owned and operated investment bank and broker-dealer. Academy Securities specializes in:

  • Equity & Debt Capital Markets
  • Public Finance
  • Institutional Agency Trading: Equity & Fixed Income
  • Investment Banking

The majority of our firm’s leadership served in the military. We understand a mindset driven by service, duty, loyalty, and teamwork. We know military personnel thrive under pressure, succeed based on preparedness, and perform at their best when they assemble and collaborate as a team to achieve a common goal. Academy Securities’ vision is to bring the time-honored qualities of the military culture to the financial services sector and, in doing so, create a firm comprised of the best Wall Street veterans working alongside the best Military veterans. Our tight-knit corporate culture promotes a mission driven, open-minded, team approach to solve and execute all our client’s needs.

The history of the firm coincides with the contraction of the financial industry in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis and the winding down of the post 9/11 conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Academy Securities is the first post 9/11 disabled veteran-owned and operated investment bank. Our firm’s goal is to achieve a minimum of 50% military veterans employed throughout our organization. Today, Academy Securities is proud that over 45% of our employees are military veterans and we are dedicated to consistently increasing the ratio. As of 2021, over 63% of our firm’s equity is owned by military veterans.

We believe the financial industry is a service industry requiring frequent contact and lifelong relationships with our clients and partners. Our mission is to serve our clients and protect their interests. When we take on a client, they become part of our team, and we are fundamentally committed to the fact that all short and long-term success in the financial markets is predicated on collaboration, high-frequency interaction, and collective accomplishments.