DOUGLAS J. BESSO
HIGHTOWER SECURITIES | Chief Technology and Operations Officer
Chicago, IL 60606
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CRD#: 1530829
Professional summary
DOUGLAS JOSEPH BESSO is a registered financial professional currently at HIGHTOWER SECURITIES, LLC located in Chicago, Illinois.
DOUGLAS is registered as a RR (Registered Representative) and started their career in finance in 1990. DOUGLAS has worked at 5 firms and has passed the Series 99TO, SIE and Series 7 exams.
Biography
Doug Besso is the Chief Technology and Operations Officer at Hightower. Mr. Besso’s relentless devotion to strategically building the firm’s platform and supporting advisor teams continues to elevate Hightower’s premium technology offerings and operations model. With over 25 years of experience in financial services, his ability to align people with processes for optimal service coupled with his leadership of top talent has positioned Hightower as the “gold standard” in the industry.
Prior to joining Hightower, Mr. Besso was the Senior Vice President - Head of Information Technology at Calamos Investments, a $35 billion asset management firm. He also served as the Senior Vice President and a Managing Director – Division Information Officer at Wachovia Securities, where he successfully consolidated systems for the A.G. Edwards/Wachovia Securities merger that resulted in the creation of the second largest brokerage in the U.S.
Mr. Besso holds a Master of Business Administration degree in finance from DePaul University and a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science from Iowa State University. He is a graduate of the Wharton School's Securities Industry Institute, where he currently serves on the Board of Trustees. Doug holds the FINRA Series 7 and 99 licenses.
Question & Answer
Are you a "fiduciary"?
No
Aliases
None
Other business activities
Outside business activity is any business or activity undertaken by an advisor that is outside the scope of their relationship with their firm (e.g., consulting services, real estate, freelance work, teaching, etc.). Investors should stay informed about these activities to ensure no conflicts of interest.
The advisor shows no other business activity.
CRS (Client Relationship Summary) - BD
Click below to view DOUGLAS JOSEPH BESSO's CRS (Customer Relationship Summary).
Certified licenses
Advisors may have various certifications and credentials from different organizations. AdvisorCheck highlights these seven certifications - AIF®, CFP®, ChFC®, CFA, CLU®, CIMA®, CPWA®
NoneExperience
Current
March 9, 2012 - Present
HIGHTOWER SECURITIES, LLC
Office #1: 200 West Madison Street Suite 2500, Chicago, IL 60606BD
CRD#: 116681
Chicago, IL
Past
July 28, 2009 - March 6, 2012
CALAMOS FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC
BD
CRD#: 19850
NAPERVILLE, IL
Past
July 31, 1996 - July 17, 2009
WELLS FARGO CLEARING SERVICES, LLC
BD
CRD#: 19616
ST. LOUIS, MO
Past
February 1, 1995 - July 29, 1996
DWS DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
BD
CRD#: 37306
CHICAGO, IL
Past
January 3, 1990 - February 1, 1995
KEMPER FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
BD
CRD#: 798
State Registrations and Notice Filings
Listed states reflect where the advisor is authorized to serve clients under state regulations.
Visual representation of state registrations
This advisor is not registered in any state.
Exams
General Industry/Product Exam
RR
Series 99TO
Date: 1/2/2023
Operations Professional ExaminationGeneral Industry/Product Exam
General Industry/Product Exam
SRO Registrations
RR
FINRA
Current Firm
HS
HIGHTOWER SECURITIES, LLC
CCM EQUITIES, LLC | UNITED FIDUCIARY SECURITIES, LLC | HIGHTOWER SECURITIES, LLC
CRD#: 116681 / SEC#: , 8-53560
BD
Broker-Dealer Firm Regulated by FINRA (Chicago district office)
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Contact information
Main Address
200 West Madison Street Suite 2500, Chicago, IL 60606-3414
Mailing Address
200 West Madison Street Suite 2500, Chicago, IL 60606-3414
Phone number
(312) 962-3800
Established
Illinois since 06/28/2001
Firm type
Limited Liability Company
Fiscal year end
December
Firm Size
Large
# of Employees
FINRA licenses (53 States and Territories)
Direct owners and executive officers
| Name | Position | CRD# |
|---|---|---|
| HIGHTOWER HOLDING, LLC | PARENT COMPANY | |
| BESSO, DOUGLAS JOSEPH | CTO | 1530829 |
| COVIELLO, BARRY ANTHONY | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL FIELD SUPERVISION | 1813688 |
| GRAY, KENDRA | MUNICIPAL PRINCIPAL | 4388082 |
| GRAY, KENDRA | CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER | 4388082 |
| KARL, MATTHEW JAMES | PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER (PFO) & FINOP | 5361093 |
| SMITH, SCOTT DAVID | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | 2523535 |
Disclosures
| Regulatory Event | 5 |
| Arbitration | 1 |
Red Flags
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Company Information
HIGHTOWER SECURITIES, LLC
Chief Technology and Operations OfficerCRD#: 116681Chicago, IL 60606TRUST BUT VERIFY
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