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ABOUT US
Company History
The SageTrader team includes a staff of seasoned professionals who have successfully developed and enhanced client focused business models for over the last 30 years. The firm's roots began in the clearing of option market maker business on the floors of the options exchanges. Preferred Trade was formed as a sister company to handle customer business for professional traders, as both a clearing firm and executing broker, with memberships on almost all exchanges, including the New York Stock Exchange. PreferredTrade was one of the earliest brokers to offer stock and options online trading access for active and professional traders.
After selling Sage Clearing in 1998 and selling Preferred Trade in 2005, the SageTrader team reacquired the Sage proprietary system in 2013 and began growing an introducing broker business. SageTrader is now being led by industry veteran Mike Forsythe who is driving the new era of Smart Order routing technology. Working with a seasoned team of Wall St professionals, the SageTrader team is creating innovative trading technology and client service.
The SageTrader Team
Michael Forsythe - CEO
Michael has over 25 years of experience in the securities industry, with a diverse background in various roles across several firms. He recently returned to SageTrader in January of 2023 as Chief Executive Officer, where he previously worked in 2013 and served as Chief Operating Officer from 2016 to 2020. Before returning to SageTrader, Michael worked at Clear Street as Director of Trade Support. Prior to that, Michael worked as Senior Vice President of Equity Prime Services with MF Global, and Vice President of Equity Client Services at Newedge USA.
Jeff Crane - Managing Director, Head of Sales
Jeff has more than 20 years of experience in the securities industry and most recently managed the global sales trading team at Instinet/Nomura. Jeff started his career in the back office on the domestic securities lending desk, moved on to managed the global middle office team before starting he career as an International sales trader.
Ryan Stipanich - Chief Compliance Officer
Ryan has over 15 years of experience in the securities industry. He joined SageTrader in 2016 as the Trading Compliance Officer. Prior to joining SageTrader, Ryan worked at FINRA in their the Options Regulation Department. Previously, he worked at Instinet in the Operational Regulatory Department, as well as the Options Trading Desk. Ryan began his career in the industry by working for FIMAT Preferred in the accounting department, before transitioning into an analyst and sales role at Newedge.
Doug Engmann - Managing Member
Doug is a former options market maker, has more than 35 years' experience in the trading world. He was the co-founder of Sage Clearing Corporation, one of the largest clearing firms for options market makers. He also was the co-founder of PreferredTrade, which was one of the leading online firms for options traders. Sage was sold in 1998 to ABN AMRO and PreferredTrade was sold in 2005 to Fimat (later Newedge USA). He also served as CEO of ABN AMRO Clearing, a global division of the prime brokerage, futures and professional securities businesses of the bank. At Fimat Preferred (later Newedge), he served as Head of North American Equities and pioneered the adoption of customer portfolio margin in the industry under the 2005 SEC pilot program. Fimat Preferred was one of the first brokers to offer customer portfolio margin under the fully approved rules in 2007. A former Board member of the OCC and NSCC, Doug is recognized as a leader in the industry and as an authority on options trading and clearing, portfolio margining, risk management and securities regulation.
Team
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