Raymond M. Melkomian is a veteran economist and technologist with three decades of experience at the epicenter of global financial markets. An alumnus of NYU’s Courant Institute, his career is defined by the intersection of rigorous mathematical logic and complex engineering.
His professional journey includes leadership roles at the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) and Paris Securities. A pioneer in market architecture, he developed a proprietary exchange for Water Futures and holds the patent on the industry's Open Outcry trading platform (U.S. Patent No. 5,950,176).
During his tenure at the National Securities Clearing Corporation (NSCC), Raymond was instrumental in modernizing the securities industry and pioneered early T+1 settlement architecture decades ahead of implementation.
As Managing Director of Paris Securities, he maintained a full suite of principal-level licenses directing commodities, equities, compliance, and fiduciary advisory operations.
As the inventor of PAWNCHO™ and architect of Happy Happy Joy Joy Pet Corporation, he applies industrial-grade engineering to animal welfare innovation.
Beyond commerce, Raymond is the author of The Trial of God at The Hague and is developing an eleven-novel literary series.
Series 3 & 55: Commodities & Equity Trading
Series 4 & 8: Registered Options & Sales Principal
Series 23, 24 & 27: General & Financial Operations Principal
Series 65: Fiduciary Investment Adviser
New York University (NYU) is a leading private research university in New York City, founded in 1832 and based in Greenwich Village.
The Courant Institute is a distinguished NYU center specializing in mathematics, computing, and data science, internationally recognized for applied mathematics and computational research.
Merrill Lynch, now operating as Merrill, is a leading American wealth and investment management firm and a division of Bank of America. Headquartered in New York City, Merrill provides financial advisory, investment, and brokerage services, supporting a global network of financial advisors and managing trillions of dollars in client assets.
Originally an independent public company, Merrill Lynch became part of Bank of America following its acquisition during the 2008 financial crisis and was rebranded as Merrill in 2019.
New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) is a major commodity futures exchange based in New York City and owned by CME Group. Founded in 1882, NYMEX operates as a designated contract market and specializes in futures trading for energy products, metals, and other commodities that serve as global pricing benchmarks.
Now fully integrated within CME Group alongside COMEX, NYMEX plays a central role in global commodities markets through predominantly electronic trading systems, following its acquisition by CME Group in 2008.
National Securities Clearing Corporation (NSCC) is a central clearing organization that provides trade clearing, settlement, and risk management services for the U.S. securities markets. Founded in 1976, NSCC operates as a subsidiary of Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) and is regulated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
By acting as a central counterparty and using continuous net settlement, NSCC significantly reduces counterparty risk and transaction volume, playing a critical role in the efficiency and stability of the U.S. financial system.
Paris Securities Corporation is a U.S.-based brokerage firm established in 1974 by Francis Q. Marks. The firm operated in commodities and securities brokerage, engaging in proprietary trading across commodity futures, stocks, bonds, and options.
Paris Securities Corporation was also known for leasing exchange seats to brokers and maintained a significant presence across U.S. exchanges through its ownership of multiple exchange memberships.
Prudential Securities is a U.S. brokerage and investment banking firm with roots dating back to 1879, originating from Leopold Cahn & Co. and later reorganized as J.S. Bache & Co. The firm expanded through major mergers, including with Halsey, Stuart & Co. in 1974, forming one of the era’s prominent investment banking platforms.
In 1981, the firm was acquired by Prudential Financial and became known as Prudential Securities in 1991. Over time, it grew its national presence through acquisitions of branch offices and client assets, establishing itself as a significant player in U.S. securities and investment banking markets.
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is a leading American multinational investment bank and financial services company founded in 1869 and headquartered in New York City. One of the largest investment banks globally, Goldman Sachs provides services across investment banking, securities underwriting, asset and wealth management, and global markets, and is recognized as a systemically important financial institution in the global financial system.