A Century of Investment Leadership in Philadelphia
Connecting investment professionals through education, integrity, and collaboration for over 100 years.
The Bond Club of Philadelphia was founded in 1922 by investment house owners to encourage a spirit of cooperation among traders of investment securities (bonds), as well as to provide professional educational opportunities and to promote and maintain high standards in the profession. Today, it is the longest standing organized group in the region, espousing the very same mission.
A New Century and a Renewed Mission
On November 22, 2022, the Bond Club of Philadelphia celebrated 100 years since its founding! A centenary year of special events kicked off with a Garden Cocktail Party at the National Society of Colonial Dames-Philadelphia Chapter Meeting House on May 23, 2022. Throughout the year, we had a number of educational and networking events that brought our members and guests together in the spirit of cooperation and fellowship that defines the Club. This historic year culminated with our Centenary Gala at the Union League of Philadelphia in November of 2022. It was an amazing evening that celebrated our members, past and present, and our philanthropic efforts represented by The Bond Club of Philadelphia Scholarship Fund. Our Centenary year marked the close association of the Bond Club throughout its history with the City, the importance of our industry to the City, and our commitment to the financial education of the next generation.
We look forward to seeing what the next 100 years brings!
If you ride public transportation in the Delaware Valley today, it seems fair to say you’ve got an unacknowledged stake in the transit system; and it’s likely that a member of our Club issued or traded the bonds and other securities associated with the formation a hundred years ago of the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company, the old PTC, now known as SEPTA!
As you would expect, many changes have transpired in our investment business over the past hundred years as members have risen to challenges in society and the market.
A notable acknowledgement of change was offered by Ralph Demmler, Chairman of the SEC in the 1950s. In recognition of our members’ contribution to the investment community, he said, “Philadelphia from time immemorial has been both an industrial and a financial center. You who are leaders in the field of finance in this great metropolis must contribute of your talents to preserve its integrity”.
Helping form the future of Philadelphia’s investment profession, in the 1980s we established the Bond Club of Philadelphia Scholarship Fund as a non-profit entity to award financial scholarships to local university students majoring in Finance or Economics. We seek to identify and offer opportunity and encouragement to students striving for academic excellence while negotiating challenging backgrounds and so diversify the pool of industry talent beyond the traditional. We’ve provided scholarship grants to scores of worthy students some today, who are members and contribute their talents and zest to our Philadelphia investment community.
A glance at our list of past presidents and governors since 1922 will show a panoply of famous traders, advisors and citizens from our Philadelphia investment community who contributed to transforming the national business of securities trading.
