Ramirez & Co. | Taking a stand for diversity on Wall Street

Samuel A. Ramirez
Founder and CEO
Ramirez & Co.

My parents were both born in Puerto Rico. I was a page on the New York Stock Exchange. That was my first job on Wall Street.

With $50,000 and a dream, I started Ramirez and Company investment banking December 1971. My first employee was my wife. I had a handful of accounts.

A good friend felt that Ramirez was very ethnic. He thought it would hurt us doing business. My parents were proud of that name, Ramirez. And I decided, why not Ramirez?

Samuel A. Ramirez, Jr.
CEO
Ramirez Asset Management

When my father founded the firm, Wall Street was an old boys club.

We have traditionally had to work twice as hard and for probably less than some of the guys showing up with the top-six business card.

Our biggest areas of business are our municipal bond area. We were the first diverse firm to be given the opportunity to be a co-manager on a New York City transaction, and that was in 1987.

Today, we compete against the biggest banks in the world on a daily basis and we're usually top 10 to 15 in the country.

Randall Lacayo
Head of Diverse Segments
Wells Fargo Corporate & Investment Banking

Today Ramirez is the oldest Hispanic-owned investment bank in Wall Street.

We've brought them in as co-managers on a number of deals for corporate clients. And Ramirez introduces us to clients that we otherwise would have not encountered.

Back to Sam Junior

We've been in 40 transactions for Wells Fargo over the last 10 years. It's really a partnership that I think has risen to a level of being strategic.

Wall Street's becoming a place where people are celebrating diversity.

Back to Randall

In 2021, Wells Fargo was the first among the nation's six biggest banks to use investment banks owned by minorities and women as joint bookrunners in a debt capital markets transaction. 

To be able to see that transformation, as a Hispanic and part of the LGBTQ community, really means a lot to me.

Back to Sam Junior

I think my father was a trailblazer. And I think there's a lot of trailblazing left to do.

Forging What’s Next
Sponsored by Wells Fargo bloomberg.com/forgingwhatsnext

Wells Fargo Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB) and Wells Fargo Securities (WFS) are the trade names used for the corporate banking, capital markets, and investment banking services of Wells Fargo & Company and its subsidiaries, including but not limited to Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, member of NYSE, FINRA, NFA, and SIPC, Wells Fargo Prime Services, LLC, member of FINRA, NFA and SIPC, and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., member NFA and swap dealer registered with the CFTC and security-based swap dealer registered with the SEC, member FDIC. Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and Wells Fargo Prime Services, LLC, are distinct entities from affiliated banks and thrifts.

©2023 Wells Fargo & Company