Frank Childress is a Bates Consulting Expert with over 35 years of industry experience as a senior broker-dealer leader, specializing in capital markets and trading. He has extensive expertise in Equity and Fixed Income Trading, Equity Market Structure, and Capital Markets Products for retail distribution. Before embarking on a consulting career, Frank was Managing Director – Capital Markets Trading, for Wells Fargo Advisors, with responsibility for equities, options, and futures trading, supporting financial advisors. In that role, Frank was a member of the firm’s Product Committee and served as Chairman of the firm’s Best Execution Committee. Prior to the Wachovia/Wells Fargo mergers, Frank served as the Director of Nasdaq Trading for A.G. Edwards, Inc., and managed the agency trading and market making platforms supporting both retail and institutional clients.
During his tenure as a consultant, Frank has assisted over 25 clients on engagements related to best execution; capital markets supervision and surveillance; equity and options trading; written supervisory procedures; Regulation SHO; market access; the Volcker Rule; order management system selection; trade reporting; and low-priced securities. He has also served as a FINRA-approved independent consultant and as an expert witness.
Frank S. is a consultant and subject matter expert in these Practice Areas and Services:
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Securities and Financial Services Litigation & Consulting
- Capital Markets
- Complex Products
- Corporate Bonds
- Corporate Debt
- Dark Pools
- Equity Financing
- Equities
- ETFs
- ETNs
- Exchanges
- Fixed Income
- High Frequency Trading
- Insider Trading
- Introducing Firm/Clearing Firm Relationship
- IPOs
- Market Manipulation
- Operations
- Outside Business Activity
- Preferred Securities
- Structured Products/Structured Notes
- Supervision
- Trade Processing
- Trading
- Unauthorized Trading
- Regulatory and Internal Investigations
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BD-RIA Compliance
- Broker Dealer Compliance Reviews
- Business Continuity Plans
- Disaster Recovery & Incident Responses
- Risk Assessments
- Supervision Reviews
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Fintech and Banking Compliance
- Anti-Money Laundering
- Fraud & Risk Management
- Internal Investigations
Credentials
EXPERIENCE
Bates Group, Consulting and Testifying Expert, St. Louis, MO, 2026 – Present
Oyster Consulting, LLC, Capital Markets Products Group, Outsourced Interim Director of Capital Markets Supervision and Surveillance, St. Louis, MO, 2021 – 2025
Wells Fargo Advisors (previously Wachovia Securities and A.G. Edwards), Managing Director – Capital Markets Trading, Equity Services | Capital Markets Services, St. Louis, MO, 2008 – 2020
A.G. Edwards, Inc., St. Louis, MO, 1984 – 2008; Director of Nasdaq Trading, 1999 – 2008;Taxable Fixed Income Manager and Trader, 1984 – 1998
EDUCATION
Bachelor Business Administration (BBA), Roanoke College, Salem, VA
- Resident Assistant
- Varsity Tennis
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS/LICENSING
FINRA Previously Held Series 7, 24, 55, and 63
PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT
- FINRA Arbitrator, Completed FINRA’s Basic Arbitration Training Program
- Security Traders Association of St. Louis, President and Board Member
- FINRA Market Regulation Committee, President and Member
- SIFMA Equity Markets and Trading Committee, Member
- Securities and Exchange Committee (SEC), Panelist for Equity Market Structure Advisory Committee (EMSAC)
- Securities Industry Institute, Executive Education, The Wharton School
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Central Institute for the Deaf, Board of Directors (current), Board President, Chairman of Investment Committee
Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day High School (MICDS), Board of Directors, Alumni Association President
Edgewood Children’s Center (ECC), Board Member, Vice President
Honor Flight, Sponsored and accompanied Vietnam Veteran to Washington, D.C. to visit the memorials
Childhaven, Inc, Chairman, Board Member, led successful merger with Edgewood Children’s Center
The Wellness Community (Cancer Support), Celebration of Hope, Event Committee Member
USA Hockey, Certified Level 3 Ice Hockey Coach – Coached several youth hockey teams
Wells Fargo Community Support Initiatives
- Hiring Our Heroes – Interviewed military personnel for opportunities within Wells Fargo Advisors as they prepared to transition to civilian roles
- St. Louis Public Schools – Leader on Firm effort to support city schools
- Executive Sponsor - Administrative Professionals Community of Practice Group
- United Way Leadership