Dave Choate is Chief Operating Officer & Executive Director of Sales and Trading, CAPIS.
Who were the most important/influential people at your firm in 2024?
In 2024, the most important and influential people at CAPIS were those who demonstrated exceptional leadership and vision, driving the firm’s continued growth and success. COO David Choate was also critical to the firm’s success, overseeing day-to-day operations and ensuring the seamless execution of CAPIS’ business strategy. David’s focus on operational efficiency, team collaboration, and client satisfaction helped maintain CAPIS’ competitive edge and high standards of service.
A standout in 2024 was Chris Halverson, Director of Institutional Sales, who not only played a key role in expanding the firm’s institutional client base but also earned the prestigious STA 2024 Recipient of the Dictum Meum Pactum Award. Chris’ expertise and dedication to client relationships were fundamental in securing high-profile partnerships and driving business development initiatives at CAPIS.
In addition, Chris Hurley, Head of CAPIS’ Outsourced Trading offering, Chad Muller, Head of Domestic Equity Trading, Dave Lee, Head of Fixed Income, and Jon Lantz, Head of Bank Trust sales, have helped to shape CAPIS’ trajectory in 2024, contributing to the firm’s continued growth and leadership within the financial services industry.
What was the biggest financial market story of 2024?
The biggest financial market story of 2024 revolved around the continued rise and integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, particularly their impact on stock markets and industries. Companies like Nvidia, Microsoft, and others heavily involved in AI innovation experienced significant growth. The AI-driven boom in productivity and efficiency sparked debates about long-term investment opportunities and risks.
What is a big story that you are tracking heading into 2025?
Heading into 2025, the biggest story to watch for everyone in our industry is how the incoming administration will impact a host of issues relevant to the financial markets – its stance on regulation, energy policy, domestic spending and so much more. All we know now is that changes are coming, but the impact is not yet clear. It will be very interesting to see how it all unfolds and market participants will need to be at the ready to react for sure.
We also have our eyes on The U.S. Supreme Court’s June 2024 decision to overturn the Chevron deference, a doctrine that had guided judicial deference to federal agencies’ interpretations of ambiguous statutes since 1984. This will have major consequences for the SEC and financial markets. The impacts on the SEC include increased judicial scrutiny – where the courts are now more likely to independently interpret statutes, reducing deference to the SEC’s expertise and increasing the likelihood of further legal challenges. This of course creates regulatory uncertainty, where the SEC may need to provide more detailed justifications for rules, which could potentially slow rulemaking. That will impact the broader financial markets by increasing compliance costs and causing more market uncertainty/decreased investor confidence, due to prolonged legal disputes.
