Detwiler Fenton & Co. ("DFC") is the wholly owned subsidiary of Detwiler Fenton Group, Inc. ("DFG"), a publicly traded financial services holding company that is quoted on Pink Sheets under the symbol DMCD.
Detwiler Fenton's roots extend to 1962 when Fechtor & Co. was founded. In 1976 Robert Detwiler became a 33% owner and the name of the company was changed to Fechtor, Detwiler & Co., Inc. In 1999 JMC Group, Inc. merged with Fechtor, Detwiler to become a national financial services firm serving both institutional and individual investors with research, annuity products, and investment brokerage.
On October 11, 2001, Detwiler, Mitchell & Co. launched its new vision. During the market downturn a new breed of institutional investor emerged who was more innovative, attentive, and far more data-driven. These new managers were turning away from company-sponsored research and demanding independent metrics straight from the channel which is what we do.
In the next two years the company shed unrelated businesses and sharpened our focus. Today our teams span the globe. From Boston, New York, Arizona, California, and Asia we are in the market, listening, thinking, and communicating. We use the phrase "Channel Research" to simply explain how we work.
Our vision also recognized the changes occurring among larger retail firms. While the customer wanted a trusted advisor, many wire houses were busy trying to separate the broker from the client. They were more concerned with controlling the relationship than giving advice. DFC rejects that trend by trying to select Boston and Connecticut's elite brokers, equipping them with the current technology, and setting them free to practice their craft.
James Mitchell & Co. ("JMC"), another wholly owned subsidiary of DFG, is a financial services holding company that markets insurance products and direct business mutual funds through its subsidiaries, JMC Insurance Services Corporation and JMC Financial Corporation. JMC was originally founded to provide annuity products to bank customers. In the 1990s, banks were allowed to sell these products directly, without the help of an intermediary. In response, the insurance division shifted its sales focus by marketing directly to individuals as well as the customers of the Private Client Group.