Financial Northeastern is now a division of InspereX, bringing together complementary fixed income capabilities, experienced teams, and a shared commitment to exceptional client service.
For more than four decades, Financial Northeastern has built trusted relationships with banks, credit unions, broker-dealers, and institutional investors nationwide. As part of InspereX, clients should expect the same relationships, expertise, and personal service that have long defined Financial Northeastern.
Financial Northeastern clients now have access to a broader range of investment solutions, trading capabilities, technology, and resources to support their evolving needs.
Brokered CDs and Credit Union Share Certificates supported by deep market expertise, competitive rates, and flexible terms for banks and credit unions
Explore More
New issue and secondary fixed income solutions supported by experienced trading teams and market expertise
Structured products, ETFs, alternative investments, and other solutions designed to support advisor and investor goals
Financial Northeastern, a division of InspereX, is a leading underwriter and distributor of fixed income solutions serving banks, credit unions, broker-dealers, and institutional investors nationwide. Founded in 1984, Financial Northeastern is known for deep market expertise, long-standing client relationships, and disciplined execution. As part of InspereX, Financial Northeastern is integrated into a broader platform that delivers structured products, ETFs, alternative investments, and fixed income securities through differentiated distribution capabilities, technology-enabled market intelligence, and personalized service. InspereX represents more than 1,000 issuing entities and distributes to 5,000+ partners. With six trading desks and more than 200 employees, the firm maintains offices in Delray Beach, FL; Fairfield, NJ; Chicago, IL; New York, NY; Little Rock, AR; Dublin, OH; and Van Alstyne, TX.
 |
Jeffrey Zage
Managing Director, Co-Head of Financial Northeastern Division of InspereX Jeffrey co-founded Financial Northeastern Companies in 1984 and served as Chief Executive Officer, helping build the firm into a leading underwriter and distributor in the brokered deposit and fixed income markets. He currently serves as Managing Director and Co-Head of the Financial Northeastern division of InspereX.
He oversaw approximately $350 billion in brokered CD issuance and $750 billion in fixed income securities transactions. Jeffrey has provided market guidance and data to the U.S. Congress and participated in FDIC industry discussions on the use of brokered deposits by FDIC-insured financial institutions. |
 |
Steven Zage
Managing Director, Co-Head of Financial Northeastern Division of InspereX Steven Zage co-founded Financial Northeastern Companies and Financial Northeastern Securities in 1984 and served as President for more than four decades. He currently serves as Managing Director and Co-Head of the Financial Northeastern division of InspereX.
During his leadership, he focused on strategic initiatives, business development, and partner relationships. He also created the firm's certificates of deposit syndicate program and structured products desk.
Steven has been actively involved in industry advocacy, including efforts in Washington, D.C., during the development of brokered deposit reforms associated with FIRREA and FDICIA. |
100 Passaic Avenue
Fairfield, NJ 07004
800.362.4141
485 Metro Place South, Suite 465
Dublin, OH 43017
877.889.1095
1364 Hackberry Road
Van Alstyne, TX 75495
973.396.1063
Mr. Mitchell joined InspereX after a 20-year career at J.P. Morgan, where he held progressively senior leadership positions across Equity Derivatives and Cross-Asset Structured Investments Sales and Marketing. He joined J.P. Morgan in 2004 to co-head U.S. Third-Party Structured Investments Sales, launching the firm's third-party distribution business, as well as its brokered CD platform. Mr. Mitchell was later promoted in 2006 to serve as sole head of the business.
In 2011, Mr. Mitchell was appointed Managing Director and Head of J.P. Morgan Americas Structured Investments Distributor Marketing (SIDM). He was later promoted to Head of Americas Equity Derivatives Sales and SIDM in 2014 and then Co-Head of Global Equity Derivatives Sales and SIDM in 2019. He led the build-out of J.P. Morgan's SI 360 technology platform and also led the firm's investment in the SIMON advisor technology platform. Mr. Mitchell served on the boards of SIMON and later iCapital after SIMON was sold to iCapital in 2022.
Before joining J.P. Morgan, Mr. Mitchell served as Director, Equity-Linked Structured Products Sales for CIBC Capital Markets. A native of Toronto, he earned a degree in business administration from Wilfrid Laurier University in Ontario.
George Barbar serves as Chief Commercial Officer of InspereX, where he leads the firm's commercial organization, driving strategic growth, strengthening client and partner relationships, expanding distribution capabilities, and delivering innovative fixed income solutions to financial institutions and advisors nationwide.
Mr. Barbar joined InspereX in 2026 from Mesirow, where he spent more than 16 years and most recently served as Senior Managing Director and Head of Regional Development and Strategy. During his tenure, he led the firm's expansion throughout the Southeast while overseeing key institutional fixed income businesses, including rates, government agencies, supranationals, certificates of deposit, and structured products. Earlier in his career, he held positions at BNY Pershing and LaSalle Bank.
With more than two decades of experience in institutional fixed income and capital markets, Mr. Barbar has built and led high-performing teams, expanded institutional distribution platforms, and developed strategic partnerships that have driven growth across the fixed income industry.
A recognized leader within the fixed income industry and broader community, Mr. Barbar is the Founder and President of the South Florida Bond Traders Association, Immediate Past Chair and current Executive Board Member of the Bond Market Association, and Chair of the State of Florida Treasury Investment Council. He also serves on the Orange Bowl Committee, the Board of Habitat for Humanity of Broward, and as School Board Chair of Westminster Academy.
Mr. Barbar is a frequent speaker and guest lecturer on fixed income markets, capital markets, leadership, and financial services at industry conferences and universities, including Florida Atlantic University and Florida International University.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Wheaton College and an MBA from Florida Atlantic University.
Brad Busscher is Chief Administrative Officer, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of InspereX and is responsible for overseeing the legal, compliance and technology departments. He is also a member of the InspereX Executive Committee.
Prior to joining InspereX in 2009, Mr. Busscher served as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Mesirow Financial, where he was a member of the Executive Committee, supported a diverse group of operating entities engaged in brokerage, asset management, insurance, private equity and hedge fund of funds activities and participated in several material acquisitions by the firm.
Before that, he held senior level positions at Van Kampen Investments, a unit of Morgan Stanley, and Kemper Securities, EVEREN Securities, Inc., and First Union Corporation, now known as Wells Fargo Advisors. He also served as a Branch Chief of Enforcement of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and began his career in private practice in Miami, Florida.
Mr. Busscher holds a BA from Cornell University, a JD from the University of Miami and an MBA in Finance and Accounting from the University of Chicago Booth Graduate School of Business. He recently completed his term as a Director of the National Society of Compliance Professionals, published a chapter in a securities treatise, "Corporate Transactions: The Role of Compliance," and is a frequent speaker on securities regulatory issues.
Laura Elliott helped co-found InspereX's predecessor firm Incapital in 1999. As President of the firm, she specializes in strategic initiatives, business development, partner relationships, and seamless customer experiences, while ensuring that the firm maintains readiness for changing market conditions and regulatory environments.
Her focus is on creating connections and collaboration throughout the firm as well as with clients, trading platforms, regulators, and the industry as a whole.
Laura currently serves on the executive board of directors of the Bond Market Association (BMA) and on the BMA's Council on Bond Market Structure. She is a long-time member of the SIFMA Retail Fixed Income Forum. She belongs to the Women's Syndicate Association and the Security Traders Association of Chicago. As an inductee of Kappa Beta Phi, she is recognized as a prominent financial executive.
Previously, Laura worked at ABN AMRO as Syndicate Manager for the GMAC SmartNotes program, responsible for all dealer relationships. Prior to ABN AMRO, she was at Mesirow Financial for nine years, working consecutively in compliance, retail and institutional sales, and high-yield trading.
Laura earned her BS in education from the University of Alabama and currently serves on the executive committee of the President's Cabinet at the university.
Aditi Deeg is an experienced strategist who leads all of InspereX's financial matters, including accounting, financial planning and analysis, regulatory financial reporting, as well as oversight of risk management.
She brings over 20 years of public and private sector experience with a proven track record in scaling businesses. Prior to joining InspereX, Ms. Deeg was the Chief Financial and Operations Officer of charity: water, a global nonprofit organization, where she was responsible for overseeing all financial strategy and scaling operations.
Previously, Ms. Deeg spent over a decade in the financial and technology sector, holding the position of Chief Financial Officer at pingmd, a digital healthcare solutions company, and Kingstown Capital, a high growth value hedge fund. She also held various positions at Bear Stearns and Banc of America Securities.
Ms. Deeg currently sits on the Board of several nonprofit organizations. She holds a BA from University of Maine and an Apollo, and Merrill Lynch, where he led large-scale platform modernization, M&A integration, and digital transformation initiatives.
Ira Lehrman is the Chief Technology Officer at InspereX, responsible for leading the firm’s technology strategy, product engineering, data, and infrastructure, including its proprietary issuance platform Incapnet and its fixed income technology BondNav®.
In his role, he is spearheading a major technology transformation to align the firm’s platforms with its aggressive business goals. Ira brings deep experience in technology across the Fixed Income and Wealth Management sectors. He joins InspereX after serving as CTO of Clear Bid Global Markets.
Previously, he was Senior Managing Director, Global Head of Nuveen Technology at Nuveen, a $1T+ AUM asset manager, and held senior technology leadership positions at Broadridge, Athene (now Apollo), and Merrill Lynch, where he led large-scale platform modernization, M&A integration, and digital transformation initiatives.
