Will Ray
Recent Activity
Every time someone gets on their soapbox regarding the financial crisis, usually he or she complains that it's a crisis mired in complexity. It's true that the toxic assets on bank books are not discernible to even the most discriminating analysts, but I will attempt to offer a little clarity. … Read More
March 25, 2009 | In Business & Economics, Politics & Policy
Will Ray commented on Entertainers and Athletes paid too much? on March 24, 2009, 4:56 PM
There is actually a metric for athlete compensation. Fans in Seats and the amount of stuff you can sell due to that athlete presence on your team. This is not as easy with executives. Athlete compensation this is what started the executive compensation explosion. When Jordan started making big dollars in endorsement deals, better educated executives felt they should be earning more than a Black athlete. A mix of racism and classism. Most people avoid the discussion, but if you look back at the news stories from that time, even Asian executives where saying things like "I want to own the team, not play for the team." After the big endorsement deals lead to Jordan's ownership and wealth creation, executives began to focus on how they could get more wealth out of corporations. At least owners don't get all the profits anymore. It is strange how we don't tax this growth so that it improves the community that support these teams. The area around stadiums can be ghettos.
Why Is There No Leadership Coming From American CEOs?
It must be wonderful to be on the board of a large, American corporation. It's kind of like being in a fraternity—all bailouts and stimulus. … Read More
March 24, 2009 | In Business & Economics
Fear and Loathing on Wall Street
Hank Greenberg, the architect of AIG as a Global Powerhouse said recently, "I wouldn't have paid the bonuses." So how did some savvy negotiators convince Treasury and the Senate Banking Committee to let them fly? … Read More
March 23, 2009 | In Business & Economics
I am a Renaissance Man and a lifelong learner. I taught myself the systematic study of algorithmic processes that describe and transform information (Computer Science) and used it to solve finance problems. I am currently working on the toxic asset problem. "My brother James and I were two of the first African American Computer Driven Program Traders to work at a Wall Street Investment House."
With a team of Stanford PhD's, Will Ray, developed PPRM, a risk measurement model that allows our firm to perform an independent valuation for Venture Capital Portfolios and individual companies. Will and various team members have evaluated and consulted multi-million and billion dollar institutional portfolios. Currently, WebIMC facilitates secondary transactions. The firms focus is illiquid security valuation. Will began his career with Bear Stearns in the institutional equities department. In 1992 he formed a program trading desk with Investment Technology Group (NYSE:ITG), then went on to start-up the computer-driven trading desk of Williams Capital in New York, where he was a VP in charge of Equity Sales & Trading. He established two additional institutional equity computer driven program trading groups with Lattice Trading which was later sold. In 1997 he was a consultant to the founder and Chairman of online trading firm ETrade Group/KAP, in the area of derivatives transactions. He is an experienced Registered Investment Advisor and a passionate computer scientist. Will is a graduate of the University of California, at Berkeley.
Will Ray commented on The Seven Minute Guide to Understanding Wine on September 26, 2009, 3:13 PM
Gary, Thanks! It is great to see us get past basic wine knowledge. There has been so much misinformation over the years.