American Veterans Group, PBC (“AVG”) is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned investment bank and broker-dealer, which is committed to providing significant value to American military veteran communities. This commitment is demonstrated by significant AVG ownership gifted to its non-profit organization.
Many organizations do not realize they have the opportunity to conduct investment banking business where a substantial portion of the firm’s earnings are reinvested directly back into worthy causes.
American Veterans Group is clearly that firm. Are you a military veteran or family member interested in joining our team?
If so, please connect with us
via email.
Our Story
Ben Biles and his best friend and U.S. Naval Academy roommate dreamed of working together on Wall Street after completing their required military service. Sadly, the hardships faced with transitioning from the service changed that dream.
Just weeks after leaving the Navy, Ben’s friend Keith took his own life. Keith’s story has unfortunately become more common with a growing number of post 9/11 veterans returning home and facing the hardship of PTSD and depression. Ben shifted course to honor Keith’s legacy by building a business to serve veterans and add value to our country.
In this pursuit, he joined forces with his mentor and industry leader Bill Frazier to add deep experience and a track record of business and professional excellence. As an American military veteran united with a Wall Street executive, they formed American Veterans Group. We believe the values honed through military experience provide an edge when it comes to delivering the excellence our clients expect.
LEADERSHIP
Ben Biles, Co-Founder
Ben sets strategic policy at American Veterans Group and leads both business development and social mission development. He advises investment managers, corporate finance professionals, and community leaders on ways to advance their financial and social goals. Ben is active in veteran social issues and ESG advancement issues.
Ben is a 2008 graduate of the US Naval Academy and served for 6 years as an Active Duty US Navy Officer. In his service history, Ben completed an 8-month deployment aboard the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. In his last assignment, he served as Procurement Officer at the US Naval Academy.
Ben has a Masters of Business Administration degree from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business and holds series 7, 24, 27, 52, 53, and 63 licenses. He is a Term Member for the Council on Foreign Relations and is the President of the Naval Academy Alumni Association Chapter of New York City.
William Frazier, Co-Founder
William brings over 45 years of comprehensive experience to American Veterans as a leader in business and non-profits. Before co-founding American Veterans Group, William served as managing partner at Gates Capital Corporation where he oversaw a team of 30 investment professionals dealing with institutional business in all asset categories. Prior to Gates Capital Corporation, he was co-head of global fixed income at Oppenheimer & Company. During his 20 year tenure at Oppenheimer he successfully grew the Fixed Income business to be a leader in the industry, Early on in his career, William was head of Municipal Trading at JP Morgan.
William is currently active in the financial services industry, serving on bond and commodities industry boards. He also shares his expertise philanthropically for the benefit of his local community, serving on the Board of Trustees for the Northwell Health System and formerly chairman of the board of Northwell’s Huntington Hospital. He has served in numerous roles at Northwell Heath, including Investment Committee board member, past chairman of the board of trustees for Huntington Hospital, chairman of their finance committee, and is currently a member of the executive committee.
William currently serves on the Northwell Investment Committee as chairman of the fixed income sub-committee. As chairman of the fixed income subcommittee, he is responsible for all fixed income investments in the corporate cash portfolio, endowment funds and pension plan funds. For his work with American Veterans Group, William received the 2022 Mary Lanning Public Service Award from the Insurance Federation of New York. Mr. Frazier graduated from Hofstra University with a B.A. in Finance in 1971. He holds the Series 7, 8, 24, 53, and 57 licenses.
Jared Kurtzer, Managing Partner
Jared has 20 years experience in fixed income management, sales and trading, underwriting, and risk management. He joins American Veterans Group from Gates Capital where he served as managing director. Prior to Gates Capital, he was involved in municipal underwriting as well as municipal and taxable fixed income trading and sales at Prudential Securities. Jared has worked on both the institutional and retail side of trading and sales.
Jared received his BBA from Hofstra University, MBA from Fordham University and holds FINRA Series 3, Series 7, Series 24, Series 57 and Series 63 licenses.