Alan Appelbaum began his professional career as a history teacher. Years later, he found himself working in the bond market. He has spent 48 years in the bond market industry. He's now retired but continues to be involved in charity organizations. He's proud to have worked with some of his clients for 40 years or more. Humble Beginnings Alan Appelbaum is proud to say he came from humble beginnings. He grew up in Bayonne, NJ. It is a blue-collar town located near Newark Bay. The town is a far cry from Wall Street. It's known for exporting, oil refining, and yacht building. His first career was as a history teacher in New Jersey. He got his start in the bond industry in 1973. Surprisingly, he did not know what he was getting into at the time. When asked about those early years, Applebaum said, "A friend of mine thought I would like working in the bond market, and all I knew of were bail bondsmen. I thought I would be getting guys out of jail.” He worked in the industry for nearly a decade, learning everything there was to know. In 1982, he founded A.F. Best Securities Inc. in Coral Springs, Fla. He eventually sold the company to Gruntal & Co. LLC. The company kept the original name and added a Gruntal Division, in which Applebaum acted as the president. He worked with the company until 1999. President of H.J. Sims & Co. Alan Appelbaum became president of H.J. Sims & Co. in 2002. The company was founded in 1935. Their current headquarters is in Connecticut. H.J. Sims is well known and respected. They are known for having a client-centered approach to investing. The company has a surprising beginning. It was founded during the Great Depression by Herbert J. Sims. He began with a one-room office. He got the capital to begin his business from his mother. He built the business with little other than integrity and word of mouth. Appelbaum upheld the principles of the company, identifying with the humble start Mr. Sims had and what he had built. He successfully guided the company until 2007. Managing Partner for Aegis Capital Appelbaum began acting as the managing partner for Aegis Capital in 2015. He was the head of the division of the municipal bond. Aegis Capital was founded in 1984 and is located in New York City, New York. They focus on tailored investment solutions and take a hands-on approach when working with clients.
The company has processed more than $50 billion in capital markets transactions over the years. They offer several services, including wealth management, investment banking, equity research, retirement planning, and private equity. Appelbaum helped the company grow from 2015 to 2021 when he retired. Charity Work Appelbaum has worked extensively with charities. Thanks to his own life experiences, he believes in giving back to the community. A.F. Best Securities Foundation A.F. Best Securities Foundation provides support for children's charities, particularly those in the medical or social fields. They also aim to fund research for cancer and other life-threatening diseases that strike children. A.F. Best Securities Foundation raises contributions via an annual golf tournament. Dinner is also held. Children's Charity Work Appelbaum has a passion for helping children. He has given more than $4 million to children's charities through the A.F. Best Securities Foundation. St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis, Tn, named a lab after Appelbaum. This was due to his generous contributions to the hospital. He was also a member of the Advisory Board of Directors for the Duke University Children's Hospital. Maccabi Appelbaum is currently a member of the board of directors for Maccabi's USA division. The company works to build and promote Jewish pride through sports. They are devoted to people of all ages and physical abilities. Their goal is to promote Israel, Zionism, and Jewish continuity. They help build community through athletic, educational, and cultural events and experiences. Appelbaum was a member of the gold medal golf team at the Maccabiah Games, which is the largest event held by Maccabi. It's also known as the Jewish Olympics. Maccabi USA held a Gala brunch in Boca Raton to honor what they term "Legends of Maccabi". Alan Appelbaum was recognized at the event. Both Alan and Kerry Appelbaum participated in the 22nd Annual Palm Beach Tournament. Appelbaum went on to represent Team USA at the 20th World Maccabiah Games in Israel.
Alan Appelbaum Appelbaum has worked in the municipal bonds business for more than four decades. Throughout this time, he's built close relationships with clients. He's made significant financial contributions to several children's charities. In addition to financial contributions, he volunteers his time at Maccabi. He's passionate about golf and community building, as well as the Jewish faith.