The Fixed Income Capital Markets division is nationally recognized as one of the largest fixed income sales, trading and research operations outside Wall Street. The division includes more than 500 investment professionals encompassing sales professionals, traders, analysts and bankers working from institutional offices located throughout the South and in Boston, Chicago and New York. Morgan Keegan ranks among the top 10 municipal underwriters and is one of the top government agency underwriters in the United States. The research department is known for its proprietary analytics system, eFolio®, which is used by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) in the oversight of banks nationwide.
Highlighted are selected fixed income research staff and traders with their areas of expertise.
Kevin H. Giddis
Managing Director
Head of Fixed Income Sales, Trading and Research
- U.S. Treasury Markets
- Fixed Income Trading
- The U.S. Economy and its effect on the Bond Market
- Fixed Income Market Commentary
- Retail Fixed Income Investment Strategies
Terry Robertson, CPA
Managing Director
Director of Fixed Income Research
- Managing Client's Balance Sheets
- Interest Rate Risk Management
- Off-Balance Sheet Strategies
Carl E. Moerbe, CFA
Managing Director
Fixed Income Research
- U. S. Agency Debt
- Fannie Mae
- Freddie Mac
- Federal Home Loan Bank
- Federal Farm Credit Bank
- Interest Rate Risk Management
- Fixed Income Portfolio Management Strategies
Rick Trent, CPA
Senior Vice President
Fixed Income Research
Mortgage Backed Securities Trading
Howard Benz
Managing Director
Co-Manager of Fixed Income Research
Joey Vandergrift
Senior Vice President
Fixed Income Research
Kevin H. Giddis
Managing Director
Head of Fixed Income Sales, Research and Trading
Kevin H. Giddis oversees all trading, sales and research for the fixed income capital markets division, including ten institutional fixed income sales branches across the footprint, as well as the fixed income research group, one of the largest such operations off Wall Street.
Giddis joined Morgan Keegan in 1998 to manage the 30-plus person retail fixed income trading desk, which supports the sales efforts of the approximately 1,200 financial advisors who make up Morgan Keegan's private client group.
Prior to joining Morgan Keegan, Giddis worked with Principal Financial Securities in Dallas as head of taxable fixed income trading. He currently serves as the finance chairman for Collierville United Methodist Church.
Areas of Expertise for Kevin H. Giddis
- U.S. Treasury Markets
- Fixed Income Trading
- The U.S. Economy and its effect on the Bond Market
- Fixed Income Market Commentary
- Retail Fixed Income Investment Strategies
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Terry Robertson, CPA
Managing Director
Director of Fixed Income Research
Terry Robertson, CPA, joined Morgan Keegan in 1997. He assists Morgan Keegan's institutional clients in managing their balance sheets, which includes evaluation of investment products, strategies, regulations, and tax laws and their applications to our clients' financial positions. Additionally, Robertson has expertise in interest rate risk management and off-balance sheet strategies.
He joined Morgan Keegan after nine years with First Tennessee Capital Markets where he was a vice president in the Financial Services Group. Prior to Robertson's position at First Tennessee, he worked at Federal Express Corporation and a Big 5 Accounting firm. He holds a BA from the University of Mississippi and an MBA in Finance from the University of Memphis.
Areas of Expertise for Terry Robertson
- Managing Client's Balance Sheets
- Interest Rate Risk Management
- Off-Balance Sheet Strategies
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Carl E. Moerbe, CFA
Managing Director
Fixed Income Research
Carl Moerbe joined Morgan Keegan in 1994. His primary responsibilities include product analysis for institutional fixed income investors with an emphasis on U.S. agency debt, investment strategies and eFolio® online analytics.
Moerbe is experienced in working with institutional accounts regarding evaluation of investment products and interest rate risk management. He also works closely with clients to develop and implement online solutions to meet their portfolio management and accounting needs. He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a BBA in Finance and a concentration in Risk Management and Insurance.
Areas of Expertise for Carl E. Moerbe
- U. S. Agency Debt
- Fannie Mae
- Freddie Mac
- Federal Home Loan Bank
- Federal Farm Credit Bank
- Interest Rate Risk Management
- Fixed Income Portfolio Management Strategies
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Rick Trent, CPA
Senior Vice President
Fixed Income Research
Mortgage Backed Securities Trading
Rick Trent returned to Morgan Keegan in 2004. Rick has spent most of his career in senior finance role with multi-bank holding companies for national, regional and community banks and for thrifts and finance companies.
Prior to re-joining Morgan Keegan, Trent served as Bank Investment Portfolio Manager for Regions Financial Corporation’s $9 billion fixed income securities portfolio. In his previous tenure with Morgan Keegan Fixed Income Research, Trent worked with depository institutions to evaluate performance and develop strategies for investment portfolio and balance sheet management.
Trent is a graduate of the University of Evansville, in Evansville, Indiana with a BS in Accounting.
Areas of Expertise for Rick Trent
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Howard Benz
Managing Director
Co-manager of Fixed Income Research
As a Managing Director in Fixed Income Research at Morgan Keegan, Howard’s particular focus is on serving depository institutions. His responsibilities include evaluating balance sheets and identifying strategies to enhance clients’ interest rate risk positions, while improving earnings and the overall value of the franchise.
Howard is a graduate of the University of Mississippi with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. He received a Master of Business Administration degree from Christian Brothers University. He holds the following professional licenses: Series 7 - General Securities Representative; Series 24 - General Securities Principal, and Series 63 - Uniform Securities Agent State Law.
Areas of expertise for Howard Benz
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Joey Vandergrift
Senior Vice President
Fixed Income Research
As a First Vice President in Morgan Keegan’s Fixed Income Research, Joey
Vandergrift is responsible for managing Morgan Keegan’s Asset / Liability
department as well as providing model validations in accordance with OCC
2000-16. Other responsibilities include evaluating balance sheets and
identifying strategies to enhance clients’ interest rate risk positions, while
improving earnings and the overall value of the franchise.
Joey is a graduate of Christian Brothers University with a Bachelor of
Business Administration degree. He holds the following professional
licenses: Series 7--General Securities Representative and Series 63--
Uniform Securities Agent State Law.
Areas of expertise for Joey Vandergrift
