William H. Corley, Jr.
FOUNDER, CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND CORPORATE OFFICER
William “Chip” Corley founded First Discount Brokerage, Inc. (1DB) in 1995. 1DB’s full-service discount value proposition offers investors both service and price breaks. Since its inception, 1DB has grown organically and through acquisitions: under Mr. Corley’s direction, the firm now includes over 40 offices, 80 registered representatives, 10,000 clients and $1.5 billion in customer assets.
In addition to holding a vast array of industry licenses, including series 7, 65, 24, 27, 31, 53, 55, 63, 4, and 218, in 2010, Chip received a Financial Planning Certificate from Kaplan University. Chip’s forte is money management; his approach in guiding private clients is conservative. With 20 years of experience, he understands that each investor’s financial goals and aspirations are distinctly unique; hence, he creates personalized financial strategies for his clients, with no two portfolios alike. Moreover, as a Registered Financial Consultant, he and his team of accountants provide financial planning services spotlighting asset protection, risk management, retirement income, and estate planning.
In 1986 Chip founded Corley Financial Services, a full service financial planning firm with an emphasis on safety and income. In 1989, Chip moved to New York to work on Wall Street as a Vice President of Global America, where he received the Chairman’s award for new business development. As the firm concluded operations, Chip joined Corporate Securities as a Sr. Vice President in Boca Raton where he helped to establish a European institutional business centering on U.S. equities and convertible securities. The institutional activity centered on the banking community in Switzerland, plus other major financial centers of Europe. In January of 1993, Chip joined Merrill Lynch as a Vice President, and as in prior assignments with other companies, he built a significant business and earned the President’s Club Award. Chip’s career in financial services spans over two decades, commencing during his senior year of college at Banker’s Life and Casualty as a field agent. Chip earned his Bachelor of Science degree at Palm Beach Atlantic University in 1984, and his MBA at Louisiana Baptist University in 1992.
Aileen Gallagher
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AND FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONS PRINCIPAL
Aileen Gallagher is the Chief Financial Officer and Financial and Operations Principal of 1st Discount Brokerage, Inc. Aileen has been a significant part of the company since 1999.
Aileen started her career with a publishing company in midtown New York as a junior accountant and was soon promoted to accounting supervisor. She later went to work in the Wall Street area as an internal auditor with Bankers Trust Company. Aileen was employed by Bankers Trust for six years where she earned the title of Assistant Treasurer, supervising senior and staff auditors to perform financial and procedural audit examinations. When her family relocated to Florida, Aileen worked part time as an accountant prior to joining 1DB.
Aileen graduated Magna Cum Laude with honors in Accounting from Queens College of the City University of New York.
Nicky Cheng
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER AND CORPORATE ACCOUNTANT
Nicky Cheng is the Chief Operating Officer and Corporate Accountant of 1st Discount Brokerage, Inc. Nicky’s career began in the brokerage industry as an accountant with Thomas F. White & Co. in 1999. She has been a successful, dedicated 1DB employee for the last 9 years.
Nicky moved from our San Francisco branch to our headquarters in West Palm Beach during the corporate consolidation in 2007. Throughout the years, Nicky’s responsibilities grew and changed. She assumed the duties of COO, broadening her experience and improving firm operations. Nicky is an executive manager who empowers others to succeed. Nicky currently holds the licenses 7, 24, 27, and 66. She is also a licensed CPA in Florida. She is fluent in English, Mandarin and Taiwanese.
Originally from Taipei, Taiwan, Nicky graduated Cum Laude with honors in Business Technology from Montana State University-Northern and earned her Masters of Accountancy Degree from Golden Gate University in San Francisco, California.
Yulia Kalk
CHIEF COMPLIANCE OFFICER
Yulia Kalk is the Chief Compliance Officer of 1st Discount Brokerage, Inc. Yulia has been with the company since August of 2002 and is highly regarded for her thorough knowledge in all aspects of compliance.
Ms. Kalk started her career in the investment industry as a trader for a firm in San Francisco. She was hired by Thomas F. White & Company in 1996 where she began working in the compliance area. Yulia later joined 1st Discount Brokerage and was soon promoted to the position of Chief Compliance Officer. Yulia has excelled in her position as CCO since then.
Yulia graduated with honors in Business Economics from Mills College in Oakland, CA.
Dolores Strauss
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Dolores Strauss joined 1st Discount Brokerage, Inc. in January 2006 as a Managing Director. Dolores manages the IT team at the firm, handles personnel aspects of the business, and is in charge of special projects. She also serves as an escalation point for internal and external issues.
Dolores has over 40 years experience in the brokerage industry. She began her career at a small firm in the front office business of Ultronic Systems, which eventually became ADP. Dolores was hired as a data clerk, rose to Supervisor of the Commodity Group, and later transferred to Customer Service. After heading Account Management/Customer Service for 6 years, Dolores moved to Sales for front and back office services as a Global Account Manager. In 2000 she left ADP and joined US Clearing as Vice President of Strategic Accounts, where she led a team of Relationship Managers. Dolores then came full circle in the industry when she joined 1DB, a retail brokerage firm.
Dolores attended Burlington County College, majoring in Accounting.
Fueled by that entrepreneurial spirit, 1DB has since grown from a single office to an Independent Broker/Dealer with over 40 retail community-based offices while our partnership with Penson Financial Services, Inc. has enhanced our offerings.