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A regional firm with a national reach, APS Financial serves clients from coast to coast.
Financial Services
Financial Services Professionals
Joel D. Luton
Senior Vice President, Director of Research
Mr. Luton oversees the research effort at APS Financial and has over 25 years of investment experience. Prior to his affiliation with APS Financial, Mr. Luton had extensive experience in high yield and investment-grade fixed income securities (including both public and private credits), equities, portfolio management, and trading with positions at major financial institutions, including American General Corp. (AIG), Rauscher Pierce Refsnes, Inc. (RBC Dain Rauscher, Inc.), Texas Commerce Bank (JP Morgan Chase). He also was previously affiliated with a Los Angles-based hedge fund that emphasized investments in distressed securities. Mr. Luton served as a key member of a bondholder committee that successfully averted a possible bankruptcy and ultimately provided significant returns to bondholders. Mr. Luton was featured in a headline article in The Dallas Morning News regarding successful investment analysts outside New York City. Since joining APS Financial in 1996, he has been a frequent guest lecturer on high yield and distressed securities for finance classes at the University of Texas. Mr. Luton received his BBA and MBA from the University of Texas, Austin.
Email: jluton@aps-financial.com
Phone: (512) 314-4433
John Helms, CFA
Senior Vice President
Mr. Helms has over twenty years of investment management and research experience. Most of his experience has been in the high yield bond and leveraged loan markets, both as portfolio manager and analyst. Most recently, he worked for Orix USA as a Director responsible for the broad industrial sectors of a $1.2 billion portfolio, following ten industries. Prior to Orix, Mr. Helms published in-depth research reports on high yield and distressed securities for regional broker-dealers including Speedwell Securities, B. Riley & Co., Tejas Securities and APS Financial (in 1999 & 2000). In 1995, Mr. Helms founded Total Investment Management, a registered investment advisor focusing on value equities and high yield bonds. As part of Total, he was a managing partner for Mountain Investment Partners, L.P., a hedge fund investing in high yield and distressed securities. He worked for Criterion Investment Management starting in 1988, initially as a research analyst supporting the trading desk and portfolio managers, subsequently moved to the trading desk, managing short maturity portfolios. Mr. Helms managed the Transamerica High Yield Bond Fund for Transamerica Fund Management (the successor to Criterion) from 1992 through 1994. Mr. Helms has a M.B.A. from New York University and a Masters of Chemical Engineering from Rice University.
Email: jhelms@aps-financial.com
Phone: (214) 686-1051
Our highly experienced team of Asset Managers gives complete attention to every detail in the management of client portfolios. The following is a listing of these professionals and a little information about them.
Samuel R. Granett
President
Mr. Granett has been with APS since 1981. In addition to having served as the firm's President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Granett also served as Senior Vice President of the Finance Division of APS Group, Inc. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Granett served six years with a major insurance company. His professional career also includes six years as an officer in the U.S. Army where he received the Silver Star and the Bronze Star for Valor. Mr. Granett holds degrees from Harvard Business School and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
Email: sgranett@aps-financial.com
Phone: (512) 314-4361
Ken Jaskol, CFA
Vice-President Technical Support & Trading
Mr. Jaskol shares responsibility between APSF Asset Management and APS Financial. At APSF Asset Management he is responsible for fixed income portfolio management. At APS Financial he heads up the firm's technical support group and is responsible for mortgage and government trading. Prior to joining APSF Investment Services, Mr. Jaskol held positions at CIGNA Insurance Co. and most recently at Conning Asset Management Company where he was responsible for fixed income analytics and short-term trading. Mr. Jaskol received his undergraduate degree from the University of Hartford and is a CFA.
Email: kjaskol@aps-financial.com
Phone: (512) 314-4412 | (512) 314-4459
Our Securities professionals are experienced and efficient. They handle our clients' financial needs with discretion and precision.
Main Office Sales Staff
Jeff Sandberg, Executive VP, Sales Manager
Samuel R. Granett, Managing Director
Peter Aman, Senior VP, Registered Rep
Jules Scruggs, Senior VP, Registered Rep
Mike Janak, Senior VP, Registered Rep
Randy Wright, Senior VP, Registered Rep
Jim Morrison, Senior VP, Registered Rep
Wayne Crosthwait, Senior VP, Registered Rep
Gary Heuschkel, Senior VP, Registered Rep
Lawrence Hartman, Senior VP, Registered Rep
Robert Gillette, VP, Registered Rep
Tony Snyder, VP, Registered Rep
Michael Ashby, VP, Registered Rep
Scott Winski, VP, Registered Rep
Ross Bruner, VP, Registered Rep
Bruce Simmons, VP, Registered Rep
Mike Dodd, VP, Registered Rep
Andrew Graham, VP, Registered Rep
Trading Staff
Ken Jaskol, CFA, VP, Technical Support and Trading
Steve Sutton, VP, Trading