News

M. Thomas Hudson, who retired after a 45-year career in the securities industry, gave a presentation on stock valuation and other pertinent financial insights to the Finance 215 - Financial Management class, taught by Rachael Thompson, DSLCC Business Program Head. Several students, faculty and staff attended the lecture held on the DSLCC Clifton Forge campus.

“I was honored to be asked to present to the Business Class,” said Hudson, a graduate of Covington High School and now living in St. Augustine, FL. “DSLCC is such a vital part of the educational system in the Alleghany Region. I was very impressed by the class in whole and especially the questions that were asked at the conclusion. I should have allowed more time for Q & A as the level of questions were right on target in today’s business climate.”

"We are most appreciative of Mr. Hudson's time and invaluable insights from his impressive career in the financial sector,” said Thompson. “To experience such success and desire to share it with students, faculty, and staff from his hometown is commendable. All attendees thoroughly enjoyed his entertaining presentation. In addition, I had the good fortune of working with Mr. Hudson during my time as Executive Director of the DSLCC Educational Foundation; his generous support of DSLCC in all facets is evident and highly valued.”

Hudson retired from Raymond James and Associates, Inc. (RJA) after 23 years of active service on Dec 31, 2013. Prior to joining RJA, Hudson worked for PaineWebber (now UBS) from 1968 to 1990. He held securities licenses 1/7, 3, 4, 8, 24, 53, 63 and 65.

During his 45-year career in the securities industry, Hudson held a variety of positions, beginning as a Financial Advisor and concluding as a special consultant to the President of RJA. During his time at PaineWebber, he held the positions of Financial Advisor, Trainer for new Financial Advisors, andBranch Manager of five different PaineWebber offices (1974-1990). In 1990, Hudson joined RJA. From 1990 through 1994, Hudson was a Regional Manager at Raymond James. From 1994 to 2006, he was the National Sales Manager responsible for the entire retail branch system, approximately 120 branches and 1100 Financial Advisors. From 2006 through 2013, Hudson was a Senior Vice President and consultant to the President of Raymond James and Associates, Inc.

As consultant to the President, Hudson worked on special projects, succession planning, recruiting, training, mentoring, and as a business liaison to the legal department. As the legal department liaison, Hudson was involved with recruiting and transitions issues, promissory notes and collection claims, and customer complaint arbitrations. Hudson also worked with the Compliance Department, along with legal, on early dispute resolution.

Hudson is conversant in the following areas, both from experience and study: client suitability; margins; options trading; corporate and municipal bonds; mutual funds; Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs); alternative investments; commodities; asset allocation; transition assistance (loans to Financial Advisors when joining a firm); recruiting; “Protocol” as it relates to the securities industry; “raiding cases and damages”; employee relations; compliance supervision; sales practices as related to Financial Advisors.

During the period 2006 – 2013 Hudson participated in over 500 matters, 200 mediations, and 15 arbitration hearings as a witness and/or corporate representative. Issues considered, among others, ranged from client suitability, overconcentration, product cases (including structured products, REITs, and alternative investments, elder abuse, selling away, unauthorized, and excessive trading, personnel issues, and collection of bad debts to “raiding.”

Hudson is a 1960 CHS graduate and a 1964 graduate of Virginia Tech, with a BS in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance. He served as a Captain in the United States Air Force (SAC) September 1964 – September 1968, before beginning his career in the Financial Services Industry.

For more information about the DSLCC Business Program, contact Thompson at (540) 863-2890 or rthompson@dslcc.edu.