Mr. Payne has Wall Street investment banking experience within a Telecom, Media, and Technology coverage group underwriting credit in multi-billion-dollar public M&A deals, syndicated loan structures, and notes utilizing several sophisticated financial instruments, including investment-grade and non-investment-grade debt. He worked on a small team of three, managing a $2 Billion Portfolio of the bank’s assets under management (AUM) utilizing valuation, financial, and risk analysis.

He has also previously worked as a graduate assistant in the Finance Department at the University of South Carolina, as a Stock Selection Analyst managing a long-equity portfolio for the Business Partnership Foundation, and as a Private Equity Analyst for a Distressed Mortgage Fund. He graduated high school as one of sixty-four $150,000 Frederick C. Branch Marine Corps Naval Reserves Officer Training Corps national scholarship recipients and led platoons of future sailors and marine officers during training and active duty orders as a Midshipman First Class in his battalion.

Mr. Payne holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Howard University, a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Business Analytics, a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina, and an Investment Banker Micro-Degree offered by the Financial Edge Institute, compiling skill certificates in financial modeling, valuation methodologies, financial statement analysis, and M&A analysis. Mr. Payne is also a CFA Candidate.

Mr. Payne currently holds his Series 7, 79, 63, 65, and SIE registrations with FINRA.

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