Undergraduate Alumni Spotlight: Omer Meisel
Omer Meisel graduated with a BA in Economics and a minor in English from Ohio State in 1993. He is currently Executive Vice President of the National Cause and Financial Crimes Detection Program at the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA, a US federal agency).
- Why did you choose to study economics at Ohio State?
I actually began my time at Ohio State as a pre-med major, fully expecting to be an ophthalmologist. But along the way, I took two economics courses as electives, and it ended up changing everything for me. I found myself genuinely drawn to the way economics explains how people make decisions, how systems operate, and how incentives shape real-world outcomes. Those courses opened my eyes to the fact that my true interests and strengths were in understanding complex systems and analytical problem solving. It also didn’t hurt that I excelled academically. This realization made the decision clear for me, economics was the path that aligned with my interests and abilities, and shifting my major was one of the best decisions I made at Ohio State.
- What has been your career path following graduation from Ohio State?
My career has been anything but a straight line. I started my professional journey as a securities trader and quickly realized that it wasn’t something I was passionate about, but I didn’t know what I was passionate about. So, I decided to go to law school to continue my search. The summer after my first year of law school, I was selected for an internship at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) – based largely on my background as a securities trader and my econ major. After that internship, the SEC hired me as a full-time investigator while I still went to law school full-time. This is where I discovered my true passion as an investigator protecting people and institutions from bad actors. And I dedicated the next 30 years of my professional career to the discipline of investigations, working at the NASD/FINRA investigating securities fraud, the FBI where I spent 22 years working financial crimes, terrorism, counterintelligence, and cyber investigations. Then after my retirement, I returned to FINRA where I lead their investigations department.
- What did you feel least prepared for when you began your first job post-graduation?
When I first started as a trader, I wasn’t prepared for the pace and intensity of financial markets. The unpredictability of the market, regulatory complexity, and human behavior was something no academic class can fully prepare you for. My economics courses provided me with a strong foundation on concepts, analytic thinking, and an understanding of the financial markets, but applying them with actual consequences attached was a whole different level of intensity.
- In your current position, what do you do on a day-to-day basis?
In my role as Executive Vice President of FINRA’s National Cause and Financial Crimes Detection Program, I lead a large department of investigators and analysts that use regulatory events, intelligence, and data to review, assess, investigate, and mitigate priority threats and risks to investors and/or the securities market, and collaborate with FINRA member firms to exchange threat intelligence to protect investors, our firms, and the market. My days are a mix of strategy, problem-solving, and making sure my teams have what they need to identify and mitigate threats and risk to the financial system.
- How has the economics you studied at Ohio State helped you in your career?
It trained me to break down complex problems into understandable pieces, build strong analytical skills – the kind you rely on when you’re looking at data, spotting patterns, or trying to understand what’s really driving human behavior. It also shaped how I lead teams: thinking logically, weighing incentives, and making fact-based decisions. That ability to analyze, interpret, and communicate complex concepts has been a constant thread in everything I’ve done since graduating.
- What’s the most challenging work experience you’ve encountered so far?
Some of the most challenging experiences I’ve had were leading people through fast-moving, high-pressure situations where information is incomplete, and the stakes are high. Whether it was a major complex investigation or terrorist attack, crisis moments test everything at once – your judgment, your communication, and your ability to keep teams focused when the ground is shifting under them. The hardest part is balancing urgency with clarity, making decisions without perfect data, and supporting the teams who are carrying a heavy load. Those situations stretch you as a leader, but they also teach you a lot about resilience and the strength of a good team.
- What is your next biggest career goal?
I want to continue to strengthen FINRA’s ability to get ahead of emerging threats rather than chasing them after the fact. The financial landscape is changing fast and staying ahead of the threats – or as I like to say being Left of Boom – instead of reacting after the fact is how to best protect investors and the securities markets. A big part of that is expanding how we use data analytics and artificial intelligence to spot patterns, unusual behaviors, and early signals of misconduct that would be much more difficult to detect manually. My goal is to lead a department that builds teams and systems that can anticipate threats, connect intelligence faster, and give our investigators and analysts the insight they need to achieve FINRA’s mission in a rapidly evolving sophisticated environment.
- Do you have any regrets from your time at OSU?
I have no regrets. My experience at OSU was incredibly formative both academically and in terms of growing into a productive and responsible adult. The university provided me with an environment that challenged me, supported me, and ultimately set the foundation for everything that followed in my career and life. If I could give a young Omer a piece of advice, it would be to pursue more real-world experiences outside the classroom through internships, part-time work, shadowing opportunities, or anything else that would’ve given me a feel for how things operate outside the classroom. Getting that exposure earlier would’ve helped me connect the dots much faster as I started my career.
- Do you have any parting thoughts and/or advice for current economic students?
Stay intellectually curious and keep an open mind about where your career might take you. Some of the best opportunities in my life weren’t the ones I planned for; they were the ones I said yes to even when they didn’t seem like the obvious choice. Be flexible and adaptable, because the world changes fast and your ability to pivot will set you apart. And above all, protect your integrity and reputation from day one. People remember how you carry yourself, and that trust becomes the foundation for every opportunity that comes next. One last piece of advice, make sure to have fun and make sure to celebrate your wins both academically, professionally, and personally. Go Bucks!