As a relationship-driven organization, The Washington Service’s success stems from three core principles:

Know Your Clients: We have a deep understanding of the institutional investor landscape and appreciate the different needs of diverse organizations, from algorithmic traders to research driven deep value funds. Our ability to deliver valuable solutions stems from our knowledge of the challenges our clients face.

Be Responsive: Strong relationships are built through responsiveness. Our knowledgeable employees demonstrate how the theme of responsiveness permeates our firm, as they answer the phone ready to immediately address requests and promptly respond to electronic inquiries. A large part of our business has originated from responding to client inquiries or concerns that would fall through the cracks at other organizations.

Adapt to Clients: One size does not fit all. We listen to our clients and create custom solutions that address their specific needs. Even our standard services are constantly updated to reflect client input. Our high customer retention is due to recognizing our clients’ businesses are dynamic and evolving our solutions to meet their changing needs.

Founded in 1970 as a division of Legg Mason, The Washington Service began as a provider of legislative and policy analysis to institutional investors. In response to customer demand, The Washington Service specialized in gathering information from the myriad of available federal, state, and local agency sources, with a specific focus on the SEC.

At the request of Peter Lynch, then manager of Fidelity’s Magellan Fund, The Washington Service started capturing the insider trading data disseminated by the SEC. By this time the firm had established its reputation as a top-tier provider of SEC documents and data. Peter Lynch’s request launched the firm’s insider trading business, which continues to be a main line of business.

Also in the 1980s Bloomberg, Dow Jones, and Thomson Reuters selected The Washington Service to be the provider of insider trading news on their financial information platforms, relationships which continue to the present. The Washington Service also offers direct subscription value-added insider trading services on these financial information platforms, in addition to the basic insider trading news available to all subscribers.

In 1989 the firm’s management team purchased the business from Legg Mason and continues to operate it today as an independent organization. In the 1990s the firm launched its internet based EZ-Insider and EZ-EDGAR offerings. In 1996, the SEC initiated EDGAR, an electronic public company filings feed. Soon after EDGAR’s debut The Washington Service became a Tier 1 recipient of the feed directly from the SEC, a role it currently maintains.

Today, The Washington Service is best known as the premier provider of insider trading data and analytics to securities professionals. The firm also offers a suite of custom services, research, and APIs focused on the SEC’s EDGAR feed.

The Washington Service hires the best financial and technical talent to keep the company innovative and successful. However, there are no open positions at this time.