It evolved into a full line investment banking firm with offices in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, London (England) and Geneva (Switzerland), among others.

Becker was a pioneer in the pension consulting business with the creation of "Green Book" tables comparing results to benchmarks, to help identify the performance of institutional investors.

[2] By 1919, the firm had opened offices along the west coast in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland and Seattle as well as in New York City and St. Louis.

[6] In July 1982, the two European partners increased their stake to just over 50% taking control of the business, in exchange for an equity injection needed to stabilize the company's finances.

[10] However, the company suffered more long-term challenges including high overhead costs and decreased revenues from its investment banking as well as equity and fixed income businesses.

In May 1984, Becker sold its securities-correspondent business, representing 500 employees or one-third of its workforce, to Pershing LLC, which at the time was owned by Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette.

[10] The purchase of Becker propelled Merrill Lynch to a leadership in the commercial paper markets and also enhanced certain of its investment banking advisory and underwriting businesses.

[10] After the acquisition of Becker, a number of executives remained with Merrill, most notably Barry S. Friedberg who would serve as head of Investment Banking in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Nonetheless they can now be counted within the senior ranks of bankers, financiers and academics in roles throughout the United States, including Becker's original home in Chicago.