Merlin Securities, the technology solutions provider and prime brokerage services firm, announced Tuesday that Rick Bensignor has joined the firm as chief market strategist. Bensignor, who spent 12 years as a broker and futures trader, was previously chief market strategist at Morgan Stanley's principal strategies group. He will report directly to Stephan Vermut, founder and managing partner of Merlin Securities, and will be based in the firm's New York office.