Tr?id=566623520170033&ev=PageView&noscript=1

FINRA Panel Order Advisor to Pay $2.6 Million for Soliciting Former Clients

Posted on June 26th, 2024 at 3:14 PM
FINRA Panel Order Advisor to Pay $2.6 Million for Soliciting Former Clients

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law

A FINRA arbitration panel ruled against advisor Nicole E. Sennett for allegedly attempting to solicit former clients after selling her practice to Monocacy Wealth Partners. The panel ordered Sennett to pay $2,557,000 in compensatory damages to Monocacy, based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and its founding partners, Scott A. Brantingson and Scott M. Brantingson.

According to AdvisorHub, in addition to the monetary damages, the arbitrators issued an injunction preventing Sennett from soliciting any clients listed in the asset purchase agreement. She also is prohibited from discussing or disparaging Monocacy or its founders, giving financial advice to, or accepting any listed clients, even if the client initiates contact.

Sennett faces additional liability for damages amounting to four times 1 percent of any assets that transfer after the award is issued. Sennett counterclaimed that Monocacy breached the asset purchase agreement by refusing her access to certain books and records. She also requested the panel to void the asset purchase agreement. As reported by AdvisorHub, the panel rejected her counterclaims.

Although Raymond James was not a named party in the arbitration, it controlled the payments to Sennett under the asset purchase agreement. Future payments owed to Sennett are to be released to Monocacy to offset the $2.6 million she owes.

AdvisorHub reports that this case highlights the ongoing risks for buyers in wealth management transactions, as sellers sometimes attempt to restart their practice. Courts have occasionally invalidated non-compete agreements, siding with sellers in such disputes.

 

Eccleston Law LLC represents investors and financial advisors nationwide in securities, employment, transition, regulatory, and disciplinary matters.

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law, finra

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next
Quotes Bigger

Thank you for your professional assistance with this matter. You are very good at what you do.

John T.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

1781798110 Law
June 18, 2026
Silver Star Properties REIT Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Amid Mounting Defaults and Investor Losses

Silver Star Properties REIT, a publicly registered nontraded real estate investment trust formerly known as Hartman Short Term Income Properties XX Inc., has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, according to reports by AltsWire.

1781712614 Law
June 17, 2026
As Wealth Management Consolidation Accelerates, Some Advisors Reevaluate the Meaning of Independence

According to AdvisorHub, the independent wealth management industry has entered a new phase of evolution, prompting some advisors to question whether the firms that once championed independence now increasingly resemble the traditional institutions many advisors left behind.

1781638769 Law
June 16, 2026
Cetera Hit With Class Action Lawsuit Over Cash Sweep Program

A proposed class action lawsuit has accused Cetera Financial Group and Cetera Investment Services of improperly profiting from customer cash held in the firms' FlexInsured Account Program, according to a report by ThinkAdvisor.