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

If the regulators are after you, and are trying to make a case against you, and you are going to contest their allegations against you, make sure you have the best securities industry defense lawyers, Eccleston Law Firm. My case was spun into a combination of penalties including fines, cash settlements, CE courses and suspension. They were the best I have seen in action. When all was said and done, they had done their magic, my situation was negotiated and settled with a simple "letter of caution" and a case closed without action. It is the most important legal business decision you will ever make, make it Eccleston Law.

Rick R.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

November 7, 2025
FINRA Suspends Former Wells Fargo Broker Over Unapproved Real Estate Venture

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) suspended former Wells Fargo broker George J. Cairnes for four months and fined him $25,000 for engaging in unapproved real estate outside business activity, according to a settlement letter issued.

November 6, 2025
Former Ameriprise Broker Ordered to Pay $2.2 Million for Elder Exploitation

A Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration panel has ordered Eric A. Dupre to pay nearly $2.2 million in damages to his former firm and two customers following allegations of theft and elder exploitation.

November 5, 2025
Former Wells Fargo Representative Suspended for Unauthorized Texting and Obstruction

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has suspended former Wells Fargo representative Eyan M. Townsend for one year and fined him $10,000 for using personal text messages to conduct business and attempting to obstruct an internal investigation by deleting those communications.