FINRA Sanctions Supervisor for Failing to Address Excessive Trading Red Flags

Posted on September 25th, 2024 at 11:33 AM
FINRA Sanctions Supervisor for Failing to Address Excessive Trading Red Flags

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law

FINRA has acted against an Independent Financial Group (IFG) supervisor for failing to respond to red flags involving excessive trading in five customer accounts.

According to AdvisorHub, a California advisor involved allegedly generated $2.2 million in fees and incurred an additional $2.2 million in customer losses through excessive trading. The advisor in question, who previously agreed to a $50,000 fine and $115,000 in restitution, engaged in a pattern of buying and quickly selling large equity positions while charging commissions of up to 3 percent. One of the affected customers was an elderly individual with Alzheimer’s. The trading activities led to cost-to-equity ratios as high as 27 percent, making it nearly impossible for clients to realize any profit.

The supervisor settled the matter in what is known as an Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent (“AWC”), neither admitting nor denying wrongdoing, but agreeing to a $5,000 fine and a four-month suspension.

FINRA determined that the supervisor’s failure to act violated FINRA Rule 3110, which requires firms to establish a reasonably designed supervisory system, as well as Rule 2010, a general standard of conduct.

 

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

You guys are good!

Mike L.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

December 19, 2024
GPB Capital Investors See Progress as Court Confirms Receivership

In a significant development for investors in GPB Capital Holdings, the private equity firm will move into receivership following a prolonged legal battle.

December 18, 2024
SEC Fines Cantor Fitzgerald $6.75 Million for Misleading SPAC Investors

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P. with causing two special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) under its control to make misleading statements to investors before their initial public offerings (IPOs). 

December 17, 2024
Former Western Asset Management Co-CIO Charged with Fraud for Cherry-picking Trades

The SEC recently charged Ken Leech, former Co-CIO of Western Asset Management, with fraud.