Schwab Accuses Former Adviser of Soliciting a Client

Posted on September 10th, 2019 at 1:52 PM

From the Desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law LLC:

Adviser John VanEngelenhoven left his employer, Charles Schwab, to open an RIA that custodies with TD Ameritrade Institutional. Now he faces a FINRA arbitration and preliminary injunction as Schwab accuses him of soliciting at least one of the company’s clients. VanEngelenhoven is among several ex-Schwab advisors who have been taken to court this year over client solicitation. 

According to the complaint, the advisor solicited at least one client when he called him and told him about the new firm. The San Francisco-based brokerage and custodian is now seeking a preliminary injunction, asserting that VanEngelenhoven breached his contract and misappropriated trade secrets, according to the complaint.

According to FINRA BrokerCheck, VanEngelenhoven departed Schwab in September after a 14-year career there. A few months later, he opened his own firm, Verity Financial, in Austin, Texas. The RIA was officially registered with the SEC and custodies with TD Ameritrade. It currently reports no assets under management.

Schwab spokesman Pete Greenley stated that Schwab “expects that its representatives will comply with their contractual and legal obligations concerning customer information,” and that, if necessary, the company will not hesitate to enforce the obligations in court or an arbitration proceeding.

This matter is yet another example that transitioning advisors require competent, conflict-free legal assistance in considering and planning a transition to a new firm.

The attorneys of Eccleston Law LLC represent investors and advisors nationwide in securities and employment matters. The securities lawyers at Eccleston Law also practice a variety of other areas of practice for financial investors and advisors including Securities FraudCompliance ProtectionBreach of Fiduciary DutyFINRA Matters, and much more. Our attorneys draw on a combined experience of nearly 65 years in delivering the highest quality legal services. If you are in need of legal services, contact us to schedule a one-on-one consultation today.

Related Attorneys: James J. Eccleston

Tags: james eccleston, eccleston law, eccleston law llc, eccleston, charles schwab, John VanEngelenhoven, finra arbitration, ria, solicitation

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