SEC Orders Merrill Lynch to Pay $9.7 Million For Failing to Disclose Foreign Exchange Fees

Posted on April 13th, 2023 at 1:21 PM
SEC Orders Merrill Lynch to Pay $9.7 Million For Failing to Disclose Foreign Exchange Fees

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law 

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has ordered Merrill Lynch to pay $9.7 million for failing to disclose certain foreign exchange fees charged to clients for currency conversions.

 Merrill Lynch offered clients a wrap-fee program that charged a fee based on assets under management, which covered services including foreign currency exchanges because accounts could only be held in U.S. dollars. Clients also were required to pay a markup or markdown on the exchanges under the wrap-fee program. However, the SEC alleged that Merrill regularly charged an undisclosed production fee in addition to the markup between 2016 and 2020. The so-called production fee was not covered by the wrap fee and was equal to or greater than the markup in 80% of transactions, according to the SEC.

Merrill charged $4,134,610 in undisclosed production fees on at least 15,000 separate foreign currency exchanges in approximately 4.874 client accounts, according to the SEC. The SEC further alleged that Merrill siphoned a portion of the production fees to its financial advisors and classified the charge as a commission on internal documents. While Merrill did not admit or deny any of FINRA’s investigatory findings, the company agreed to pay $4,134,610 in disgorgement and $760,104 in prejudgment interest as well as a civil penalty of $4.8 million.

 

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

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next

Jim, Stephany and the whole team were a God send.  We felt like we were put into a situation where we had no advocate. Jim’s team came in with a strong, well laid out strategy on how to get our story heard. Where our outside compliance company had no ability to help, our Broker Dealer was impenitent, and the regulators were aggressive pursuing vague rules, Jim came like a barricade against an assault we did not understand. Though you pay member dues to be affiliated with FINRA and a B/D, you have no voice. The only thing that is truly heard in this un-level playing field is a bulldog’s bark like Jim’s. I would encourage anyone to call Jim and his team to find a real ally in the tough and complicated world of securities regulation. They are truly the best.

Greg P.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

February 17, 2026
FINRA Fines Kingswood Capital Partners $150,000 for Supervisory Failures in GWG L Bond Sales

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) censured and fined San Diego–based broker-dealer Kingswood Capital Partners $150,000 after finding supervisory failures tied to sales of high-risk GWG L bonds.

February 16, 2026
FINRA Removes Arbitrators in Stifel Case, Drawing Scrutiny Over Impartiality Standards

FINRA agreed to remove two potential arbitrators from an upcoming Stifel Financial arbitration tied to former Miami-based broker Chuck Roberts, a move that could carry broad implications for investor arbitration.

February 13, 2026
Cetera Fined $1.1 Million Over Supervisory and AML Deficiencies

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has censured and fined Cetera Financial Group $1.1 million after identifying supervisory system and anti-money laundering (AML) failures across several subsidiary broker-dealers.