A DIY Settlement Attempt with Client Results in Former Edward Jones Advisor's Suspension

Posted on March 30th, 2021 at 11:14 AM
A DIY Settlement Attempt with Client Results in Former Edward Jones Advisor's  Suspension

From the Desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law LLC:

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has fined, and suspended John O'Bannon after Bannon attempted to settle with a client without Edward Jones' knowledge. According to a letter of acceptance, waiver, and consent, O'Bannon made an effort to resolve the customer complaint using personal funds. 

In June 2020, O'Bannon's customer requested to transfer his employer-company stock shares to his Edward Jones account. O'Bannon subsequently liquidated the shares. O'Bannon "mistakenly advised" the customer about completing documents necessary for the transfer, according to FINRA. 

Following a verbal complaint from the customer, O'Bannon sent a personal check to the customer to partially compensate him. Upon receipt of the check, the customer brought the complaint directly to Edward Jones.

O'Bannon's actions violated FINRA's "catch all" Rule 2010, requiring "high standards of commercial honor," as stated in the settlement letter. Edward Jones conducted an investigation and ultimately terminated O'Bannon, according to a spokesperson from the firm. Edward Jones fired O'Bannon for "concerns the registered representative tried to remedy a processing error in a customer account by providing personal funds of the registered representative to the customer," according to FINRA. 

FINRA recently suspended another Edward Jones advisor in Topeka, Kansas, for ten days and fined him $2,500 for allegedly writing a personal check to resolve a complaint from a customer. The customer claimed she lost money after the advisor failed to close an account when the market was tanking in March.

Eccleston Law LLC represents investors and financial advisors nationwide. Please contact us to discuss any issues that you may have.

 

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law, finra, edward jones, advisor suspension

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

July 26, 2024
Kentucky Advisor Sues LPL Financial for Alleged Corporate Raid

A Kentucky advisor, Mark Lamkin, has filed a lawsuit against LPL Financial, claiming the independent broker-dealer orchestrated a corporate raid that resulted in the loss of his firm’s entire book of managed assets.

July 25, 2024
FINRA Plans Fee Increases Amid Rising Costs and Losses

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has announced plans to raise fees for its approximately 3,300 broker-dealer member firms. According to AdvisorHub, the self-regulator faces soaring costs, as detailed in its annual report published at the end of June.

July 24, 2024
Raymond James Settles with Oregon Over Excessive Commissions

Raymond James recently settled a case with Oregon's Division of Financial Regulation (“DFR”), agreeing to pay nearly $200,000 over allegations of charging excessive commissions to retail investors.