Tr?id=566623520170033&ev=PageView&noscript=1

Barred Advisor Continues Pattern of Settlements at Western International Securities

Posted on January 23rd, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Barred Advisor Continues Pattern of Settlements at Western International Securities

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law

Chris Kennedy, a barred advisor formerly associated with Western International Securities, has agreed to a $2.1 million settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over allegations of high-volume trading, or churning, in client accounts. According to InvestmentNews, the settlement caps a year of increased regulatory scrutiny on former Western International Securities advisors following the firm’s acquisition by LPL Financial Holdings through its purchase of the Atria Wealth Solutions network of broker-dealers.

Between July 2020 and July 2021, Kennedy allegedly violated Regulation Best Interest by recommending a short-term, high-volume trading strategy to 19 retail brokerage accounts without a reasonable basis. According to InvestmentNews, the SEC’s complaint indicated this strategy resulted in over $363 million in transactions, leading to customer losses exceeding $9 million.

Kennedy’s case is not the only regulatory issue tied to Western International Securities this year. Over the summer, the firm faced approximately $1.7 million in regulatory penalties, including an SEC settlement over Regulation Best Interest violations. That case involved the sale of bonds issued by GWG Holdings, a company that filed for bankruptcy in April 2022. Another former Western International advisor was barred by FINRA earlier this year for misappropriating client funds over 17 years, as reported by InvestmentNews.

 

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

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next
Quotes Bigger

I want to extend a tremendous thank you for your dedication, professionalism, hard work and patient demeanor through this challenging time. It was enjoyable interacting with everyone on your team, this certainly helped while dealing with the situation and working towards resolution.

Dan M.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

1790789328 Law
September 30, 2026
SEC Approves FINRA Overhaul of Outside Business Activity Rules

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved FINRA's long-awaited overhaul of the rules governing outside business activities and private securities transactions by financial advisors.

1790700476 Law
September 29, 2026
Texas Investment Adviser Sentenced to 11 Years for $35 Million Ponzi Scheme

A federal judge has sentenced Siddharth Jawahar, who operated Texas-based investment adviser Swiftarc Capital, to 11 years in prison for running a $35 million Ponzi scheme.

1790615885 Law
September 28, 2026
Red Flags to Watch for in Pre-IPO Investment Scams

Investors considering pre-IPO investments should watch for common warning signs of fraud, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).