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

Challenges Persist: Firms Struggle to Comply with Regulation Best Interest

Posted on February 20th, 2024 at 1:26 PM
Challenges Persist: Firms Struggle to Comply with Regulation Best Interest

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law 

FINRA's annual report for 2024 reveals a concerning trend among broker-dealers, with numerous instances of violations of Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI).

According to Think Advisor, the report emphasizes that broker-dealers and advisors continue to make recommendations without a reasonable basis to believe they are in the best interest of retail customers. Moreover, firms neglect to conduct thorough investigations of offerings before recommending them, often relying on past experiences with issuing companies.

Another notable violation involves recommending transactions not aligning with customers' investment profiles, such as those with high cost-to-equity ratios and high turnover. Despite Reg BI's requirement for due diligence on costs, examiners found that consideration of costs is often limited to sales charges, neglecting other relevant fees like product or account-level fees when making recommendations.

Finally, the report highlights instances where firms and advisors recommend complex or illiquid products that contradict the retail customer's investment profile, exceed concentration limits specified in firm policies, or comprise a significant portion of a customer's liquid net worth or securities holdings.

 

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
Quotes Bigger

Thank You from the bottom of our hearts for all you have done for us. When we realized this was a very bad investment - we did not know where to turn for help. Then we received your name. When we called you - you were so kind to us and then agreed to help us. For this we are so very grateful. The world would be a much nicer place if there were more people like the two of you in it. We will always remember all the help and kindness you have shown us. Thank you so very very much for everything.

Wayne and Judy S.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

1783615970 Law
July 9, 2026
FINRA Suspends Former Branch Manager for Supervisory Failures Linked to Excessive Trading and Churning

A former regional branch manager at a broker-dealer has agreed to Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) sanctions after the regulator found that he failed to supervise registered representatives who engaged in excessive trading and churning of customer accounts.

1783525964 Law
July 8, 2026
SEC Sanctions David Lerner Associates for Regulation Best Interest Violations

David Lerner Associates has agreed to settle Securities and Exchange (SEC) charges alleging violations of Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI) that resulted in unnecessary costs to retail investors, according to InvestmentNews.

1783434190 Law
July 7, 2026
Private Credit Funds Face Mounting Redemption Pressure as Investor Sentiment Shifts

A surge in investor redemption requests has intensified pressure on private credit funds, raising concerns about liquidity and long-term stability across the asset class, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.