FINRA Bars Former LPL and Raymond James Advisor Who Improperly Borrowed $850,000 From Clients

Posted on April 12th, 2023 at 1:16 PM
FINRA Bars Former LPL and Raymond James Advisor Who Improperly Borrowed $850,000  From Clients

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law 

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has barred a Chattanooga-based financial advisor who improperly borrowed at least $850,000. 

The advisor, William Winchester III, was registered with LPL Financial between 2007 and 2012 prior to working at Raymond James until 2020, according to BrokerCheck. Industry rules typically prohibit financial advisors from borrowing funds from their clients. Winchester agreed to the bar without admitting or denying any of FINRA’s investigatory findings. While he was registered with LPL and then Raymond James, Winchester allegedly borrowed at least $850,000 from three clients between March 2009 and September 2016 without receiving approval from either firm, according to FINRA.

Furthermore, FINRA alleged that Winchester engaged in an unapproved outside business activity (OBA) where “he served as co-executor to the estate of his former customer and received compensation for his services.” Winchester generated $45,000 in compensation from the OBA, according to FINRA. Also, Winchester privately settled two customer complaints without notifying Raymond James or LPL.

 

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

If you are being bothered by the Regulators, call Eccleston Law, you won't regret it.

Rick R.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

February 27, 2026
Eighth Circuit Rejects Emergency Injunction in Advisor Departure Dispute

A federal appeals court ruled against an advisory firm seeking immediate, injunctive relief after a team of advisors left with hundreds of millions in client assets.

February 26, 2026
FINRA Bars Former Cambridge Advisor After Refusal to Cooperate With Communications Probe

A former advisor affiliated with Cambridge Investment Research has been barred from the securities industry after declining to comply with a regulatory investigation, according to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).

February 25, 2026
Advisors Increase Crypto Allocations as Merrill Lynch Warns of Significant Risks

Financial advisors are placing more client assets into digital currencies, even as major firms caution investors about the asset class's volatility and speculative nature.