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

FINRA Fines and Suspends Merrill Lynch Advisor Over Unauthorized Role as Estate Executor

Posted on February 1st, 2024 at 1:26 PM
FINRA Fines and Suspends Merrill Lynch Advisor Over Unauthorized Role as Estate Executor

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law 

Frederick R. Watson, a veteran advisor with 37 years of experience at Merrill Lynch, has been fined $10,000 and suspended for four months by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). The penalty stems from allegations that Watson served as the executor of a client's estate without obtaining permission from Merrill Lynch.

According to AdvisorHub, Watson began acting as the executor in 2018 following the death of a longtime client. However, he allegedly falsely claimed on internal compliance questionnaires that he was not engaged in such a role. This violation of FINRA's outside business activity rule occurred without prior authorization from Merrill Lynch, preventing advisors from taking on roles with a "reasonable expectation of compensation" without firm approval. Although Watson sought compensation for his executor duties, he reportedly did not receive payment.

Merrill Lynch became aware of the situation in September 2019 when an estate beneficiary filed a lawsuit against Watson. In response, Merrill issued a written warning and reported the incident to FINRA, leading to the regulatory investigation that resulted in Watson's fine and suspension.

 

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

You are the best attorneys in the country.

CC

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

1787679428 Law
August 25, 2026
Ameriprise Broker Sues LPL-Affiliated Practice Over Use of "Kindred" Name

AdvisorHub reports that an Ameriprise Financial broker in Oklahoma has filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against an LPL Financial-affiliated practice over its use of the word "kindred" in its name.

1787592120 Law
August 24, 2026
Sophisticated Voice Phishing Attacks Target Major Wall Street Firms

According to ThinkAdvisor, hackers recently launched a series of sophisticated cyberattacks against major Wall Street firms, including prominent hedge funds and private equity companies.

1787342003 Law
August 21, 2026
Rising Market Leverage Raises Concerns About Financial Stability Despite Low Volatility

The leverage that has helped drive the U.S.