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

FINRA Fines LPL Over Failure to Detect Harmful Wire Transfers to Clients

Posted on July 31st, 2023 at 1:13 PM
FINRA Fines LPL Over Failure to Detect Harmful Wire Transfers to Clients

From the Desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. (FINRA) imposed a $3 million fine on LPL Financial for failing to oversee two financial advisors adequately. Those advisors had misappropriated $2.4 million from 13 clients, predominantly senior citizens.

According to the FINRA settlement, known as an Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent (“AWC”), from May 2018 to August 2020, the advisors "converted” client funds by having them write checks or make wire transfers of funds to various entities they controlled. One advisor used at least $550,000 in client funds to pay his personal and business expenses. The second advisor took almost $1.9 million from clients and used most of it to purchase real estate. 

Additionally, FINRA claimed that LPL failed to have a supervisory system reasonably designed to detect possible instances of signature forgery or falsification. During that period, nearly 50 LPL sales reps electronically signed another person's name on over 1,000 LPL documents, including on documents that were required books and records of the firm. 

According to AdvisorHub, the issue began when LPL informed the self-regulatory authority a few weeks before submitting the necessary industry documentation (a Form U-5) that it had fired one of its financial advisors for misappropriating customer funds.

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

 

Related Attorneys: James J. Eccleston

Tags: Eccleston, Eccleston Law, FINRA, LPL

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next
Quotes Bigger

As a financial advisor with over 20 years of experience, I feel fortunate to call Jim my attorney and friend. He is a fantastic lawyer and trusted advisor. He is skilled in the matters necessary to do the job well. He uses his thoughtful approach and calm demeanor to achieve a positive outcome for the client. If you want to feel confident that nothing will be missed and that you will be represented in a highly professional manner, call Jim Eccleston.

Bill C. and Dan M.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

1784303575 Law
July 17, 2026
FINRA Arbitrators Award $2.25 Million Over Life Insurance Strategy

A former financial advisor must pay $2.25 million to clients who alleged he recommended a high-risk life insurance strategy that resulted in significant losses, according to a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration award.

1784228879 Law
July 16, 2026
Delaware Judge Dismisses United Capital's Poaching Lawsuit Against Osaic With Leave to Amend

A Delaware judge has dismissed United Capital's lawsuit accusing Osaic of improperly recruiting financial advisors and soliciting client assets, but allowed the wealth management firm to file an amended complaint, according to AdvisorHub.

1784134373 Law
July 15, 2026
LPL Financial Faces Class Action Over Phoenix Annuity Disclosures

LPL Financial faces a proposed class action lawsuit alleging that the firm failed to warn annuity investors about the declining financial condition of Phoenix PHL Variable Insurance Company.