FINRA Fines Two Firms Over Mutual Fund Sales

Posted on January 4th, 2022 at 1:16 PM
FINRA Fines Two Firms Over Mutual Fund Sales

From the Desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law:

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has fined Emerson Equity $1.7 million, citing several years of faulty supervision of short-term mutual fund trades. Additionally, FINRA levied a $705,000 penalty on Triad Advisors due to lackluster supervision of sales for an alternative mutual fund, the LJM Preservation & Growth Fund, which closed in 2018. 

According to FINRA, Emerson Equity employs at least 200 advisors across fifty offices while the firm primarily markets private placements. FINRA alleged that Emerson’s CEO, Dominic Baldini, failed to design supervisory systems to oversee short-term mutual fund trades between 2015 and 2020. Implementation of supervisory systems would have allowed Emerson Equity to adhere to FINRA’s suitability rules, according to FINRA. 

Emerson Equity failed to supervise the trading activity of one unnamed advisor in particular, who generated at least $1.6 million in unnecessary fees over a five-year period. Emerson Equity and Baldini settled with FINRA without admitting or denying any of FINRA’s investigatory findings. Emerson Equity received a $60,000 fine and agreed to pay at least $1.6 million in restitution to customers. Further, Baldini was fined $5,000 and was also suspended for twenty days. 

Similarly, Triad Advisors received a fine of $195,000 and agreed to pay $510,000 in restitution to clients. 

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

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law, finra, fines

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next

I have the best legal firm in the country to defend me. Awesome job!

Cindy C.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

October 30, 2025
SEC Sues Former Franchise Group CEO Over $350 Million Hedge Fund Fraud

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a lawsuit against Brian Kahn, former CEO of Franchise Group Inc., alleging he defrauded investors of more than $350 million in a multi-year investment adviser fraud tied to the collapse of Prophecy Asset Management (Prophecy).

October 29, 2025
FINRA Foundation Study Reveals Alarming Investor Susceptibility to Fraudulent Offers

The FINRA Investor Education Foundation (FINRA Foundation) has released preliminary findings from its upcoming report, Investors in the United States: A Report of the National Financial Capability Study.

October 28, 2025
UBS Seeks Court Order Against $1.4 Billion Florida Advisory Team Over Client Solicitation Allegations

UBS Wealth Management USA has filed a lawsuit and requested a temporary restraining order (TRO) against a $1.4 billion advisory team that recently departed to join Elevation Point, a West Palm Beach-based registered investment advisor launched just 15 months ago.