FINRA Issues Wells Notice to Advisor Austin Dutton

Posted on April 4th, 2024 at 1:14 PM
FINRA Issues Wells Notice to Advisor Austin Dutton

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law 

Austin Dutton, a seasoned Philadelphia-area advisor, received a Wells Notice from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. (FINRA). The notice signifies FINRA's intent to bring a formal disciplinary action against Dutton for alleged violations of industry regulations concerning the turnover of information and documents.

InvestmentNews reports that Dutton has accumulated over 36 disclosure items on his BrokerCheck report, including customer complaints and investigations, and has a history of regulatory scrutiny. The Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities fined him $200,000 in 2017 for "dishonest or unethical practices" related to unsuitable security recommendations to clients.

In addition to regulatory sanctions, Dutton faces legal challenges from investors. Earlier this year, he lost an arbitration claim of $43,645 to a client over sales of GWG Holdings Inc. L Bonds. Despite this, Dutton has not paid the arbitration award, drawing further criticism from attorneys representing affected investors.

GWG Holdings, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in April 2022, sold bonds backed by life settlements through advisors like Dutton.

 

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

The work that you and your team have performed on my behalf is exemplary.

JT

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

January 9, 2026
FINRA Sanctions Former Wells Fargo Advisor for Profile Falsification and Unauthorized Trading

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) disciplined former Wells Fargo Advisors broker James E. Holmes III for misconduct tied to his falsifying customer information and unauthorized trading.

January 8, 2026
Georgia Investment Advisor Pleads Guilty to Ponzi Scheme

A former Georgia investment adviser has pleaded guilty to wire fraud after federal prosecutors accused his firm of operating a multiyear Ponzi scheme that cost investors millions of dollars, as reported by Financial Advisor News.

January 7, 2026
FINRA Releases 2026 Regulatory Oversight Report, Spotlighting Private Placement Compliance Risks

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) released its 2026 Annual Regulatory Oversight Report, responding directly to member feedback and reinforcing its stated mission to protect investors and promote market integrity.