FINRA Reveals Baird's $500K Shortfall in Mutual Fund Rebates to Clients

Posted on November 30th, 2023 at 1:36 PM
FINRA Reveals Baird's $500K Shortfall in Mutual Fund Rebates to Clients

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law 

Robert W. Baird & Co. has reached a settlement with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) wherein they accepted a censure and committed to reimbursing more than $500,000 to clients who were overcharged for their mutual fund investments.

The settlement comes in response to a failure in Baird's supervisory system spanning January 2015 to March 2021. During this period, approximately 2,300 eligible accounts did not receive mutual fund sales-charge waivers and fee rebates as owed. The issue primarily centered around mutual fund investors qualifying for fee waivers due to their reinvestment in another fund within the same family, falling under a "right of reinstatement" provision, according to FINRA. In total, customers were overcharged by $519,000, as reported by AdvisorHub.

Baird was found to have breached FINRA's Rule 3110, which mandates the maintenance of an effective compliance supervision system, and the comprehensive Rule 2010, requiring brokerage firms to adhere to "high standards of commercial honor." The company signed the agreement without admitting or denying the findings.

 

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

Thank You from the bottom of our hearts for all you have done for us. When we realized this was a very bad investment - we did not know where to turn for help. Then we received your name. When we called you - you were so kind to us and then agreed to help us. For this we are so very grateful. The world would be a much nicer place if there were more people like the two of you in it. We will always remember all the help and kindness you have shown us. Thank you so very very much for everything.

Wayne and Judy S.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

July 1, 2025
State Regulators Fine Five Major Broker-Dealers Nearly $10 Million for Excessive Commission Charges

A coalition of state securities regulators has ordered five broker-dealers — including Edward Jones, LPL Financial, RBC, Stifel, and TD Ameritrade — to pay almost $9.9 million in penalties for overcharging customers on small-value trades.

June 30, 2025
SEC Charges New Mexico Investment Advisor with Fee Fraud and Fiduciary Breaches

The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has charged David A. Nagler and his firm, New Line Capital LLC, with defrauding clients through deceptive fee disclosures and undisclosed conflicts of interest.

 

June 27, 2025
FINRA Sanctions Advisor for Accepting $1 Million Inheritance from Client Without Firm Approval

FINRA has fined and suspended veteran advisor Kenneth J. Malm for accepting a $1 million inheritance from a client without receiving the necessary firm approval.