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

FINRA Sanctions Advisor for Unapproved Fundraising Activities Following Approved OBA

Posted on March 28th, 2024 at 1:07 PM
FINRA Sanctions Advisor for Unapproved Fundraising Activities Following Approved OBA

From the desk of James Eccleston at Eccleston Law

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has levied a $15,000 fine and a 21-month suspension against a former advisor, Jeffrey W. Davidson, based in Austin, Texas. Davidson engaged in fundraising activities that raised over $10 million for a fitness company owned by him and his wife.

Although Davidson had approval from his former firm, Equitable Advisors, for his ownership in the fitness company, he lacked authorization for the fundraising efforts, according to FINRA. AdvisorHub reports that between 2021 and 2022, Davidson and his wife earned $2.4 million by selling a portion of their equity in the company, as per FINRA.

This action by Davidson contravened FINRA's rule against unapproved private securities transactions and its overarching Rule 2010, which mandates high standards of conduct.

AdvisorHub reports that the AWC (Acceptance, Waiver and Consent) underscores the common challenge of outside business activities for advisors and their firms, necessitating robust supervision to identify potential customer conflicts. This especially is true in any evolution towards fundraising or changes in business nature, which may trigger the need for separate approvals, as demonstrated in this FINRA settlement.

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

Tags: Eccleston, Eccleston Law

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next
Quotes Bigger

Thank you for your professional assistance with this matter. You are very good at what you do.

John T.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

1783957061 Law
July 13, 2026
FINRA Warns of Growing Risks From Finfluencers and AI-Driven Investment Content

Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) regulators are raising concerns about the increasing influence of social media personalities and artificial intelligence (AI) on retail investors, particularly those managing their own investments without professional guidance.

1783615970 Law
July 9, 2026
FINRA Suspends Former Branch Manager for Supervisory Failures Linked to Excessive Trading and Churning

A former regional branch manager at a broker-dealer has agreed to Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) sanctions after the regulator found that he failed to supervise registered representatives who engaged in excessive trading and churning of customer accounts.

1783525964 Law
July 8, 2026
SEC Sanctions David Lerner Associates for Regulation Best Interest Violations

David Lerner Associates has agreed to settle Securities and Exchange (SEC) charges alleging violations of Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI) that resulted in unnecessary costs to retail investors, according to InvestmentNews.