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

FINRA Suspends Former Merrill Advisor Who Managed $2 Billion Florida Team

Posted on June 21st, 2022 at 1:08 PM
FINRA Suspends Former Merrill Advisor Who Managed $2 Billion Florida Team

From the Desk of Jim Eccleston of Eccleston Law:

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has issued a six-week suspension and a $5,000 fine to a former Merrill Lynch advisor who previously had helped to establish a $2 billion team. 

The former Merrill advisor, Jorge Sonville, allegedly loaned a client $65,000 in February 2018 without properly disclosing the transaction to the firm, according to FINRA. FINRA rules prohibits advisors from lending funds to clients without obtaining written consent from their firm in an effort to avoid potential client conflicts. In 2018, Sonville additionally submitted a compliance questionnaire to the firm in which he falsely attested that he had not loaned funds to any clients, according to FINRA. Merrill terminated Sonville in June 2021 for “conduct including participation in a financial arrangement with a client and failure to disclose an outside business activity,” according to BrokerCheck. Sonville since has joined Insigneo Securities, which is based in Miami, Florida. 

FINRA initiated its investigation after Merrill notified the regulator about a pending lawsuit filed against the firm. The suit, filed by Eduardo Tarajano, alleged Merrill of failing to supervise Sonville. The complaint further alleged that Sonville convinced Tarajano and his spouse to invest $5 million in a Key Biscayne, Florida liquor store in 2015, which ultimately sold for $585,000, a substantial loss, in 2020. According to the complaint, Sonville or his spouse possessed an undisclosed interest in the liquor store, which enabled Sonville to collect at least $70,000 in payments. 

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

 
 

Tags: eccleston law, merril lynch, finra

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next
Quotes Bigger

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

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.