FINRA Suspends Long Island Advisor Over Inaccurate Client Contact Notes

Posted on March 29th, 2023 at 2:31 PM
FINRA Suspends Long Island Advisor Over Inaccurate Client Contact Notes

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law 

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has issued a two-month suspension to a Long Island-based advisor, Derek Rehill, for allegedly recording inaccurate notes related to four phone calls with clients.

Rehill allegedly “prepared” notes that falsely reflected clients’ investment objectives and risk tolerances between 2019 and 2020, according to FINRA. Rehill, who previously worked at Joseph Stone Capital, falsely claimed that his client had agreed to a “speculative” risk tolerance on three occasions. In a fourth case, Rehill failed to ask the client about his risk tolerance, according to FINRA. Joseph Stone required Rehill to “periodically” confirm investment objectives for client accounts that were “actively traded”, according to FINRA. Rehill departed the firm voluntarily in 2021 for VCS Venture Securities in New York. Also, FINRA decided to forego imposing monetary sanctions on Rehill as he demonstrated an inability to pay, according to the settlement.

FINRA imposed the suspension as firms have been strengthening client documentation requirements in an effort to respond to regulatory scrutiny as well as avoid potential litigation. Some firms, including Merrill Lynch, have instructed advisors to conduct investment performance reviews for 100% of their clients. The initiative is included in Merrill’s “Client Experience Standard”, which encourages advisors to document financial reviews and log client retirement goals into the firm’s wealth planning software. However, while the program is not considered to be mandatory, Merrill is considering imposing penalties, such as probation, for advisors that fail to meet notetaking requirements, according to a veteran advisor at Merrill.

 

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

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next

You are the best attorneys in the country.

CC

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.