Former Merrill Lynch Advisor Wins Expungement of Allegations Tied to CBD Business

Posted on January 16th, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Former Merrill Lynch Advisor Wins Expungement of Allegations Tied to CBD Business

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law

Charles Thomas “Todd” Mercer Jr., a former top Merrill Lynch advisor, successfully cleared his public record of allegations that hindered his ability to attract clients after transitioning to an independent practice. A FINRA arbitrator allowed Mercer to expunge claims that he failed to disclose potential involvement in an outside business activity tied to a CBD manufacturing company.

According to AdvisorHub, Mercer joined Sanctuary Wealth in December 2021 while under internal review at Merrill Lynch. Arbitrator F. Bradford Johnson concluded the allegations were false and permitted Mercer to remove a “termination after allegations” disclosure and a related $750,000 customer complaint from his BrokerCheck record. The complaint had been withdrawn, as reported by AdvisorHub.

Mercer had alleged that Merrill Lynch’s investigation and subsequent actions amounted to a “campaign of defamation and retaliation,” costing him clients, delaying his state licenses, and damaging his reputation.

After his departure, Mercer faced challenges in rebuilding his business. In September, Mercer and Merrill reached a separate, undisclosed settlement over monetary claims, according to AdvisorHub.

 

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

I am grateful to have found an outstanding law firm that specializes in securities matters. My lawyers were extremely knowledgeable, diligent, and are skilled litigators. No stone was left upturned. As a result of their experience and tenacity, the arbitration proceeding was dismissed in my favor.

Michael E.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

September 11, 2025
Montana Federal Judge Allows Family's Premium Financing Claims to Proceed

A federal judge in Montana has allowed a family to move forward with negligence, fraud, and unjust enrichment claims tied to a premium-financed life insurance arrangement valued at $67.5 million.

September 10, 2025
Arizona Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Multi-Million Dollar Ponzi-Style Fraud

An Arizona man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for running a Ponzi-style investment scheme that defrauded more than 100 victims out of millions of dollars, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico.

September 9, 2025
Easterly ROCMuni Fund's Steep Decline Spurs Potential Investor Lawsuits

The Easterly ROCMuni High Income Municipal Bond Fund (RMHIX) has suffered a dramatic collapse, losing nearly half its value in June and now trading at a net asset value (NAV) of $2.95 per share.