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

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 The complaint had been withdrawn, as reported by AdvisorHub.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
Quotes Bigger

I am so blessed to have you and your dynamic team defending me. Your ethics, forward thinking and strategies are amazing.  You guys are the best group of attorneys in the country that I could hire to handle this complicated case.

Cindy C.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

1785949175 Law
August 5, 2026
FINRA Arbitration Panel Orders Arkadios Capital to Pay $2.7 Million in Ponzi Scheme-Related Claim

A Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration panel has ordered Arkadios Capital to pay $2.7 million in damages to an investor who alleged the firm failed to supervise a former registered representative whose father operated a long-running Ponzi scheme, according to InvestmentNews.

1785858278 Law
August 4, 2026
SEC Fines Former LPL Broker $125,000 for Undisclosed Conflicts in Private Securities Offerings

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has censured a former LPL Financial broker and imposed a $125,000 civil penalty after finding that he failed to disclose conflicts of interest related to private real estate securities offerings that generated nearly $1.5 million in compensation, as reported by AdvisorHub.

1785772777 Law
August 3, 2026
FINRA Launches Review of High-Risk Structured Notes Sales and Supervision

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has launched a regulatory sweep examining the sale of high-risk structured products, with particular attention on non-principal protected "worst-of" structured notes, according to AdvisorHub.