Former Morgan Stanley Advisor Files Lawsuit over Deferred Compensation

Posted on January 4th, 2021 at 3:54 PM
Former Morgan Stanley Advisor Files Lawsuit over Deferred Compensation

From the Desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law LLC:

Matthew T. Shafer, a former advisor for Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, has filed a putative class action against Morgan Stanley, AdvisorHub reported.  The lawsuit alleges that the wirehouse illegally withheld deferred compensation from Shafer and other advisors who left Morgan Stanley to join other firms. According to the complaint, there could be thousands of potential class members. In addition to seeking compensation, the lawsuit also asks for an injunction prohibiting Morgan Stanley from enforcing the “cancellation rule.”

According to the lawsuit, between 1.5% and 15% of advisor pay at Morgan Stanley is automatically deferred.  The deferred compensation vests in four to six years, depending on whether the compensation is received in cash or in Morgan Stanley stock. Shafer alleged that Morgan Stanley cancelled his deferred compensation, which totaled $500,000, when he left and joined a new firm in 2018. According to the lawsuit, that is a violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”).

Wells Fargo Advisors was the subject of a similar lawsuit in 2017.  Wells Fargo eventually paid $79 million to settle that lawsuit. Plaintiffs in that case had sought $265 million.

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law, morgan stanley, lawsuit, deferred compensation, Matthew Shafer, wells fargo

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next

I want to thank you for your excellent professional representation. It was greatly appreciated.

Michael M.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

July 26, 2024
Kentucky Advisor Sues LPL Financial for Alleged Corporate Raid

A Kentucky advisor, Mark Lamkin, has filed a lawsuit against LPL Financial, claiming the independent broker-dealer orchestrated a corporate raid that resulted in the loss of his firm’s entire book of managed assets.

July 25, 2024
FINRA Plans Fee Increases Amid Rising Costs and Losses

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has announced plans to raise fees for its approximately 3,300 broker-dealer member firms. According to AdvisorHub, the self-regulator faces soaring costs, as detailed in its annual report published at the end of June.

July 24, 2024
Raymond James Settles with Oregon Over Excessive Commissions

Raymond James recently settled a case with Oregon's Division of Financial Regulation (“DFR”), agreeing to pay nearly $200,000 over allegations of charging excessive commissions to retail investors.