Kansas City Advisory Firms Agree to $25.5 Million Settlement Over No-Poach Allegations

Posted on September 3rd, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Kansas City Advisory Firms Agree to $25.5 Million Settlement Over No-Poach Allegations

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law

Mariner Wealth Advisors, along with two other Kansas City-area firms, has agreed to a $25.5 million class action settlement over allegations that they illegally agreed not to solicit each other’s advisors.

As reported by AdvisorHub, the lawsuit, filed in February 2024 in federal court in Kansas, was brought by former and current employees of Mariner’s former subsidiary, TortoiseEcofin. The class includes non-executive employees of Mariner, Tortoise, and American Century between 2012 and 2020.

Plaintiffs allege they discovered the arrangement only after receiving Department of Justice (DOJ) notices in 2023. AdvisorHub reports that the notices stemmed from earlier DOJ settlements in which Mariner and American Century admitted to suppressing competition and wage growth through a no-poaching agreement between 2014 and 2018.

The DOJ required the firms to create $2.5 million victim compensation funds and notify affected employees.

Although the defendants denied liability in the civil case, they agreed to the settlement “to avoid the further risk, expenses, inconvenience, and distraction of burdensome and protracted litigation,” according to court filings. A spokesperson for American Century stated the firm is “glad to be in the process of resolving this matter” and remains committed to “fair and honest competition in compliance with all laws and regulations.” According to AdvisorHub, the settlement awaits approval by a federal judge.

 

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

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

December 22, 2025
FINRA Overhauls Arbitration Rules to Rebalance Arbitrator Selection and Codify Forum Practices

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has approved significant amendments to its Codes of Arbitration Procedure designed to rebalance public arbitrator selection, increase transparency, and formalize several long-standing practices in the arbitration forum.

December 19, 2025
Industry Groups Press Senate at Advance Financial Exploitation Prevention Act

Several industry associations are urging the U.S. Senate to pass the Financial Exploitation Prevention Act, legislation that would allow mutual fund companies and their transfer agents to delay redemptions when they reasonably suspect elder financial abuse.

December 18, 2025
UBS Warns of Rising Default Risk in Private Credit

A UBS report signals that credit stress likely will intensify next year as borrowers confront inflation, elevated interest costs, and softening consumer conditions.