LPL Financial Faces Potential $50 Million SEC Fine for Recordkeeping Failures

Posted on September 13th, 2024 at 5:02 PM
LPL Financial Faces Potential $50 Million SEC Fine for Recordkeeping Failures

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law

LPL Financial faces a fine of up to $50 million from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for non-compliance with records preservation rules, as reported by InvestmentNews. The penalty relates to business-related electronic communications stored on personal devices or unauthorized messaging platforms.

The firm disclosed that negotiations are ongoing. This potential fine initially was reported by InvestmentNews, following LPL's disclosure in its third-quarter report in October. The broker-dealer recorded a $40 million expense in the third quarter of 2023 to account for the portion of the penalty not covered by its captive insurance subsidiary.

The SEC also has charged multiple broker-dealers and investment advisors for widespread failures to maintain and preserve electronic communications, including WhatsApp messages and texts. Sixteen firms agreed to pay combined civil penalties exceeding $81 million.

 

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

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law, sec

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next

Thank you for your professional assistance with this matter. You are very good at what you do.

John T.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

June 3, 2025
Former Merrill Edge Advisor Barred by FINRA Amid Misappropriation Allegations

FINRA has barred Mario L. Martinez, a market leader with Merrill Edge in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, after he declined to cooperate with a regulatory investigation. According to AdvisorHub, the probe began following a tip that Martinez
accepted a loan from a client, among other alleged misconduct.

June 2, 2025
Revenue Sharing in Wealth Management Continues Despite Criticism

Revenue sharing remains one of the wealth management industry’s most controversial and opaque practices.

May 30, 2025
Former LPL Advisor Sanctioned by FINRA Over Undisclosed Real Estate Venture

FINRA has fined a former LPL Financial advisor and suspended him for three months after allegations surfaced that he operated a real estate development business without his firm’s approval.