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

Massachusetts Regulators Say Fidelity Rubber-Stamped Options Applications

Posted on January 27th, 2022 at 2:16 PM
Massachusetts Regulators Say Fidelity Rubber-Stamped Options Applications

From the Desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law:

Massachusetts securities regulators have filed suit against Fidelity Brokerage Services alleging unethical practices relating to the firms’ rubber-stamping of options trading applications.

Massachusetts’ securities division has emphasized Fidelity’s “failure to properly vet customers who applied to be approved for options and margin trading”, and has scrutinized the firm’s “half-hearted and lackadaisical attitude” toward protecting retail clients. Massachusetts regulators allege that Fidelity’s application review protocol enabled clients to submit several applications with altered information until the clients satisfied the account requirements. 

The administrative compliant discusses examples of repetitive applications with inaccurate financials, investment experience and employment information. The complaint further alleges that Fidelity failed to review and subsequently notice the contradictions even though the firm possessed accurate client information in its system. The complaint seeks to censure Fidelity and compels the firm to hire an independent compliance consultant to remedy the oversight failures. 

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

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law, Fidelity Brokerage Services

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next
Quotes Bigger

I want to extend a tremendous thank you for your dedication, professionalism, hard work and patient demeanor through this challenging time. It was enjoyable interacting with everyone on your team, this certainly helped while dealing with the situation and working towards resolution.

Dan M.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

1774034084 Law
March 20, 2026
McKinsey Forecasts Sweeping Changes for Wealth Management Over the Next Decade

The U.S.

1773930497 Law
March 19, 2026
Stifel Faces Proposed ERISA Class Action Over 401(k) Fund Performance

According to ThinkAdvisor, Stifel Financial now faces a proposed class action lawsuit that accuses the firm of mismanaging its profit sharing 401(k) retirement plan in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

1773851287 Law
March 18, 2026
LPL and Ameriprise Notify Clients of Cybersecurity Incidents Involving Account Access

LPL Financial and Ameriprise Financial Services recently notified certain clients about separate cybersecurity incidents that exposed private information and, in one case, led to unauthorized trading activity.