Eccleston Law Blog

FINRA Orders $8.2 Million in Customer Restitution Over Mutual Fund Fee Errors

January 21st, 2025 at 3:17 PM
FINRA has required Edward Jones, Osaic Wealth, and Cambridge Investment Research to reimburse customers a combined total of more than $8.2 million for improperly charged mutual fund sales fees.
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Wells Fargo and LPL Financial Settle SEC Charges Over Blue Sheet Reporting Errors

January 20th, 2025 at 3:36 PM
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced settlements with Wells Fargo Clearing Services and LPL Financial, each agreeing to pay a $900,000 penalty for failing to provide complete and accurate securities trading information, also known as electronic blue sheet data. 
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FINRA Suspends and Fines Advisor for Misleading L Bond Sales

January 17th, 2025 at 2:30 PM
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has suspended and fined Alan Mason for violating Regulation Best Interest by recommending high-risk L bonds to a retail customer.
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Former Merrill Lynch Advisor Wins Expungement of Allegations Tied to CBD Business

January 16th, 2025 at 11:43 AM
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. 
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SEC Charges Nigerian Trio for Impersonating Financial Professionals in $2.9 Million Fraud Scheme

January 15th, 2025 at 2:29 PM
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged three individuals from Nigeria with orchestrating an elaborate online fraud scheme, stealing the identities of licensed financial advisors and investment advisers to defraud retail investors of over $2.9 million.
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Jefferies Financial Group Terminates Employment of Miami Team for Alleged Misconduct

January 14th, 2025 at 2:36 PM
According to Form U-5 filings, Jefferies Financial Group recently terminated a group of Miami-based wealth advisors allegedly after uncovering improper money transfers and attempts to conceal the activity through off-channel communications. The firm dismissed Marcelo Poliak, Rodrigo Soto, Guillermo Guerra, Pablo Gherardi, and four other team members over “impermissible money-wire transfers” and “deleted” communications.
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Former Merrill Lynch Executives Launch Indivisible Partners, a New Independent Advisory Firm

January 13th, 2025 at 3:11 PM
John W. Thiel, the former head of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, has announced plans to launch Indivisible Partners, an independent registered investment advisory (RIA) firm, in early 2025.   
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FINRA Arbitration Panel Clears Advisor's Record of Defamatory Allegations

January 10th, 2025 at 2:14 PM
A FINRA arbitration panel has ruled in favor of Mary J. Howard, a former RBC Wealth Management advisor, allowing her to expunge defamatory allegations from her Form U-5 termination record.
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Former Advisor Faces Lawsuit Over Mishandling of Premium-Financed Life Insurance Plan

January 9th, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Joshua L. Gottlieb, barred by FINRA in 2017, faces a lawsuit alleging significant financial harm to a client following the sale of a premium-financed indexed universal life (IUL) insurance program. 
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Merrill Lynch Agrees to $4.9 Million Settlement in Overtime Pay Dispute

January 8th, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Merrill Lynch will pay $4.9 million to resolve a class action lawsuit filed by current and former salaried Financial Solutions Advisors (FSAs) who alleged the firm wrongfully denied them overtime pay. As reported by AdvisorHub, a Florida state judge recently approved the settlement, which will compensate eligible FSAs who worked at the firm over the past three years.
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If the regulators are after you, and are trying to make a case against you, and you are going to contest their allegations against you, make sure you have the best securities industry defense lawyers, Eccleston Law Firm. My case was spun into a combination of penalties including fines, cash settlements, CE courses and suspension. They were the best I have seen in action. When all was said and done, they had done their magic, my situation was negotiated and settled with a simple "letter of caution" and a case closed without action. It is the most important legal business decision you will ever make, make it Eccleston Law.

Rick R.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

July 11, 2025
FINRA Advances Proposal to Allow Limited Use of Performance Projections

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) is moving forward with a proposal that would give broker-dealers limited ability to market performance projections and targeted returns under specific conditions.

July 10, 2025
SEC Permanently Bars Brite Advisors USA Over Custody Rule Violations and Undisclosed Conflicts

The SEC has permanently barred Brite Advisors USA from operating as an investment adviser, citing serious custody rule violations and undisclosed conflicts of interest tied to its offshore affiliate, as reported by Financial Advisor News.

July 9, 2025
UBS Confirms Data Breach After Cyberattack on External Vendor

UBS Group AG has confirmed that a cyberattack on one of its third-party suppliers resulted in stolen company information, though no client data was compromised.