Eccleston Law Blog

FINRA Bars Former Merrill Lynch Advisor

August 26th, 2024 at 10:39 AM
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has barred Imdadur “Gino” Rahman, a former Merrill Lynch advisor for multiple compliance violations involving his relationship with an elderly customer.
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Q2 2024 Securities Filings and Settlements: Key Insights

August 23rd, 2024 at 1:50 PM
CRA Insights has prepared its update on Section 10(b) and Section 11 filings and settlements.
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Department of Labor's New Retirement Security Rule: What it Means for Financial Advisors

August 22nd, 2024 at 10:45 AM
The Department of Labor (DOL) unveiled its final Retirement Security Rule, addressing the fiduciary obligations of financial advisors handling retirement-related investments for plan sponsors and individuals.
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Brokerages Face Technical Meltdown Amid Market Turmoil

August 21st, 2024 at 11:42 AM
InvestmentNews recently reported that a severe technical glitch disrupted several major online brokerages as investors scrambled to trade amidst a sharp market downturn.
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SEC Scrutiny Intensifies Over Cash Management in Advisory Accounts

August 20th, 2024 at 11:13 AM
InvestmentNews reports that recent developments have intensified concerns about how broker-dealers manage cash in investment advisory accounts. Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo & Co. are currently under scrutiny from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regarding their handling of client cash balances.
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Raymond James to Pay $50 Million in SEC Settlement Over Off-Channel Communications

August 19th, 2024 at 10:58 AM
Raymond James Financial has reached a "settlement in principle" with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to pay $50 million, resolving an investigation into the firm's off-channel business communications.
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Starwood REIT Limits Shareholder Redemptions Amid Liquidity Challenges

August 16th, 2024 at 10:18 AM
According to InvestmentNews, Starwood Real Estate Income Trust Inc. (SREIT), has announced a significant reduction in the amount of shares it will repurchase from retail investors, a move aimed at preserving liquidity during challenging market conditions.
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GPB Capital Executives Found Guilty of Securities Fraud

August 15th, 2024 at 10:29 AM
David Gentile, the founder and CEO of GPB Capital Holdings, and Jeffry Schneider, chief of broker-dealer Ascendant Capital, were found guilty on all fraud counts in a federal trial that concluded in Brooklyn.
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Former Morgan Stanley Advisor Fined and Suspended for Unauthorized Trading

August 14th, 2024 at 11:25 AM
FINRA has fined a former Morgan Stanley advisor, Craig Sherman Thistlethwaite, $10,000 and suspended him for 60 days for unauthorized trading and other violations.
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DOJ Launches Pilot Whistleblower Program Offering Financial Incentives for Reporting Corporate Misconduct

August 13th, 2024 at 11:34 AM
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has introduced a new pilot program offering financial rewards to whistleblowers who provide original information related to financial crimes, bribery, or healthcare fraud.
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TESTIMONIALS

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Jim, Stephany and the whole team were a God send.  We felt like we were put into a situation where we had no advocate. Jim’s team came in with a strong, well laid out strategy on how to get our story heard. Where our outside compliance company had no ability to help, our Broker Dealer was impenitent, and the regulators were aggressive pursuing vague rules, Jim came like a barricade against an assault we did not understand. Though you pay member dues to be affiliated with FINRA and a B/D, you have no voice. The only thing that is truly heard in this un-level playing field is a bulldog’s bark like Jim’s. I would encourage anyone to call Jim and his team to find a real ally in the tough and complicated world of securities regulation. They are truly the best.

Greg P.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

December 16, 2025
Reminders for CFAs in Adhering to Compliance Standard, Client-Disclosure and Conflict Management Requirements

In 2023, the CFA Institute Board of Governors approved targeted revisions to the Standards of Professional Conduct, adding one new standard and updating two others.

December 15, 2025
FINRA Sanctions Former Merrill Broker for Unapproved Referral Payouts

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) issued a six-month suspension and a $7,500 fine against former Merrill Lynch broker Jeremiah Householder after finding that he accepted referral commissions from an unapproved third-party lender.

December 12, 2025
SEC Charges Driver Who Posed as a Financial Professional and Lost Over $1 Million

Federal regulators charged a New York area driver with masquerading as a seasoned investment professional and causing significant losses for three investors.