Eccleston Law Blog

Team Breakups Surge Among Financial Advisors Despite Firm Incentives

October 17th, 2024 at 1:28 PM
In recent months, several high-profile departures have highlighted a growing trend: financial advisors are splitting from longtime teams and even family members to pursue opportunities with other firms. 
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FINRA Penalizes Advisor for Falsifying Client Signatures

October 16th, 2024 at 2:44 PM
FINRA has imposed a $7,500 fine and a one-year suspension on Richard Dean Connally.
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SEC Charges First Horizon Advisors for Regulation Best Interest Violations

October 15th, 2024 at 4:09 PM
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged First Horizon Advisors, LLC, a registered broker-dealer, with violating Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI).
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Macquarie Investment Management to Pay $79.8 Million for Overvalued CMOs and Unlawful Cross Trades

October 11th, 2024 at 12:03 PM
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged Macquarie Investment Management Business Trust (MIMBT) with overvaluing collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs) and executing unlawful cross-trades that favored certain clients. 
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Merrill Lynch and Harvest Volatility Management Fined $9.3 Million for Exceeding Client Investment Limits

October 10th, 2024 at 3:19 PM
According to SEC.gov, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc., and Harvest Volatility Management LLC for exceeding clients’ designated investment limits, resulting in higher fees, increased market exposure, and financial losses. 
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Charles Schwab Faces Lawsuit Over Failure to Prevent Elder Fraud in Computer Hack

October 9th, 2024 at 1:26 PM
A new lawsuit claims that Charles Schwab failed to protect an elderly client from a fraudulent scheme that drained her retirement savings.
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Western International Securities Fined Over $1.5 Million for Failing to Detect Churning

October 8th, 2024 at 3:45 PM
Western International Securities, a California broker-dealer, has been ordered to pay over $1.5 million for failing to detect churning in 100 customer accounts.
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SEC Enforcement Chief Gurbir Grewal to Step Down After Leading Major Crackdowns

October 7th, 2024 at 4:08 PM
Gurbir Grewal, Director of Enforcement at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), is stepping down after playing a central role in major enforcement actions against Wall Street and the cryptocurrency industry.
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SEC Updates Regulation S-P to Enhance Customer Data Protection

October 4th, 2024 at 2:10 PM
The SEC has introduced long-awaited updates to Regulation S-P, originally adopted in 2000, to improve the protection of customer records and information for broker-dealers, investment companies, and RIAs. 
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FINRA Fines Newbridge Securities $125,000 for AML Failures and Unsuitable Recommendations

October 3rd, 2024 at 8:40 AM
Newbridge Securities Corporation has been fined $125,000 and censured by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for inadequate anti-money laundering (AML) protocols and for unsuitable recommendations of complex investment products.
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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

March 4, 2026
Modern Fraud Schemes Escalate in Scale and Sophistication

A recent panel discussion at the Financial Services Institute OneVoice conference in San Diego highlighted how rapidly evolving fraud schemes continue to victimize both retail and wealthy investors.

March 3, 2026
FINRA Suspends Former Stifel Broker Over Costly Account Switching Trades

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) suspended a former Stifel, Nicolaus & Co.

March 2, 2026
FINRA Suspends Cetera Broker for Accepting $50,000 Client Bequest Without Firm Approval

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) imposed a $10,000 fine and a seven-month suspension on an independent broker for accepting a $50,000 bequest from a client without obtaining prior firm approval.