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Eccleston Law Blog

Fidelity to Shift Independent Advisor Cash to Lower-Yielding FCash Amount in 2025

January 24th, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Fidelity Investments plans to redirect cash balances in non-retirement brokerage accounts managed by independent financial advisors to its in-house sweep account, FCash, starting in 2025.
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Barred Advisor Continues Pattern of Settlements at Western International Securities

January 23rd, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Chris Kennedy, a barred advisor formerly associated with Western International Securities, has agreed to a $2.1 million settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over allegations of high-volume trading, or churning, in client accounts.
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FINRA to Revise Outside Business Activities Rules

January 22nd, 2025 at 10:46 AM
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) is seeking to overhaul its rules on outside business activities (OBA) and private securities transactions.
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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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