Eccleston Law Blog

Mariner Wealth Advisors Face Legal Heat as Competitors Allege Aggressive Recruiting Tactics

March 5th, 2024 at 11:24 AM
Mariner Wealth Advisors has recently become the target of multiple lawsuits from competitors, including Edelman Financial Engines, Avantax, and RWA Wealth Partners.
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New York Attorney General Sues Citibank

March 4th, 2024 at 2:48 PM
New York Attorney General Letitia James has shifted away from her filing a politically motivated action to now file a lawsuit against Citibank, accusing the bank ofinadequately safeguarding customers from online banking scams and refusing to reimburse victims.
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LPL Financial Agrees to $6 Million Settlement with FINRA Over Regulation Best Interest Lapses

March 1st, 2024 at 11:34 AM
LPL Financial has agreed to pay over $6 million to settle charges by FINRA, alleging violations of Regulation Best Interest in recommending trades involving certain listed business development companies.
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Former Wells Fargo Advisor Suspended by FINRA for Unreported Brokerage Account

February 28th, 2024 at 4:11 PM
A former Wells Fargo advisor, Robert J. DeHayes, faced fines and suspension from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for maintaining an undisclosed outside brokerage account in his wife's name.
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Edward Jones Advisor Faces Suspension and Fine for Concealing Office Ownership

February 27th, 2024 at 1:13 PM
Lincoln L. Mason has agreed to a 90-day suspension and a $5,000 fine following allegations of deceiving the firm into leasing office space he owned.
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SEC Bars Florida Man in $35 Million Ponzi Scheme

February 26th, 2024 at 1:39 PM
Brent Seaman of Naples, Florida, has accepted a settlement in an SEC civil action, admitting to acting as an unregistered broker or dealer in the sale of securities for Accanito Equity, LLC, Accanito Equity II, LLC, Accanito Equity III, LLC, and Accanito Equity IV, LLC, from June 2019 to September 2022.
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Advisor Accepts Industry Bar Amid FINRA Probe into Outside Business Activities

February 23rd, 2024 at 1:23 PM
John A. Dougherty, a veteran advisor with 23 years of experience, agreed to an AWC (Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent) after refusing to cooperate with a regulatory investigation into allegations of undisclosed outside business activities.
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Key Considerations for Advisors When Assessing the Financial Soundness of Annuities

February 22nd, 2024 at 1:42 PM
While rating agencies like Fitch and S&P Global Ratings generally highlight the strength of annuity issuers, advisors still should scrutinize certain factors in their assessment process.
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SEC Alleges Fraud Against Morgan Stanley and Former Executive in Block Trading Business

February 21st, 2024 at 2:59 PM
As reported by the Wall Street Journal, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and its former head of equity syndicate desk, Pawan Passi, with a multi-year fraud involving the disclosure of confidential information related to block trades.
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Challenges Persist: Firms Struggle to Comply with Regulation Best Interest

February 20th, 2024 at 1:26 PM
FINRA's annual report for 2024 reveals a concerning trend among broker-dealers, with numerous instances of violations of Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI).
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