Tr?id=566623520170033&ev=PageView&noscript=1

SEC Charges Adviser's Estate and Firm in Alleged $1.68 Million Client Fund Misappropriation Scheme

Posted on April 30th, 2026 at 12:14 PM
SEC Charges Adviser's Estate and Firm in Alleged $1.68 Million Client Fund Misappropriation Scheme

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law

The Securities and Exchange Commission has filed a civil enforcement action against the estate of former investment adviser John R. Brodacki, III and his firm, Castle Hill Financial Group, LLC, alleging a years-long scheme that breached fiduciary duties and diverted client funds for personal use.

According to the SEC's complaint, Brodacki and Castle Hill solicited and obtained approximately $1.68 million from at least 18 advisory clients between June 2018 and September 2025. The agency alleges that many of these clients were elderly, retired, or seriously ill. Brodacki represented that the funds would be invested for the benefit of the clients or their family members.

The complaint asserts that Brodacki failed to invest the funds as promised. Instead, he allegedly redirected client money to cover personal and business expenses, including luxury dining, social club memberships, tuition, and travel. The SEC also alleges that he used client funds to make payments to other clients and to members of his own family.

The SEC further alleges that Brodacki and Castle Hill continued to solicit and accept client funds even after the registered investment adviser with which they were affiliated terminated the relationship in July 2025. Brodacki died on or about March 23, 2026.

The SEC has charged Brodacki and Castle Hill with violations of Sections 206(1) and 206(2) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, which prohibit fraudulent conduct and impose fiduciary obligations on investment advisers. The agency seeks disgorgement with prejudgment interest from Brodacki's estate, as well as civil penalties and a permanent injunction against Castle Hill.

The allegations remain unproven, and the litigation will determine the outcome of the SEC's claims.

Eccleston Law LLC represents investors and financial advisors nationwide in securities, employment, transition, regulatory, and disciplinary matters.

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law, sec enforcement, securities fraud, investment adviser misconduct, fund misappropriation, civil enforcement action

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next
Quotes Bigger

You guys are good!

Mike L.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

1779287606 Law
May 20, 2026
FINRA Sanctions Ameriprise for Supervisory Failures in Variable Annuity Exchanges

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has fined Ameriprise Financial Services and ordered restitution to resolve allegations that the firm failed to adequately supervise certain variable annuity exchange recommendations.

1779216500 Law
May 19, 2026
SEC Fines Ally Invest Advisors Over Undisclosed Robo-Advisor Conflict

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) imposed a $500,000 penalty on Ally Invest Advisors after finding that the firm failed to disclose a material conflict of interest tied to its Cash-Enhanced robo-advisor accounts.

1779206639 Law
May 19, 2026
Federal Court Upholds FINRA's Authority in Alpine Securities Challenge

A federal court has rejected a broad constitutional challenge to the authority of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), delivering a significant victory for the self-regulator and reinforcing its enforcement framework.