Stifel Fined $2.5 Million After Advisor Charged Excessive Fees to Seniors and a Church

Posted on May 4th, 2023 at 1:24 PM
Stifel Fined $2.5 Million After Advisor Charged Excessive Fees to Seniors and a Church

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law 

Massachusetts’ top securities regulator, William Galvin, has ordered Stifel, Nicolaus & Co. to pay $2.5 million for failing to supervise an advisor’s questionable trades, which charged excessive and unauthorized fees to several senior clients, nonprofits, and a church.

Stifel has additionally agreed to pay at least $700,000 in restitution to Massachusetts customers as part of a consent order. According to Galvin, former Stifel advisor Joseph Crespi “subjected many of his clients to predatory sales practices over several years, leading to higher commission sales for himself and his employer.” Galvin’s investigation further discovered “wide-ranging harm” to Massachusetts customers, which stemmed from “multiple instances of Stifel employees using personal cell phones to conduct business and distributing retail communications in violation of firm and regulatory requirements.”

Galvin’s order additionally noted that Stifel has paid more than $14 million in fines, civil penalties, disgorgement, and restitution over the past five years. Crespi, who was registered with Stifel between 2018 and 2022, was the firm’s sixth highest-producing New England-based employee as of June 2019.

 

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

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next

I just wanted to say thanks again for preparing and executing my case in such a professional manner. It was a pleasure to watch two professionals take such pride in their work, as well as becoming personally in tune with your client (Me). I would personally recommend you and your firm to anyone.

John O.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

November 7, 2025
FINRA Suspends Former Wells Fargo Broker Over Unapproved Real Estate Venture

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) suspended former Wells Fargo broker George J. Cairnes for four months and fined him $25,000 for engaging in unapproved real estate outside business activity, according to a settlement letter issued.

November 6, 2025
Former Ameriprise Broker Ordered to Pay $2.2 Million for Elder Exploitation

A Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration panel has ordered Eric A. Dupre to pay nearly $2.2 million in damages to his former firm and two customers following allegations of theft and elder exploitation.

November 5, 2025
Former Wells Fargo Representative Suspended for Unauthorized Texting and Obstruction

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has suspended former Wells Fargo representative Eyan M. Townsend for one year and fined him $10,000 for using personal text messages to conduct business and attempting to obstruct an internal investigation by deleting those communications.