Stifel Ordered to Pay $133 Million in FINRA Arbitration

Posted on April 15th, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Stifel Ordered to Pay $133 Million in FINRA Arbitration

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law

Stifel Financial’s retail broker-dealer must pay nearly $133 million in damages following a FINRA arbitration tied to Miami-based advisors' structured note strategy. AdvisorHub reports that the award includes $80 million in punitive damages, $26.5 million in compensatory damages, and an equal amount in attorneys’ fees.

The arbitration panel issued a scathing decision, citing 10 major failures by Stifel. The firm allegedly had actual knowledge of the wrongful conduct and the likelihood of harm but chose to proceed regardless. The panel found that Stifel failed to warn customers about overconcentrated accounts in limited industries, and neglected to implement heightened supervision over Roberts as required. According to AdvisorHub, the ruling marks one of the largest arbitration awards in FINRA’s history, surpassing a $95 million decision against UBS last week.

It also underscores the mounting challenges Stifel faces, as Roberts has been the subject of more than $48 million in pending damage claims from 18 investor complaints since 2022. According to AdvisorHub, a Stifel spokesperson criticized the decision, calling it an "outsized award" unsupported by facts or law. The firm plans to seek judicial review. The spokesperson also argued that the claims were brought by sophisticated investors who understood the risks but only complained after suffering losses.

The arbitration award represents over 10 percent of Stifel’s Global Wealth division’s $1.2 billion in pretax net income for 2024. The firm has indicated it will appeal, as it has done in prior cases.

 

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

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law, finra

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next

As a financial advisor with over 20 years of experience, I feel fortunate to call Jim my attorney and friend. He is a fantastic lawyer and trusted advisor. He is skilled in the matters necessary to do the job well. He uses his thoughtful approach and calm demeanor to achieve a positive outcome for the client. If you want to feel confident that nothing will be missed and that you will be represented in a highly professional manner, call Jim Eccleston.

Bill C. and Dan M.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

December 11, 2025
DOJ Secures Five-Year Prison Sentence in Wolf Capital Crypto Fraud Case

Federal prosecutors have obtained a five-year prison sentence for Travis Ford, an Oklahoma resident who admitted to orchestrating a fraudulent crypto investment scheme through Wolf Capital.

December 10, 2025
SEC Highlights Rising Risks in RIA Consolidation and Focuses on Retailer Investor Protection

The Securities and Exchange Commission signaled heightened scrutiny of investment advisers involved in mergers and acquisitions, according to its newly released 2026 Examination Priorities.

December 9, 2025
The Vanishing Boundary Between Investing and Gambling

According to Bloomberg Law, there now are the tools, tactics, and a psychology of gambling that increasingly resembles those of retail trading.