Western International Securities Fined Over $1.5 Million for Failing to Detect Churning

Posted on October 8th, 2024 at 3:45 PM
Western International Securities Fined Over $1.5 Million for Failing to Detect Churning

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law

Western International Securities, a California broker-dealer, has been ordered to pay over $1.5 million for failing to detect churning in 100 customer accounts. The settlement, reached with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), includes a $475,000 fine and nearly $1.06 million in restitution to eight customers who were charged excessive commissions due to unsuitable trading.

FINRA found four former Western advisors generated over $2.5 million in total trading costs between January 2016 and December 2019. These trading fees represented up to 30 percent of the accounts' equity value and had a turnover rate of eight, exceeding FINRA's benchmarks for potentially excessive trading.

According to AdvisorHub, until early 2019, Western relied on trade blotter-based surveillance that did not include cost-to-equity ratios, turnover rates, or other indicators of excessive trading. Additionally, Western failed to provide field supervisors with proper guidance on evaluating excessive trading and did not mandate reasonable follow-up actions.

Western’s compliance department used “negative consent” letters to inform customers about trading in their accounts, taking no action if customers did not respond. Later, Western required customers to sign attestations agreeing with their brokers’ trading activity but failed to explain the firm’s concerns.

The firm accepted the penalty, known as an Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent (“AWC”), without admitting or denying the charges.

 

Eccleston Law LLC represents investors and financial advisors 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 18, 2025
Former FINRA Brokers with Misconduct Histories Flock to Insurance Industry, According to Recent Study

A recent academic study reveals that thousands of brokers expelled from the securities industry for misconduct nonetheless continue to operate under state insurance licenses, often selling annuities and other financial products to unsuspecting clients.

November 17, 2025
FINRA Launches Targeted Probe into Small-Cap Foreign IPO Underwriters

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has launched a targeted investigation into broker-dealer firms that helped small foreign companies go public in the U.S., marking its latest move to combat pump-and-dump schemes.

November 14, 2025
FINRA Bars Former Edward Jones Broker in Crypto-Related Investigation

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has barred former Edward Jones representative Robert David Bienvenu for refusing to provide requested information and documents related to outside accounts and investments.