Close

Articles Posted in Employment Law

Updated:

UBS DEFAMES AN FA BUT STILL WINS BIG

This blog post looks at an interesting FINRA arbitration award issued on January 7, 2020:  Daniel Paul Motherway v. UBS Financial Services, Inc., FINRA Arbitration No. 17-02799.  This case seems to prove the old adage:  a man who is his own lawyer has a fool for a client.  Here we…

Updated:

FINRA ARBITRATORS REFUSE TO PERMIT FAs TESTIMONY: BUT THEY DID HEAR FROM THE SUBSTITUTE TEACHER

FINRA published an interesting arbitration award on December 27, 2019.  In Raymond James & Associates, Inc. v. Gregory D. Clark (FINRA Case Number 18-04011), Raymond James claimed that Mr. Clark breached a settlement agreement related to the repayment of a promissory note.  Raymond James requested, and was awarded, compensatory damages…

Updated:

UBS IS SLAMMED FOR FORM U5 DEFAMATION: QUALIFIED IMMUNITY PREVAILS

  On December 11, 2019, a Chicago-based FINRA arbitration panel body-slammed UBS in a Form U5 defamation case (FINRA Case No. 18-02179 – Munizzi vs. UBS Financial Services Inc.).  UBS will need to cough up compensatory damages of $3,149,656, punitive damages of $7.5 million, and almost $500,000 in attorneys’ fees. …

Updated:

Georgia Court Ruling Diminishes Protocol Protections for Brokers

Ever since it was implemented, brokers have relied on the Protocol for Broker Recruiting to be able to take some of their clients with them when they leave a firm, but a recent ruling by a state court in Georgia might jeopardize the Protocol’s protections. The Appeals court’s ruling concluded…

Updated:

Merrill Lynch FAs Will Experience Pay Cuts Unless They Meet Certain Targets

As Merrill Lynch brokers appear to lag behind their competitors at Morgan Stanley, some FAs at the firm are probably not looking forward to seeing their paychecks this summer season. Based on Merrill’s new compensation program, FAs who do not hit specific targets are going to endure punishment in the…

Updated:

Anti-Money Laundering and Sanctions Compliance: New Challenges for Financial Institutions

In a complex and shifting global scenario, the financial industry faces numerous challenges relating to anti-money laundering (AML) compliance. In a rapidly changing regulatory environment, within an unstable geopolitical context, financial institutions have to adapt to new technologies and innovative operating models. As regulators worldwide coordinate to increase transparency and…

Updated:

FINRA Imposes $550,000 Fines on Aegis Capital Over Anti-Money Laundering Violations

FINRA has fined Aegis Capital Corp. $550,000 for failing to implement required anti-money laundering (AML) and supervisory programs designed to prevent fraudulent activity. The violations specifically affected low-priced securities transactions involving DVP (delivery versus payment) accounts. According to the outcome of FINRA’s investigation, the supervisory system Aegis used “was not…

Updated:

FINRA Fines Wedbush Securities $1.5 Million Over Violations Related to Customer Reserves and Net Capital Requirements

FINRA recently announced monetary sanctions against Wedbush Securities in the amount of. $1.5 million for SEC rule violations and associated compliance failures. According to FINRA, Wedbush violated the SEC Customer Protection Rule, which requires broker-dealers to maintain a certain degree of physical possession and control over customer securities. The object…

Updated:

SEC Proposes Regulation Best Interest to Protect Investors from Self-Serving Brokers

A new proposed SEC regulation vows to “enhance the quality and transparency of investors’ relationships with investment advisers and broker-dealers.” If “Regulation Best Interest” is finally implemented, broker-dealers will be required to “act in the best interest” of their retail customers whenever they recommend any securities transactions or investments. Following…

Updated:

FINRA Fined Citigroup $11.5 Million and J.P. Morgan $2.8 Million

FINRA recently sanctioned Citigroup Global Markets Inc. $11.5 million over inaccurate research rating displays. The sanction includes a $5.5 million in fines and $6 million in compensation for wronged retail customers. According to the SRO’s findings, over at least five years, Citigroup displayed inaccurate research ratings for a large number…

Contact Us