by Howard Haykin

 

As a compliance officer, which broker do you think would most likely try and exploit his or her elderly broker-dealer customer? Which broker would be least likely?

 

1)  Broker A with 22 years’ experience with 14 firms.
2)  Broker B with 42 years’ experience with 4 firms.
3)  Broker C with 8 years’ experience with 13 firms.
4)  Broker D with 28 years’ experience with 6 firms.
5)  All the above.

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The answer is (5) ‘All the above'.

 

No broker has too much experience or too little experience to try and exploit an elderly customer. Based on the below sample of 17 recent FINRA disciplinary actions, brokers whom FINRA charged with exploiting one or more of their elderly customers had, on average, 22 years’ experience with 7 firms.

 

The take away? Compliance officers should use caution when relying on age or experience level, along with job turnover, as factors for gauging whether a particular broker is more or less likely to try and exploit one of the firm’s elder customers. All in all, that’s a relatively sobering thought!

 

 

The 17 Sampled Cases

1)   FINRA Case #2017052709201 (December) – Broker had 12 years with 5 firms

2)   FINRA Case #2015046537501 (December) – Broker had 22 years with 14 firms

3)   FINRA Case #2015046329201 (December) – Broker had 32 years with 5 firms

4)   FINRA Case #2014043043601 (December) – Broker had 10 years with 11 firms

5)   FINRA Case #2016049316301 (December) – Broker had 32 years with 8 firms

6)   FINRA Case #2015047910601 (January) – Broker had 42 years with 4 firms

7)   FINRA Case #2013039507101 (January) – Broker had 33 years with 5 firms

8)   FINRA Case #2015048048801 (January) – Broker had 29 years with 12 firms

9)   FINRA Case #2015047602801 (February) – Broker had 8 years with 13 firms

10) FINRA Case #2017054665401 (February) – Broker had 1 year with 2 firms

11) FINRA Case #2018057246701 (April) – Broker had 9 years with 2 firms

12) FINRA Case #2017056152801 (April) – Broker had 31 years with 6 firms

13) FINRA Case #2015045703002 (April) – Broker had 24 years with 5 firms

14) FINRA Case #2015046052701 (April) – Broker had 25 years with 6 firms

15) FINRA Case #2015045984001 (May) – Broker had 28 years with 6 firms

16) FINRA Case #2016047619001 (May) – Broker had 20 years with 11 firms

17) FINRA Case #2015047602803 (May) – Broker had 16 years with 3 firms

 

 

For related articles, click on …

Elder Financial Abuse (Part 2): FINRA Case Studies

Elder Financial Abuse (Part 3): FINRA Case Studies

Elder Financial Abuse (Part 4): FINRA Case Studies

Elder Financial Abuse (Part I): First Came the 'Free Lunch Sales Seminars'

 

 

The above cases were reported in recent FINRA Disciplinary Actions (see noted month).

To view the AWC Letter, -up, go to ...  FINRA Disciplinary Actions Online, and enter the Respective Case Number.