FINRA fines firm for excess commission charges
Recently, FINRA released a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent (AWC) against a securities firm for two alleged violative conducts from August 2018 to September 2022. First, FINRA alleged that the firm charged an unfair commission of at least $100 on 1,683 equity transactions. FINRA also alleges that the firm failed to maintain a supervisory system designed to monitor for unfair commissions, which engendered the unfair commissions, in violation of FINRA Rules 2121, 3110, and 2010. Second, FINRA alleged that the firm failed to file offering documents with FINRA “in connection with 14 private placements,” in violation of FINRA rules 5123 and 2010. In the AWC, the firm agreed to a censure, a fine of $65,000, and a restitution of $69,898.17 plus interest.