The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) fined and suspended a former Merrill Lynch of Mill Valley, California, broker/financial advisor who allegedly engaged in unauthorized trading in client accounts.
Conrad K Branson, was with Merrill Lynch from 5/10/2013 - 06/22/2022. According to a recent article in Financial Advisor IQ, Merrill Lynch filed a Form U5 termination notice saying that Branson voluntarily left the firm.
According to FINRA’s BrokerCheck there was a regulatory disclosure dated August 23, 2022, that alleged without admitting or denying FINRA’s findings, Conrad K Branson consented to the sanctions and to the entry of findings that he allegedly engaged in unauthorized trading in client accounts held by the same family.
FINRA’s findings alleged that Branson effected unauthorized transactions in the accounts without the family's prior authorization, knowledge, or consent for the trades. Branson's member firm has compensated the family $78,919 for losses resulting from the unauthorized transactions.
According to FINRA’s findings, allegedly, Conrad K Branson exercised discretionary authority in some of the family's accounts without obtaining prior written authorization from the family and without having the accounts accepted as discretionary accounts by the firm. Branson also allegedly exercised discretionary authority in two other clients' accounts without obtaining prior written authorization from the clients and without having the accounts accepted as discretionary accounts by the firm.
FINRA fined Conrad K Branson $5,000.00 and suspended him for 45 days, from 9/19/2022 to 11/2/2022.
FINRA’s BrokerCheck lists Branson as having 24 years of experience in the securities industry and he has been with 7 firms. He has two disclosures on his FINRA CRD report, one is the regulatory and the other is a “Customer Dispute,” dated April 14, 2020, stating, “Client alleges unauthorized trading from September 2019 to February 2020.” The settlement amount was $34,341.00. Branson denies all allegations of wrongdoing.
Conrad K Branson is currently registered with the following firm, both as a broker and investment advisor since June 21, 2022:
KINGSWOOD CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC
1440 W. BERNARDO CT.
SUITE 300
SAN DIEGO, CA 92127
If you’ve experienced losses due to the actions or recommendations of the former Merrill Lynch of Mill Valley, California, broker/financial advisor, Conrad K Branson, contact Soreide Law Group and speak to an experienced securities lawyer at no cost regarding the possible recovery of your investment losses through a FINRA arbitration at: 888-760-6552.
Soreide Law Group represents clients nationwide before FINRA on a contingency fee basis, no fee to you if no recovery.
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