The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has fined Wells Fargo and Bank of America $2.15 million and ordered the firms to pay more than $3 million in restitution to customers for losses incurred from unsuitable sales of floating-rate bank loan funds. FINRA ordered Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, as successor for Wells Fargo Investments, LLC, to pay $1.25 million and reimburse approximately $2 million in losses to 239 customers. FINRA ordered Merrill Lynch, as successor for Bank of America Investment Services, Inc., to pay $900,000 and reimburse approximately $1.1 million in losses to 214 customers. Wells Fargo and Bank of America neither admitted nor denied the charges, but consented to the entry of FINRA's findings.
Floating-rate bank loan funds are mutual funds that invest in a portfolio of secured senior loans made to entities whose credit quality is rated below investment-grade, which subjects the funds to significant default risks and illiquidity.
FINRA found that Wells Fargo and Bank of America brokers recommended floating-rate bank loan funds to customers whose risk tolerance, investment objectives, and financial conditions were inconsistent with the risks and features associated with floating-rate loan funds. The subject customers were seeking to preserve their principal or had conservative risk tolerances, but the brokers made recommendations to purchase floating-rate loan funds without having reasonable grounds to believe that the purchases were suitable for the customers. FINRA also found that the firms failed to train their sales forces regarding the unique risks and characteristics of the funds. The firms also failed to reasonably supervise the sales of floating-rate bank loan funds.
Have you suffered losses in floating-rate bank loan funds sold by Wells Fargo Advisors, Merrill Lynch, or any other broker-dealer? If so, call Robert Pearce at the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. for a free consultation. Mr. Pearce is accepting clients with valid claims against stockbrokers who recommended unsuitable investments and unsuitable investment strategies that caused investors losses.
The most important of investors' rights is the right to be informed! This Investors' Rights blog post is by the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A., located in Boca Raton, Florida. For over 30 years, Attorney Pearce has tried, arbitrated, and mediated hundreds of disputes involving complex securities, commodities and investment law issues. The lawyers at our law firm are devoted to protecting investors' rights throughout the United States and internationally! Please visit our website, www.secatty.com, post a comment, call (800) 732-2889, or email Mr. Pearce at pearce@rwpearce.com for answers to any of your questions about this blog post and/or any related matter.
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