The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ordered a New York-based investment adviser and its principal to pay a total of $250,000 over their alleged failure to disclose misuse of profits raised from clients.

Matthew Bruderman and his firm, Bruderman Asset Management, agreed to cease and desist from further violations and a censure in reaching settlement, the SEC announced in a press release Tuesday. The firm was also faulted for not implementing policies and procedures concerning disclosure of conflicts of interest.