FINRA fines Wells Fargo unit $3M for repeatedly pushing ‘unsuitable’ investments
By 
Aaron Nicodemus2024-09-17T14:27:00
A Wells Fargo subsidiary will pay nearly $3 million to settle allegations that it failed to properly supervise an employee attempting to sell unsuitable investment products to retail investors–the fifth time it has been penalized for similar supervisory failings since 2020.
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) said in a disciplinary action Thursday that Wells Fargo Clearing Services (WFCS) will pay a $400,000 fine, $600,000 in restitution, and $2 million in disgorgement for failing to prevent an employee from engaging in unsuitable, short-term trading in several investment products for retail investors in 2017 and 2018.
The firm also failed to properly follow up on red flags of the employee’s trading in these products, like by restricting his ability to make new sales in those products.
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