‘Fired’ by Trump in 2005, ex-LPL adviser is suspended by Finra

Mark Lamkin borrowed $1.3 million from a client and didn't disclose it, according to the regulator

Finra has suspended for three months a former LPL Financial adviser who was “fired” 15 years ago by Donald Trump on the hit reality television show “The Apprentice.”

“In this boardroom, we’ve never had a team lose so badly,” Mr. Trump said sternly as he faced the adviser, Mark Lamkin, and three team members, according to an October 2005 New York Post article. “You’re all fired! All four are fired!”

LPL in 2018 fired Lamkin, for real, in part for allegedly receiving or benefiting from loans from firm customers, which is a violation of industry rules, according to his BrokerCheck report.

On Monday, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. issued its settlement with Lamkin, stating that between December 2011 and August 2017, while registered through LPL, he on three occasions borrowed a total of $1.3 million from a customer without notifying LPL or obtaining written approval.

Lamkin was also fined $7,500. He neither admitted to or denied Finra’s findings as part of the agreement.

Based in Louisville, Ken., Lamkin is now registered with Calton & Associates Inc., another independent broker-dealer that is much smaller than LPL. Months after he was terminated by LPL, Lamkin told InvestmentNews that he would prevail and had always worked to do right for his clients.

“Finra did a great job in the investigation and I fully admit to arranging a loan from a long-time friend that I mistakenly believed was exempt from Finra guidelines,” he wrote in an email Wednesday.

Finra is “100% correct in its findings and to this day, the friend is a client and fully supports our arrangement and agreement,” he added.

Meanwhile, the adviser was also facing an inquiry regarding questions about compensation from the Commonwealth of Kentucky, but those allegations appear to be in the rear view mirror.

“There was insufficient evidence to establish that [Lamkin] devised a plan, through fraud, deceit or misrepresentation to receive compensation for broker-dealer and advisory services to which he was not entitled to receive,” according to a recommended order last month issued by Kentucky’s department of financial institutions.