Questar to pay nearly $800,000 for overcharging charities

Finra censured firm for selling clients more expensive share classes.
NOV 03, 2017

Finra has censured Questar Capital, saying that it failed to identify and apply available sales charge waivers to eligible retirement accounts and charitable organizations. The firm agreed to pay $796,892 in restitution to clients. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. also ordered Questar to develop a plan to provide remediation to the eligible clients who qualified for, but did not receive, the applicable mutual fund sales charge waivers. Finra's letter of acceptance, waiver and consent said that the sales activity under question took place from Jul 1, 2009 to November 1, 2016. It said that certain retirement plan and charitable organization customers who were eligible to purchase Class A shares in certain mutual funds without a front-end sales charge were instead sold Class A shares with a front-end sales charge or Class B or C shares with back-end sales charges and higher ongoing fees and expenses.

Latest News

Warren and Wyden press FINRA on ACATS transfer fraud gap
Warren and Wyden press FINRA on ACATS transfer fraud gap

Senators say brokerages leave accounts exposed to fraudulent transfers without verification, intensifying pressure as FINRA weighs its own fraud-hold rule

Forbes advisor list update: Morgan Stanley drops it, owner says changes are coming
Forbes advisor list update: Morgan Stanley drops it, owner says changes are coming

Meanwhile, the founder of advisor list gives reasons for secret $6 million payment to editor.

U.S. Bank names chief private banking officer for wealth unit
U.S. Bank names chief private banking officer for wealth unit

Internal C-level promotion comes as US Bank builds out private banking, athlete-focused advice and alternatives infrastructure.

Why planning is the only strategy that holds in every market
Why planning is the only strategy that holds in every market

A structured financial plan doesn't just prepare clients for the future, it transforms how they respond to the present.

Gemini, Apex deal reflects prediction markets move towards mainstream retail investing
Gemini, Apex deal reflects prediction markets move towards mainstream retail investing

Regulated prediction markets for retail brokerage clients is the latest sign that prediction markets are entering the mainstream investing toolkit.

SPONSORED Direct indexing webinar targets tax-loss harvesting amid market swings

Northern Trust’s Ken Lassner shows advisors how to convert volatility into after-tax portfolio gains

SPONSORED Who builds the income when the pension disappears?

Dan Biagini of American Equity says the steady decline of pensions, longer lifespans and a reset in interest rates are rewriting how advisors build retirement income