Court upholds $3 million arbitration award against Spire Securities

Court upholds $3 million arbitration award against Spire Securities
Finra had ruled that the firm failed to supervise a broker who operated a Ponzi scheme.
NOV 06, 2019
A New York federal court has upheld a $3 million arbitration award holding Spire Securities responsible for failing to supervise one of its brokers who operated a Ponzi scheme. The broker, Patrick Evans Churchville, sold investments through ClearPath Wealth Management, a Rhode Island registered investment adviser he ran, to the 23 claimants in the arbitration case. Those claimants were a subset of the victims of Mr. Churchville's $21-million Ponzi scheme. In June, a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. arbitration panel awarded the claimants $3 million of the $21 million in compensatory damages they were seeking. [Recommended video: Personalization and custom communications are key to the evolving client experience]​ The arbitration case was the first regulatory event for Spire Securities, a subsidiary of McLean, Va.-based Spire Investment Partners. At the time of the arbitration, the firm said that none of the claimants had lost money while at Spire and that no regulator had investigated Spire over Mr. Churchville's Ponzi scheme, which occurred at an advisory firm that was separate from Spire.

Latest News

5 best practices to brand your process & win more busines
5 best practices to brand your process & win more busines

Advisors can set their practice apart and win more business with a powerful graphic describing their unique business and value proposition.

Industry, financial experts sound off after DOL walks back crypto warning for 401(k)s
Industry, financial experts sound off after DOL walks back crypto warning for 401(k)s

The Labor Department's reversal from its 2022 guidance has drawn approval from crypto advocates – but fiduciaries must still mind their obligations.

Autopilot surges to $750M AUM, touts RIA growth as users copy Pelosi, Buffett trades
Autopilot surges to $750M AUM, touts RIA growth as users copy Pelosi, Buffett trades

With $750 million in assets and plans to hire a RIA Growth Lead, Autopilot is moving beyond retail to court advisors with separately managed accounts and integrations with RIA custodians such as Schwab and Fidelity.

RIA wrap: Former Procyon advisors launch Third View, ex-Rochdale CEO resurfaces in New York
RIA wrap: Former Procyon advisors launch Third View, ex-Rochdale CEO resurfaces in New York

Elsewhere on the East Coast, a Boca Raton-headquartered shop has acquired a fellow Florida-based RIA in "a natural evolution for both organizations."

$43B Beacon Pointe taps seasoned retirement plan specialist to lead in DFW region
$43B Beacon Pointe taps seasoned retirement plan specialist to lead in DFW region

After advising on nearly $700 million in retirement assets, 27-year veteran Greg Mykytyn is bringing his expertise in ESOP and 401(k) plans to the national RIA in Texas.

SPONSORED Beyond the dashboard: Making wealth tech human

How intelliflo aims to solve advisors' top tech headaches—without sacrificing the personal touch clients crave

SPONSORED The evolution of private credit

From direct lending to asset-based finance to commercial real estate debt.