SEC charges Washington state RIA with multi-million dollar fraud

Regulator says Ronald Fossum Jr. misappropriated assets and lied to investors.
DEC 20, 2017

The Securities and Exchange Commission has charged Snohomish, Wash.-based investment adviser Ronald A. Fossum Jr. with fraud, saying he misappropriated fund assets he controlled and misrepresented the financial condition of the funds and his compensation. According to the SEC's complaint, from approximately March 2011 to June 2016, Mr. Fossum raised more than $20 million from over 100 investors through unregistered securities offerings of three investment funds he owned and controlled: Accelerated Asset Group, Smart Money Secured Income Fund and Turnkey Investment Fund. The SEC alleges that Mr. Fossum misappropriated hundreds of thousands of dollars of assets from the funds by living rent free in a home owned by one fund and by having the funds pay for extensive international travel and his federal taxes. The SEC also said that instead of charging a one-time management fee of $2,990 per investment unit sold, Mr. Fossum secretly took $20,000 or more in compensation from each investment. In addition, the complaint charged that Mr. Fossum induced new investments in the Smart Money Secured Income Fund without disclosing its poor financial condition and repeatedly breached his fiduciary duties to all the funds by "indiscriminately commingling fund assets to satisfy the funds' liquidity needs." According to the SEC's complaint the three funds filed for bankruptcy in June 2016 and are currently being liquidated by a trustee. The SEC said it is seeking permanent injunctions, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains with prejudgment interest and civil penalties, as well as a conduct-based injunction against Mr. Fossum.

Latest News

Chicago’s 'Mr. Finance' posed as advisor in loan scheme, according to Illinois regulators
Chicago’s 'Mr. Finance' posed as advisor in loan scheme, according to Illinois regulators

The Illinois order refers to Brandon Ellington’s investment program as a “Ponzi-like scheme.”

Bezos calls for zero income tax on bottom half of earners
Bezos calls for zero income tax on bottom half of earners

But the Amazon executive chair seems to want it both ways, arguing that taxing the ultra-wealthy won't help struggling Americans.

Why the Charity Parity Act matters for retired clients in 401(k)s
Why the Charity Parity Act matters for retired clients in 401(k)s

Northern Trust planning leader sees the bill extending qualified charitable distributions to employer plans as a potential positive step — but advisors shouldn't overlook bigger holes in the strategy.

Trust is built before volatility arrives
Trust is built before volatility arrives

Markets will always create reasons for investors to worry. The advisor’s role is not to predict uncertainty, but to help clients understand why volatility should not derail a well-built financial plan.

Fintech bytes: Orion and Flourish bring client cash into advisor workflows
Fintech bytes: Orion and Flourish bring client cash into advisor workflows

Plus, Asset-Map partners with Contio to elevate the advisor meeting experience, and MyVest claims an innovation in portfolio management with separately managed models.

SPONSORED Beyond wealth management: Why the future of advice is becoming more human

As technical expertise becomes increasingly commoditized, advisors who can integrate strategy, relationships, and specialized expertise into a cohesive client experience will define the next era of wealth management

SPONSORED Durability over scale: What actually defines a great advisory firm

Growth may get the headlines, but in my experience, longevity is earned through structure, culture, and discipline