Finra bars former Merrill rep accused of churning

Finra bars former Merrill rep accused of churning
Charles Kenahan had already been barred by the state of New Hampshire in December.
JAN 26, 2021

Former Merrill Lynch broker Charles Ernest Kenahan has been barred by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. for failing to take part in an investigation into his conduct at the firm, which discharged him in July 2019.

At the time, Merrill Lynch gave as its explanation for Kenahan's firing “customers’ allegations of unauthorized trading, unsuitable investment recommendations and excessive trading.”

In December 2020, the New Hampshire Bureau of Securities Regulation issued a permanent bar against Kenahan as a result of allegations of unauthorized trading, mismarked tickets, inappropriate ETFs, overcharges and excessive trading. New Hampshire also fined Merrill Lynch $2 million, with the wirehouse agreeing to pay $24.3 million back to clients as part of a settlement over Kenahan’s excessive trades, commissions and transaction

In 2019, Merrill Lynch paid a $40 million settlement to a customer who alleged Kenahan had churned his account.

Finra said that Kenahan initially cooperated with the regulator’s investigation of his sales practices, but then ceased doing so.

Latest News

Kestra adds Raymond James recruiter to expand advisor hiring push
Kestra adds Raymond James recruiter to expand advisor hiring push

The independent broker-dealer expands its business development bench with a new recruiter and an internal promotion in the West.

Cerity Partners names Will Peng chief innovation officer
Cerity Partners names Will Peng chief innovation officer

The leading ultra-high-net-worth RIA joins other large wealth firms, including Raymond James and LPL, in creating executive roles focused on artificial intelligence strategy

BlackRock expands Aladdin's private markets benchmarking tools
BlackRock expands Aladdin's private markets benchmarking tools

New Preqin-powered benchmarks add transparency to private equity and credit performance across BlackRock's platforms.

Fed's Bowman pushes for lighter-touch AI oversight at smaller firms
Fed's Bowman pushes for lighter-touch AI oversight at smaller firms

Supervision vice chair speaks following recent launch of AI adoption practices by regulators.

Why fixed income still belongs in your clients' portfolios
Why fixed income still belongs in your clients' portfolios

In an era of AI euphoria and market FOMO, getting back to basics with fixed income may be the most contrarian and most important move advisors can make.

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

SPONSORED Why direct indexing stopped being optional

Direct indexing is on pace to outgrow ETFs and mutual funds. Northern Trust's Ken Lassner explains why the advisors who get it wish they had started sooner.