April 6, 2018

The SEC announced that three investment advisers have settled charges for breaching fiduciary duties to clients and generating millions of dollars of improper fees in the process. According to the SEC’s orders, PNC Investments LLC, Securities America Advisors Inc., and Geneos Wealth Management Inc. failed to disclose conflicts of interest and violated their duty to seek best execution by investing advisory clients in higher-cost mutual fund shares when lower-cost shares of the same funds were available. The SEC also charged Geneos for failing to identify its revised mutual fund selection disclosures as a “material change” in its 2017 disclosure brochure. Collectively, the firms will pay almost $15 million, with more than $12 million going to harmed clients. The SEC’s orders find that PNCI, SAA, and Geneos each violated provisions of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, including an antifraud provision. Without admitting or denying the findings, the advisers each consented to a cease-and-desist order and a censure. The orders require PNCI to pay $6,407,770 in disgorgement and prejudgment interest along with a $900,000 penalty. SAA must pay $5,053,448 in disgorgement and prejudgment interest along with a $775,000 penalty. Geneos must pay $1,558,121 in disgorgement and prejudgment interest along with a $250,000 penalty. SEC

Tagged in: Financial Institution Fraud, Regulatory Violations, Securities Fraud,