Merrill Lynch Fined by FINRA Over Retention Bonuses
Merrill Lynch failed to arbitrate retention bonus disputes with employees, according to recent charges by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) that resulted in a $1 million fine.
According to a January 25, 2012 release:
“Registered representatives who participated in the bonus program had to sign a promissory note that prevented them from arbitrating disagreements relating to the note, forcing the registered representatives to resolve disputes in New York state courts.
FINRA found that Merrill Lynch, after merging with Bank of America in January 2009, implemented a bonus program to retain certain high-producing registered representatives and purposely structured it to circumvent the requirement to institute arbitration proceedings with employees when it sought to collect unpaid amounts from any of the registered representatives who later left the firm. FINRA rules require that disputes between firms and associated persons be arbitrated if they arise out of the business activities of the firm or associated person.”
Over 5,000 Merrill Lynch registered reprentatives received retention bonuses as part of the Bank of America acquisition, according to the release.
Contact Fort Lauderdale securities attorney Howard N. Kahn, Esq., if you or someone you know was a Merrill Lynch registered rep who received a retention bonus. Mr. Kahn serves as a FINRA arbitrator.
Read the full FINRA-Merrill Lynch press release.