Conrad Kenneth Branson of Mill Valley, California, a stockbroker formerly registered with Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner Smith Incorporated, has been fined $5,000.00 and suspended for 45 days from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity because of Branson’s unauthorized trading in customer accounts during the time that he was associated with Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner Smith Incorporated. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent No. 2020066687601 (August 23, 2022).
According to the AWC, between September 4, 2019, and February 12, 2020, Branson executed fourteen unauthorized transactions in three customer accounts. Branson also made discretionary transactions without customers’ prior written authorizations and without the securities broker dealer’s acceptance of those customer accounts as discretionary accounts. Accordingly, Branson violated FINRA Rules 2010 and 3260(b).
Public Disclosure shows that Branson is also referenced in a customer initiated investment related complaint that was settled on May 4, 2020, for $34,341.00 in damages based upon allegations that Branson made unauthorized transactions when Branson was associated with Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner Smith Incorporated.
Branson was registered with Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner Smith Incorporated from May 10, 2013, to June 22, 2022. Branson has been registered with Kingswood Capital Partners LLC as a stockbroker since June 21, 2022. He has been registered with Kingswood Wealth Advisors LLC as an investment adviser representative since June 21, 2022.
