Today the SEC announced that three advisers have settled charges for breaching fiduciary duties.
Per the SEC, 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 Share Class Selection Disclosure Initiative gives eligible advisers until June 12, 2018, to self-report similar misconduct and take advantage of the Enforcement Division’s willingness to recommend more favorable settlement terms, including no civil penalties against the adviser.
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