- October 16, 2024
- Harvest Investment Services
Robert Kennedy Thompson (Bob Thompson) (CRD#:1975407) is a registered investment advisor with Harvest Investment Services, LLC in Palos Hills, IL, and was a previously registered broker.
Broker’s History
He entered the securities industry in 1989 and previously worked with Money Concepts Capital Corp; Emissary Financial Group, Inc.; The Concord Equity Group, LLC; Harvest Investment Services, LLC; and Concourse Financial Group Securities, Inc.
Allegations of Misconduct
According to publicly available records released by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), without admitting or denying the findings, Thompson consented to the sanctions and to the entry of findings that he engaged in an outside business activity without providing prior written notice to his member firm. The findings stated that Thompson requested that his firm pre-approve his employment as a business development officer of an outside bank, but the firm denied his request. Thereafter, while Thompson was still associated with his firm, he served as a business development officer of the bank. In that capacity, Thompson sold financial products and received compensation of approximately $85,000. As a result, Respondent consented to the imposition of the following sanctions:
- a two-month suspension from associating with any FINRA member in all capacities; and
- a $5,000 fine.
For a copy of the FINRA Disciplinary Action Details, click here.
In addition, Robert Thompson was the subject of one other disclosure:
- October 2023—Discharged from Concourse Financial Group Securities, Inc., “Registered representative discharged for engaging in an unauthorized and unapproved outside business activity.”
For a copy of Robert Thompson’s SEC AdvisorInfo, click here.
We Help Investors Recover Investment Losses
Pursuant to FINRA Rule 3270, outside business activities in which Financial Advisors become involved must be disclosed. FINRA Rule 3280 prohibits Financial Advisors from engaging in Private Securities Transactions, which are securities transactions that take place away from the employing brokerage firm. The purpose of these rules is to ensure that Financial Advisors do not engage in selling away. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) strictly prohibits financial advisors from “selling away” or selling securities and investments to clients that are not offered by the brokerage firm with which they are employed. For example, it is illegal and a violation of industry rules for a financial advisor to recommend or even suggest that a client invest in the financial advisor’s own business or a business operated by his or her friends or family. It is not necessary that the financial advisor earn any compensation for recommending an outside investment.
The purpose behind this prohibition is to ensure that a financial advisor only offers to sell securities that have been vetted by his or her employer brokerage firm through a rigorous due diligence process. Most brokerage firms have an approved list of investments, products, and research that can be provided or made available to clients. Any deviation by the financial advisor from the approved product list may constitute selling away.
Financial advisors have a legal and regulatory obligation to recommend only suitable investments that are appropriate for their clients’ needs and objectives. Their employing brokerage firm has a legal and regulatory obligation to supervise the Financial Advisors’ sales practices and dealings with clients. To the extent any of these duties are breached, the customer may be entitled to a recovery of his or her investment losses.
Reasonable basis suitability requires that a recommended investment or investment strategy be suitable or appropriate for at least some investors. Reasonable basis suitability requires an advisor to conduct adequate due diligence so that he or she can determine the risks and rewards of the investment or investment strategy.
Quantitative suitability requires a brokerage firm or financial advisor with actual or de facto control over a customer’s account to have a reasonable basis for believing that a series of recommended transactions – even if suitable when viewed in isolation – is not excessive and unsuitable for the customer when taken together in light of the customer’s investment profile. No single test defines excessive activity, but factors such as the turnover rate, the cost-equity ratio, and the use of in-and-out trading in a customer’s account may provide a basis for a finding that a member or associated person has violated the quantitative suitability obligation.
Customer-specific suitability requires that a member or associated person have a reasonable basis to believe that the recommendation is suitable for a particular customer based on that customer’s investment profile. Among the criteria that a financial advisor must evaluate to satisfy his or her customer-specific suitability obligations include the investor’s age, tax status, time horizon, liquidity needs, and risk tolerance; a client’s other investments, financial situation and needs, investment objectives, and any other information disclosed by the customer should also be considered.
The Wolper Law Firm represents investors nationwide in securities litigation and arbitration on a contingency fee basis. Matt Wolper, the Managing Principal of the Wolper Law Firm, is a trial lawyer who has handled hundreds of securities cases during his career involving a wide range of products, strategies and securities. Prior to representing investors, he was a partner with a national law firm, where he represented some of the largest banks and brokerage firms in the world in securities matters. We can be reached at (800) 931-8452 or by email at mwolper@wolperlawfirm.com.