Charles Schwab & 11 other firms fined $63M by SEC, in ‘off-channel’ texting crackdown
In the latest Securities and Exchange Commission off-channel communications sweep, 12 firms will pay hefty fines because they used unapproved communication methods, such as WhatsApp, and failed to properly keep records.
By Lynn Cavanaugh |
January 17, 2025 at 12:29 AM
X
Thank you for sharing!
Your article was successfully shared with the contacts you provided.
The Securities and Exchange Commission has announced charges against Charles Schwab, Blackstone and seven other investment advisers, as well as three broker-dealers, for allowing their employees to use unapproved communication methods, such as WhatsApp and LinkedIn, to send and receive messages that were required to be preserved, in violation of recordkeeping provisions of federal laws.
“When firms fall short of those obligations, the consequences go far beyond deficient document productions; such failures implicate the transparency and the integrity of the markets and their participants, like the firms at issue here,” said Sanjay Wadhwa, Acting Director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement.
Complete your profile to continue reading and get FREE access to BenefitsPRO.com, part of your ALM digital membership.
Your access to unlimited BenefitsPRO.com content isn’t changing. Once you are an ALM digital member, you’ll receive:
Critical BenefitsPRO.com information including cutting edge post-reform success strategies, access to educational webcasts and videos, resources from industry leaders, and informative Newsletters.
Exclusive discounts on ALM, BenefitsPRO magazine and BenefitsPRO.com events.
Access to other award-winning ALM websites including ThinkAdvisor.com and Law.com
It’s no secret, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a transformational force. And it’s already reshaping HR. Explore the ways AI is revolutionizing HR and practical strategies to make your team more strategic and engaging.
AI isn’t just poised to reshape workflows for benefit brokers - it already is. This paper explores why AI is a force multiplier for benefits advisors, and how it can increase your profits while enabling more personalized outcomes for clients.