Finra levies $1.2 million fines for reporting violations at Triad and Securities America

A consolidated report is a single document that combines information regarding most or all of a customer's financial holdings, regardless of where those assets are held. Consolidated reports supplement, but do not replace official customer account statements. Both Triad Advisors and Securities America had a consolidated report system that permitted their representatives to create consolidated reports, allowing them to enter customized asset values for accounts held away from the firm and to provide the reports to customers.

Brad Bennett, Executive Vice President and Chief of Enforcement, said, "Firms must ensure that consolidated reports sent to customers are clear, accurate and not misleading. Absent proper supervision, consolidated reports can be used by unscrupulous representatives to conceal fraud and theft."

For more than two years, Triad and Securities America failed to supervise hundreds of brokers, some of whom were creating and sending false and inaccurate consolidated reports to customers. Many of these consolidated reports contained inflated values for investments, some of which were in default or receivership. Moreover, at Triad, a number of consolidated reports sent to customers reflected fictitious promissory notes or other fictitious assets, which enabled two representatives to conceal their misconduct. Triad has paid restitution to some of the affected customers and FINRA has ordered Triad to pay restitution to the remaining affected customers.

In concluding these settlements, Triad Advisors and Securities America neither admitted nor denied the charges, but consented to the entry of FINRA's findings.