The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority barred an ex-Woodbury Financial broker from association with any FINRA member in any capacity after he refused to cooperate with the regulator’s investigation into him that was started “based upon a tip,” according to FINRA.
Without admitting or denying the findings, James Kennedy signed a letter of acceptance, waiver and consent April 20 in which he agreed to FINRA’s sanction. FINRA accepted the letter Tuesday.
Woodbury Financial and its parent company, Advisor Group, as well as AdvisorLaw attorney Michelle Atlas, who represented Kennedy in the dispute, did not immediately respond to requests for comment Thursday.
Kennedy entered the securities industry in 1986 and became registered with Woodbury Financial Jan. 26, 2007, according to FINRA. On March 31, the firm filed a Form U5 disclosing Kennedy was terminated, explaining that he was “permitted to resign for engaging in an unapproved outside business activity involving a financial transaction with a couple of clients,” the FINRA AWC letter said, quoting Woodbury.