The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority has suspended a former Fidelity representative for 45 days for participating in an outside business activity in which he posted "unapproved financial-related content" on social media.
According to FINRA's order, Kevin N. Jenkins entered the securities industry in August 2021 when he became associated with Fidelity Brokerage Services.
From December 2021 to June 2023, he was registered as a general securities rep with Fidelity.
On June 30, 2023, Fidelity filed a Form U5 reporting that Jenkins had voluntarily resigned while under internal review for “posting of unapproved financial-related content in his social media and using the name of an entity that also had not been approved.”
While associated with Fidelity, Jenkins controlled and operated a company that created and published content on social media.
"That content included discussions of personal finance, economics, and investments and, at times, included recommendations to buy or sell specific securities," the order states. "In connection with his online business, Jenkins also offered a subscription service for individualized financial advice."
He continued to create and publish investment-related content, including investment recommendations, until his resignation from Fidelity in June 2023. He worked at Merrill Lynch from July 2023 to March 2025 and is now registered with Innovation Partners in Charlotte, North Carolina, according to BrokerCheck.
From at least August 2021 to February 2023, "one firm customer subscribed, and during this time period, Jenkins provided recommendations to the customer to buy or sell specific securities," the order states. "In total, the customer bought or sold securities pursuant to Jenkins’ recommendations in more than 75 transactions valued at approximately $5,000."
In January 2022, shortly after becoming registered, "Jenkins orally disclosed to the firm that he had a social media brand but inaccurately described it as involving only financial education," according to the order.
In August 2022, Jenkins falsely attested on the firm’s annual compliance questionnaire that he was not involved in any private securities transactions and did not maintain any outside business activities.
"After the firm raised questions about his activities, in March 2023 Jenkins made a written disclosure to the firm about his online brand, but he did not disclose that it included making investment recommendations," the order states.
Jenkins accepted FINRA's findings without admitting or denying them.
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