NOTE: Stipulations of Fact and Consent to Penalty (SFC); Offers of Settlement (OS); and Letters of Acceptance Waiver, and Consent (AWC) are entered into by Respondents without admitting or denying the allegations, but consent is given to the described sanctions & to the entry of findings. Additionally, for AWCs, if FINRA has reason to believe a violation has occurred and the member or associated person does not dispute the violation, FINRA may prepare and request that the member or associated person execute a letter accepting a finding of violation, consenting to the imposition of sanctions, and agreeing to waive such member's or associated person's right to a hearing before a hearing panel, and any right of appeal to the National Adjudicatory Council, the SEC, and the courts, or to otherwise challenge the validity of the letter, if the letter is accepted. The letter shall describe the act or practice engaged in or omitted, the rule, regulation, or statutory provision violated, and the sanction or sanctions to be imposed.

Steven Lenard Jessup Jr.
AWC/2009021029623

Jessup improperly requested and received an answer key to a state LTC CE exam and improperly distributed the answer key to a registered representative outside of his member firm. Jessup was an external wholesaler who marketed an insurance product to financial advisors at financial services firms. Certain states began requiring financial advisors to successfully complete a LTC CE course before selling LTC insurance products to retail customers. Jessup’s firm authorized its wholesalers to give financial advisors vouchers from a company, which the financial advisors could use to take CE exams through the company without charge. Firm employees created and circulated answer keys to the company’s CE exam for various states.

The suspension was in effect from October 3, 2011, through November 2, 2011. (FINRA Case #)

Steven Lenard Jessup Jr. : Fined $5,000; Suspended 1 month

Tags: Testing