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.
Groth sold equity-indexed annuities, with a face-value of $4,800,000, issued by carriers that were not approved by the firm for sales by its registered representatives, and earned approximately $524,142 in connection with the sales. This compensation was outside the scope of Groth’s relationship with the firm, and he accepted it without providing prompt written notice to the firm in a form the firm required. Groth completed firm documentation requesting information concerning any outside business activity and did not disclose that he was selling annuities issued by carriers that did not have selling agreements with the firm.
Jason Allen Groth: Fined $5,000; Suspended 90 days