FINRA Fines Accelerated Capital Group for Violating Industry Rules and Firm Procedures
Irvine, California-based Accelerated Capital Group, Inc. submitted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent in which the firm consented to, but did not admit to or deny, the described sanctions and to the entry of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s (FINRA) findings that its website contained misleading information and that it violated escrow account rules and procedures. The firm’s website contained fabricated testimonials and a world map that incorrectly suggested the firm had global offices and wanted to add 250 financial advisers. However, the firm had only two offices and omitted to state that its membership agreement limited the firm to 20 associated persons. FINRA’s findings also stated that two of the firm’s representatives maintained business-related websites that contained false, misleading, exaggerated, and promissory statements. The firm’s representatives distributed power point slides to investors that were unbalanced, failed to present a sound basis for evaluating the offered investment, and violated the prohibitions against exaggerated performance predictions and unwarranted performance claims and forecasts.
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