William King, Merrill Lynch: Investor Lawsuits

William King, Merrill Lynch Lawsuits

Have you suffered losses investing with William “Bill” King and Merrill Lynch? If so the securities attorneys at The White Law Group may be able to help you.

The White Law Group has recently represented investors in claims against Merrill Lynch alleging William Worthen King (CRD #1432593) made unsuitable investment recommendations. If you have suffered losses investing with Bill King in Vero Beach, Florida, we may be able to help you by filing a FINRA lawsuit.

FINRA Files Disciplinary Action against Bill King

On March 3rd, 2025, King was reportedly sanctioned by FINRA for alleged rules violations related to discretionary trading, according to a letter of acceptance.

Violative Conduct

A FINRA cause examination found that between January 6, 2021, and January 5, 2023, King allegedlyplaced 204 trades in six brokerage accounts belonging to four customers—three of whom were seniors—without prior written authorization. While he had purportedly discussed investment strategies with these clients, they had not provided written consent for him to exercise discretion, nor had Merrill Lynch approved the accounts as discretionary.

Additionally, Merrill Lynch’s written supervisory procedures explicitly prohibited unauthorized discretionary trading, and King allegedly falsely attested in two compliance questionnaires that he had not engaged in such activity. As a result, King purportedly violated FINRA Rules 3260(b) and 2010, which require written authorization for discretionary trading and adherence to high ethical standards.

Sanctions

As part of a settlement with FINRA, King reportedly consented to the following penalties:

• A 30-day suspension from associating with any FINRA member in all capacities
• A $5,000 fine

This disciplinary action adds to King’s alleged regulatory troubles, which already include numerous customer lawsuits alleging unauthorized trading, unsuitable options strategies, and failure to implement risk management strategies. Three disputes were reportedly settled for a total of$332,500, while others remain pending.

William King, Merrill Lynch: Customer Complaints

May 2023: King reportedly resigned after 37 years with Merrill Lynch amid numerous customer complaints.  King resigned voluntarily on April 21, 2023, due to “allegations of unsuitable and unauthorized trading in certain clients’ accounts,” according to his FINRA BrokerCheck profile.

According to FINRA, King has 29 customer complaints and FINRA arbitration lawsuits on his record. Allegations include “unauthorized options trades in 2022,” “misrepresentation of an equity-indexed annuity,” and “unauthorized and unsuitable trading,” among others.

Options trading involves a high level of risk, and unauthorized trades may result in unexpected losses that could impact your investment portfolio negatively. Unauthorized options trading can lead to significant investment losses.

William “Bill” King – FINRA BrokerCheck Profile

The FINRA BrokerCheck tool is a free online tool that allows investors to research and verify the background and credentials of financial brokers, brokerage firms, and investment advisors registered with FINRA.

Investors can use the tool to verify if a broker or brokerage firm is registered with FINRA, review their employment history, licensing status, any regulatory actions, and whether any FINRA arbitration lawsuits or complaints have been filed against them.

According to William King’s FINRA broker report, he has been associated with Merrill Lynch since 1985. He is not currently registered as a broker or financial advisor.

How to Recover Investment Losses with Merrill Broker Bill King, Vero Beach, Florida

If your broker has made unsuitable investment recommendations, and you have suffered losses, you may be able to file a lawsuit or FINRA claim to seek resolution through arbitration.

FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) oversees brokers and brokerage firms. The suitability rule (FINRA Rule 2111) is a regulation imposed by the FINRA that requires brokers and financial advisors to recommend investments that are suitable for their clients based on their financial situation, investment objectives, risk tolerance, and other relevant factors.

When brokers violate securities laws, such as making unsuitable investments, the brokerage firm they are working with may be liable for investment losses through FINRA Arbitration.

FINRA arbitration can be a complex and technical process, and having an experienced attorney who is knowledgeable about securities law can increase your chances of success.

Class Action vs. Individual FINRA Arbitration Lawsuit

People often wonder whether a large class action lawsuit is a better litigation option for them than an individual FINRA arbitration lawsuit.  The answer depends on many factors, but typically if the loss sustained is large (say larger than $100,000), an individual FINRA arbitration claim is likely a better option.  Class action lawsuits as a recovery option are more appropriate for grouping large numbers of individuals who have small claims – too small to generally pursue individually.

Free Consultation with Securities Attorneys

The securities attorneys at the White Law Group have the experience to help you with the arbitration process including evaluating the merits of your potential claim and determining whether you have a compelling case for a FINRA arbitration lawsuit.

If you suffered investment losses William King and Merrill Lynch, and would like to file a FINRA lawsuit, please call The White Law Group at 888-637-5510 for a free consultation.   

The White Law Group, LLC is a national securities fraud, securities arbitration, investor protection, and securities regulation/compliance law firm dedicated to helping investors in claims in all 50 states against their financial professional or brokerage firm. Since the firm launched in 2010, it has handled over 800 FINRA arbitration cases.

Our firm represents investors in all types of securities related claims, including claims involving stock fraud, broker misrepresentation, churning, unsuitable investments, selling away, and unauthorized trading, among many others.