William King, Merrill Lynch: Investor Lawsuits

The White Law Group is currently representing investors in claims against Merrill Lynch alleging William “Bill” King made unsuitable investment recommendations. If you have suffered losses investing with Bill King in Vero Beach, Florida, we may be able to help you.

Broker William “Bill” King Allegedly Made Unsuitable, Unauthorized Trades  

May 2023: Broker William King (Bill King) of Vero Beach, Florida reportedly resigned after 37 years with Merrill Lynch amid num erous 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 28 customer complaints 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 financial 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, and any regulatory actions or complaints 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.

Unsuitable Investments

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

FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) is a self-regulatory organization that oversees the securities industry in the United States. 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 case.  The answer depends on many factors, but typically if the loss sustained is large (say larger than $100,000), an individual arbitration claim is likely a better option.  Class actions 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 claim and determining whether you have a compelling case for arbitration.

If you suffered losses  investing with William King and Merrill Lynch, 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 700 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.