FINRA has fined and censured the O.N. Equity Sales Company, Inc. (“ONESCO”) over the firm’s failure to supervise a broker’s recommendations involving the purchase and liquidation of variable annuities. ONESCO was fined $275,000 and ordered to pay $1 million in restitution to customers.
Variable annuities are complex products, commonly marketed and sold to retirees or individuals saving for retirement, that permit customers to choose among a variety of contract features and options. Typically, variable annuities assess surrender charges for customers taking early withdrawals beyond a specified percentage of the annuity’s account value. Customers can also incur tax penalties and additional charges for early withdrawals. As such, they are generally not appropriate for customers with a short-term investment horizon.
If you have lost money with ONESCO, contact FINRA arbitration lawyers Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential evaluation of your account.