Continental Investors Services, Inc. (CRD #29775, Longview, Washington)

Mutual Bond Fraud and Negligent Supervision FINRA Arbitration and Litigation Attorney, Russell L. Forkey, Esq.

October, 2011:

Continental Investors Services, Inc. (CRD #29775, Longview, Washington) submitted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent in which the firm was censured, fined $35,000 and required to revise its WSPs regarding fair pricing for municipal securities transactions. Without admitting or denying the findings, the firm consented to the described sanctions and to the entry of findings that it sold municipal securities for its own account to a customer at an aggregate price (including any markdown or markup) that was not fair and reasonable, taking into consideration all relevant factors, including the best judgment of the broker, dealer or municipal securities dealer as to the fair market value of the securities at the time of the transaction and of any securities exchanged or traded in connection with the transaction, the expense involved in effecting the transaction, the fact that the broker, dealer or municipal securities dealer is entitled to a profit and the total dollar amount of the transaction. The findings stated that the firm’s supervisory system did not provide for supervision reasonably designed to achieve compliance with applicable securities laws, regulations and Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) rules concerning fair pricing for municipal securities transactions. (FINRA Case #2009018104501).