Christopher Hellman: FINRA Bars Florida Merrill Lynch Advisor

A disciplinary action taken by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority against former Boca Raton, Florida broker and investment advisor Christopher Hellman (CRD# 6584084) barred him after finding he failed to cooperate with an investigation into possible outside business activities and selling away. A former representative of Merrill Lynch, Hellman was barred from acting as a broker or otherwise associating with a broker-dealer firm.

According to a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent (No. 2018060168801) dated December 2018, FINRA sent Merrill Lynch a request on October 26, 2018 for information connected to its investigation into a Form U5 filed by Merrill Lynch on October 16, 2018. That filing disclosed his termination from the firm as a result of conduct involving “failure to adhere to Firm standards regarding selling away and failure to fully disclose participation in outside business activities.” Christopher Hellman indicated to FINRA through counsel on November 19, 2018 that he was in receipt of FINRA’s request for information and would not produce documents and information as requested “at any time.” FINRA’s findings state that this refusal constituted violations of FINRA Rules 8210 and 2010. As a result of the foregoing alleged conduct, he was barred from association with any FINRA member in any capacity.

Christopher Hellman’s disclosure records also list three settled or pending customer complaints against him. One such complaint, filed in April 2019, alleged that as a representative of Merrill Lynch, he made misrepresentations regarding real estate investments; the complaint reached a settlement of $187,672.90. Another complaint, filed in 2018, alleged that as a representative of Merrill Lynch, he misappropriated funds in October 2017; the complaint reached a settlement of $440,000. And a pending complaint filed in 2018 alleges that as a representative of Merrill Lynch, he misappropriated funds and sold investments away from the firm; the complaint alleges damages of $195,000.

Christopher Hellman’s disclosure records also list one employment separation: in September 2018, he was discharged from Merrill Lynch over allegations he did not comply with firm standards concerning selling away and failed to fully disclose his engagement in outside business activities.

Christopher Hellman is not currently registered as a broker or investment advisor. His employment history includes Merrill Lynch in Boca Raton, Florida and FMSBonds in North Miami Beach, Florida. He currently holds no state licenses and has passed four securities industry qualification examinations.