Howard Utz: FINRA Bars Mars, Pennsylvania Financial Advisor

A disciplinary action taken by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority against former Mars, Pennsylvania broker Howard Utz (CRD# 2672208) barred him after finding he failed to provide documents and information requested as part of its review of alleged undisclosed private securities transactions, outside business activities, and conversion of customer funds. A former representative of Hazard & Siegel, Utz 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. 2018058719801) dated September 2018, Howard Utz was registered with Hazard & Siegel from 2001 until June 2018, when the firm notified FINRA it terminated his registration in part due to his acceptance of checks from customers “made personally payable to [him], with subsequent conversion to personal use.” Following this disclosure by the firm, FINRA sent Utz a request on July 6, 2018 to provide documents and information connected to its review of those allegations disclosed in his registration termination. Utz indicated to FINRA through counsel on July 31, 2018 that he would not produce the documents and information as requested, a refusal FINRA found to constitute a violation of FINRA Rules 8210 and 2010. As a result of the foregoing alleged conduct, Howard Utz was barred from association with any FINRA member in any capacity.

Howard Utz’s disclosure records also list one employment separation: specifically, his June 2018 discharged by Hazard & Siegel stemming from allegations he failed to report outside business activities, failed to report private securities transaction, and accepted checks from clients that he converted to personal use.

Howard Utz is currently not registered as a broker or investment advisor. His employment history includes Hazard & Siegel, Securities America, and Sunset Financial Services, all in Mars, Pennsylvania. He currently holds zero state licenses and has passed four securities industry qualification examinations.