IN THE MATTER OF Kenneth Gottfred - Discipline Hearing

VANCOUVER, March 23, 2016 /CNW/ - A hearing has been scheduled before a Hearing Panel of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) in the matter of Kenneth Gottfred.

The hearing concerns allegations that Mr. Gottfred executed discretionary transactions, made unsuitable recommendations, and failed to cooperate with IIROC's investigation.

The hearing is open to the public, unless the Panel orders otherwise. The decision of the Hearing Panel will be made available at www.iiroc.ca. 

Documents related to ongoing IIROC enforcement proceedings – including Reasons and Decisions of Hearing Panels – are posted on the IIROC website as they become available. Click here to search and access all IIROC enforcement documents.

Hearing Date:	April 20, 2016 at 10:00 a.m.
Location:	Reportex Agencies Ltd.
	1010 – 925 W. Georgia Street
	Vancouver, BC

Specifically, the allegations are that:

(a)	From January 2011 through April 2014, Mr. Gottfred executed discretionary transactions in client accounts, contrary to IIROC Dealer Member Rule 1300.4;
(b)	Between August 2011 and April 2014, Mr. Gottfred acted contrary to IIROC Dealer Member Rule 1300.1 (q) by recommending that clients use margin when it was not suitable for them; and
(c)	Since April 2015, Mr. Gottfred has failed to cooperate with an IIROC investigation     into his conduct, contrary to IIROC Dealer Member Rule 19.5.

IIROC formally initiated the investigation into Mr. Gottfred's conduct in August 2014. The alleged violations occurred while he was a Registered Representative with the Kelowna branch of Raymond James Ltd., an IIROC-regulated firm. Mr. Gottfred is no longer a registrant with an IIROC-regulated firm.

The Notice of Hearing which sets out the allegations is available at:
http://docs.iiroc.ca/DisplayDocument.aspx?DocumentID=F81C730E1C63478392F56EFA9F211200&Language=en

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IIROC is the national self-regulatory organization which oversees all investment dealers and their trading activity in Canada's debt and equity markets. IIROC sets high quality regulatory and investment industry standards, protects investors and strengthens market integrity while maintaining efficient and competitive capital markets. IIROC carries out its regulatory responsibilities through setting and enforcing rules regarding the proficiency, business and financial conduct of dealer firms and their registered employees and through setting and enforcing market integrity rules regarding trading activity on Canadian equity marketplaces.

IIROC investigates possible misconduct by its member firms and/or individual registrants. It can bring disciplinary proceedings which may result in penalties including fines, suspensions, permanent bars, expulsion from membership, or termination of rights and privileges for individuals and firms.

All information about disciplinary proceedings relating to current and former member firms is available in the Enforcement section of the IIROC website. Background information regarding the qualifications and disciplinary history, if any, of advisors currently employed by IIROC-regulated firms is available free of charge through the IIROC AdvisorReport service. Information on how to make investment dealer, advisor or marketplace-related complaints is available by calling 1 877 442-4322.

SOURCE Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) - General News

For further information: Enforcement Contact: Warren Funt, Vice-President, Western Canada, 604 331-4750, [email protected]; Media Contact: Karen Archer, Manager, Media Relations, 416 865-3046, [email protected]