Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities Administrative Consent Order Regarding TD Ameritrade, Inc.

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COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
IN THE MATTER OF:
TD AMERITRADE, INC.,
Respondent. ADMINISTRATIVE CONSENT
ORDER
BEFORE ERIC PISTILLI, Deputy Secretary of Securities Pursuant to the authority granted to Eric Pistilli, Deputy Secretary of Securities, Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities, Pennsylvania, under the Pennsylvania Securities Act of 1972, 70 P.S. §§ 1-101 et seq. (“1972 Act”), and after investigation, careful review, and due consideration of the facts and statutory provisions set forth below, Eric Pistilli, Deputy Secretary of Securities, Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities, Pennsylvania hereby finds that there is good cause, and it is in the public interest to enter into a Consent Order (the “Order”) with TD Ameritrade, Inc. (“TD Ameritrade”), which hereby agrees to resolve any and all issues in controversy regarding the specific conduct described herein on the terms set forth in this Order. As the result of a coordinated investigation, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania concluded that TD Ameritrade charged commissions in excess of 5% on certain small principal equity transactions. During the time period of June 30, 2018 to June 30, 2023 (the “Relevant Time Period”), TD Ameritrade executed 2,469 equity transactions in Pennsylvania which included an unreasonable commission for services performed (i.e., in excess of 5% of the principal trade amount), totaling $33,716.30. TD Ameritrade in full settlement of these matters neither admits nor denies the Findings of Fact as set forth in Section III, and neither admits nor denies the BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB

2025 SEPT 8 8:43 AM
PA DEPARTMENT OF
BANKING AND SECURITIES
Docket No. 250027 (SEC-ORD)

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Conclusions of Law set out in Section IV.
I. JURISDICTION

1. The Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities has jurisdiction pursuant
   to the 1972 Act, 70 P.S. §§ 1-101 et seq..
2. This Order is made in accordance with the 1972 Act, 70 P.S. §§ 1-101 et seq..
3. The acts and practices that are the subject of this Order occurred while TD
   Ameritrade was registered as a broker-dealer in Pennsylvania.
   II. RESPONDENT
4. TD Ameritrade, Inc. (“TD Ameritrade”) was a broker-dealer formerly registered in
   Pennsylvania with a main address of 200 South 108th Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska 68154. TD Ameritrade is identified by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) CRD No. 7870. TD Ameritrade has filed a Form BDW and the Securities and Exchange Commission has withdrawn its registration.
   III. FINDINGS OF FACT
   A. TD Ameritrade’s Minimum Commission Practices for Equity Transactions Failed to Ensure Transactions Were Executed at a Fair and Reasonable Price
5. Except as otherwise expressly stated, the conduct described herein occurred during
   the time period of June 30, 2018 to June 30, 2023 (the “Relevant Time Period”).
6. During the Relevant Time Period, TD Ameritrade executed 2,469 equity
   transactions in Pennsylvania which included an unreasonable commission for services performed (i.e., in excess of 5% of the principal trade amount), totaling $ 33,716.30.

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7. During the Relevant Time Period, TD Ameritrade charged a fixed minimum
commission for broker-assisted trades— i.e. those not placed directly online by customers (the “Minimum Equity Commission”).1
8. The 1972 Act, 70 P.S. §§ 1-101 et seq. and the regulations promulgated thereunder
at 10 Pa. Code §§ 101.000 et seq. prohibit TD Ameritrade from charging unreasonable commissions for services performed.
9. FINRA Rule 2121 Supplementary Material .01 (Rule 2121.01) sets a guideline of
five percent for determining whether a commission is unfair or unreasonable. However, the “5% Policy” is a guide, not a rule. A commission of five percent or even less may be considered unfair or unreasonable, and a commission of five percent or more may be considered fair or reasonable, depending on the various circumstances. B. TD Ameritrade Did Not Reasonably Supervise Transactions Which Applied the Minimum Equity Commission
10. TD Ameritrade did not reasonably supervise transactions that included the
Minimum Equity Commission charge to ensure that TD Ameritrade charged its customers a reasonable commission.
11. TD Ameritrade’s policies and procedures contemplated review of commissions as
part of normal supervisory review processes.
12. Despite these systems, TD Ameritrade’s surveillance policies failed to reasonably
detect and correct unreasonable commission charges, specifically as it relates to the Minimum Equity Commission. 1 During the Relevant Time Period, over 99% of TD Ameritrade’s orders were unsolicited, self-directed trades placed online by its customers. Broker-assisted trades constituted less than 1% of the Firm’s orders. From June 2018 to October, 2019, this fee was $44.99; and thereafter, the fee was $25.

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13. As a result, TD Ameritrade failed to adequately supervise small principal equity
transactions where the Minimum Equity Commission was in excess of 5%.
IV. CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
14. The preceding paragraphs are incorporated by reference as though set forth
verbatim herein.
15. Pursuant to 70 P.S. § 1-305 (a)(vii), it is a basis to deny, suspend, revoke, or
condition the registration of a registered broker-dealer firm that fails to establish and maintain a system to reasonably supervise its agents.
16. TD Ameritrade’s acts and practices, as described above constitute a failure to
enforce a reasonably designed supervisory system, which acts and conduct form a basis to deny, suspend, revoke, or condition the registration of TD Ameritrade or to censure TD Ameritrade pursuant to 70 P.S. § 1-305 (a)(vii).
V. ORDER
17. On the basis of the Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and TD Ameritrade’s
consent to the entry of this Order, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:
A. TD Ameritrade is censured by the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities. B. TD Ameritrade shall provide restitution in an amount of no more than $33,716.30 representing the portion of the commission on certain small principal equity transactions that exceeded 5% of the principal trade amount during the Relevant Time Period to the affected Pennsylvania customers, plus interest in the amount of 6% from the date of the transaction to June 3, 2025. TD Ameritrade shall provide restitution within one hundred twenty (120) days of execution of this Order;

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C. Restitution shall be in the form of a check for all former customers;
D. TD Ameritrade shall provide a notice of restitution to customers on terms not unacceptable to Massachusetts, Montana, Missouri, Alabama, Washington, Texas, and Iowa (the “Multi-state Group”) (“Notice Letter”). The Notice Letter shall be sent prior to or with the distribution of any restitution. Within forty-five (45) days of the mailing of the Notice Letter, Respondent shall provide the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities with a list of all Pennsylvania residents for whom Respondent receives a Notice Letter as returned to sender. To the extent the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities has access to different address information, Respondent shall mail a second Notice Letter to each Pennsylvania resident within thirty (30) days of the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities providing such different address; E. TD Ameritrade shall prepare and submit to the Deputy Secretary of Securities, Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities, a report detailing the restitution paid pursuant to the Order, which shall include dates, amounts, and methods of the transfer of funds for all restitution payments within forty-five (45) days of completion of distribution of restitution; F. TD Ameritrade shall pay an administrative fine in the amount of $15,000 to Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities within fifteen (15) days following the date of entry of the Order. Payment shall be: (1) made by United States postal money order, certified check, bank cashier’s check, bank money order, or wire; (2) made payable to the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities; (3) either hand-delivered, mailed to 17 N. Second Street, Suite 1300,

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Harrisburg, PA 17101; or wired per the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities’ instructions; and (4) submitted under cover letter or other documentation that identifies payment by TD Ameritrade and the docket number of the proceeding; G. TD Ameritrade shall not claim, assert, or apply for a tax deduction or tax credit with regard to any state, federal or local tax for any amounts that TD Ameritrade shall pay pursuant to the Order; H. TD Ameritrade shall not seek or accept, directly or indirectly, reimbursement or indemnification, including, but not limited to, any payments made pursuant to any insurance policy, with regard to any amount that TD Ameritrade shall pay pursuant to the Order;
I. If TD Ameritrade is the subject of a voluntary or involuntary bankruptcy petition
under Title 11 of the United States Code within three hundred sixty-five (365) days of the entry of the Order, TD Ameritrade shall provide written notice to the Deputy Secretary of Securities, Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities within five (5) days of the date of the petition; J. Any fine, penalty, and/or money that TD Ameritrade shall pay in accordance with the Order is intended by TD Ameritrade and the Deputy Secretary of Securities, Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities to be a contemporaneous exchange for new value given to TD Ameritrade pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 547(c)(1)(A) and is, in fact, a substantially contemporaneous exchange pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 547(c)(1)(B); K. If TD Ameritrade fails to materially comply with any of the terms set forth in the Order, Deputy Secretary of Securities, Pennsylvania Department of Banking and

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Securities may institute an action to have the Order declared null and void. Additionally, after a fair hearing and the issuance of an order finding that TD Ameritrade has not complied with the Order, the Deputy Secretary of Securities, Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities may move to have the Order declared null and void, in whole or in part, and re-institute the associated proceeding that had been brought against TD Ameritrade; and
L. For good cause shown, the Deputy Secretary of Securities, Pennsylvania
Department of Banking and Securities may extend any of the procedural dates set forth above. TD Ameritrade shall make any requests for extensions of the procedural dates set forth above in writing to Deputy Secretary of Securities, Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities.
VI. NO DISQUALIFICATION
18. This Order waives any disqualification in the 1972 Act, or rules or regulations
thereunder, including any disqualification from relying upon the registration exemptions or safe harbor provisions to which TD Ameritrade may be subject. The Order is not intended to be a final order based upon violations of the 1972 Act that prohibit fraudulent, manipulative, or deceptive conduct. The Order is not intended to form the basis of any disqualifications under Section 3(a)(39) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; or Rules 504(b)(3) and 506(d)(1) of Regulation D, Rule 262(a) of Regulation A and Rule 503(a) of Regulation CF under the Securities Act of 1933. The Order is not intended to form the basis of disqualification under the FINRA rules prohibiting continuance in membership absent the filing of a MC-400A application or disqualification under SRO rules prohibiting continuance in membership. The Order is not intended to form a basis of a disqualification under 204(a)(2) of the Uniform Securities Act of 1956 or Section 412(d) of the

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Uniform Securities Act of 2002. Except in an action by the Deputy Secretary of Securities, Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities to enforce the obligations of the Order, any acts performed or documents executed in furtherance of the Order: (a) may not be deemed or used as an admission of, or evidence of, the validity of any alleged wrongdoing, liability, or lack of any wrongdoing or liability; or (b) may not be deemed or used as an admission of; or evidence of, any such alleged fault or omission of TD Ameritrade in any civil, criminal, arbitration, or administrative proceeding in any court, administrative agency, or tribunal.