In "How Widespread and Predictable is Stock Broker Misconduct?" SLCG researchers found that while individual broker past customer complaints can help identify whether a broker is likely to be subject to future complaints. McCann, Qin and Yan found that including co-worker complaint histories significantly increased the ability to predict complaints against brokers with no prior complaints. They also found that customer complaints which were denied - not just settlements and awards - are useful for predicting future investor harm.

Egan, Matvos and Seru's results confirm that, rather than weeding bad brokers out of the industry, the regulatory environment and labor market sifts bad brokers down the quality ladder over time into brokerage firms who employ brokers with disproportionately higher numbers of customer complaints. These high-risk brokerage firms have loose hiring practices and lax compliance ethics and specialize in preying on unsophisticated investors.

In their related study, Dimmock et al. [2016] establish that financial fraud spreads contagiously. They find that a broker's inclination to commit financial fraud is significantly shaped by the tendency of their coworkers to engage in fraudulent activities, even when accounting for firm culture, branch dynamics, market conditions, and state regulatory frameworks.

Larry Warren Sillss current employer, is one of the 30 highest risk brokerage firms measured by the percent of brokers at the firm who have customer complaints disclosed on their BrokerCheck reports. 15.51% of 's brokers have customer complaints compared to only 2.71% of all brokers who have complaints.

If you have questions about this post, about and/or Larry Warren Sills or about the management of your accounts, please contact SLCG for an initial consultation or email us at BrokerInquiry@SLCG.com.

SLCG Economic Consulting, LLC

Established in 2000, SLCG Economic Consulting ("SLCG") specializes in providing finance, economics, and investment management consulting, as well as expert witness services to law firms, banks, brokerage firms, and individuals involved in complex litigation. Our team comprises predominantly PhD and MA-level professionals with diverse backgrounds in academia, industry, and government, many of whom have testified in state and federal courts as well as various arbitration forums.

SLCG is a wholly owned subsidiary of McCann Yan Holdings, Inc., a Virginia incorporated company based in Northern Virginia.