Having substantial assets under management (AUM) can really boost an investment adviser’s ability to attract new money. Accordingly, there is tremendous pressure to report strong numbers to the investing public, including through news sources (e.g., Barron’s top advisors list). As one adviser has found out, the price of inflating such AUM numbers can be millions in dollar in fines and a permanent bar from the industry.

Specifically, an SEC Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) has found that Dawn Bennett and her firm falsely claimed between $1 – $2 billion in AUM when the most she ever had was $400 million. Ms. Bennett made such claims on a radio show she hosts and to Barron’s magazine in order to secure “top Barron’s advisor” recognitions for three years. In addition, Ms. Bennett provided performance information based upon “model portfolios” while representing that such returns were actual customer returns. Ms. Bennett and her firm also face FINRA customer arbitrations relating to the above issues as well as alleged account churning.

In its decision, the ALJ fined Ms. Bennett $600,000 and her firm $2.9 million. The ALJ also ordered $556,000 in disgorgement and imposed a permanent industry bar finding that Ms. Bennett “is not fit to remain in the industry in any capacity.”

Bottom line — while the temptation to inflate performance is very strong, especially in this competitive market, advisors who make false statements do so at their own peril.

Here is a link to the ALJ opinion — https://www.sec.gov/alj/aljdec/2016/id1033jeg.pdf