From March 2022 to September 2023, Ruark electronically signed nine documents on behalf of four firm customers without permission and electronically signed eight documents on behalf of eight firm customers with permission. All of the underlying transactions were authorized. The documents included required books and records of the firm. Therefore, Ruark violated FINRA Rules 2010 and 4511. For these violations, Ruark is suspended from associating with any FINRA member in all capacities for three months and fined $5,000.

From January 2022 to September 2025, Synovus failed to establish, maintain, and enforce a reasonably designed supervisory system, including written supervisory procedures (WSPs), concerning forgery and falsification of electronic signatures. As a result, the firm failed to detect that associated persons at one branch collectively forged or falsified more than 100 customers’ signatures on more than 150 documents, and that firm personnel forged or falsified registered representatives’ signatures on more than 500 documents.

Between July 2019 and January 2022, HCM failed to file with FINRA any offering documents for five private placement offerings. As a result, HCM violated FINRA Rules 5123 and 2010 and is censured and fined $20,000.