According to FINRA, Kevin Dominic Klickna was assessed a deferred fine of $5,000 and suspended from association with any FINRA member in all capacities for three months for forging a customer's electronic signature on an annuity account application without the customer's consent and affixing the customer's signature on a rollover form.

The customer eventually noticed the forgery on the rollover form and complained to Klickna's member firm. As a result of the documents being firm records, Klickna caused the firm to maintain inaccurate books and records.

The suspension was in effect from January 17, 2023, through April 16, 2023.

Forgery of customer signatures is a serious violation that strikes at the heart of trust between financial professionals and their customers. Even when a broker believes they are acting in the customer's interest or that the customer would have consented if asked, forging signatures is never acceptable. Customers have the right to review and sign documents themselves before they become legally binding.

In this case, Klickna forged the customer's signature on important documents related to an annuity account and rollover. These documents create legal obligations and affect the customer's financial position. By forging the signature, Klickna deprived the customer of the opportunity to review the documents and make an informed decision about whether to proceed with the transactions.

The fact that the customer noticed the forgery and complained to the firm demonstrates the importance of customers reviewing their account documents carefully. Customers should always be alert for any documents they did not personally sign or any transactions they did not authorize.

Additionally, by submitting forged documents to the firm, Klickna caused the firm to maintain inaccurate books and records, which violates recordkeeping requirements designed to ensure the integrity of firm records. While the suspension is relatively short, it reflects that forgery is a serious violation that can result in significant sanctions.