According to FINRA, Murat Kartal was suspended from association with any FINRA member in all capacities for 10 months for unsuitably and excessively trading a senior customer's account. In light of Kartal's financial status, no monetary sanctions were imposed.

Kartal engaged in quantitatively unsuitable trading in the senior customer's account resulting in a high turnover rate, high annualized cost-to-equity ratio, and significant losses. Kartal's trading in the customer's account generated total trading costs of $206,667, including $189,446 in commissions, and caused $51,959 in realized losses. The customer routinely followed Kartal's recommendations to engage in high frequency trading, giving Kartal de facto control over the account. The trading was excessive and unsuitable given the customer's age and investment profile.

Excessive trading, also known as churning, occurs when a representative trades a customer's account primarily to generate commissions rather than to benefit the customer. Senior investors are particularly vulnerable to churning because they often rely on their accounts for retirement income and may not have time to recover from losses.

This case demonstrates the serious harm that excessive trading can cause to senior investors. The customer paid over $206,000 in trading costs and suffered significant losses, all to generate commissions for the representative. Investors, particularly seniors, should be alert to unusually frequent trading in their accounts and question whether it serves their interests or the representative's.