← Broker database 2026-03-16
Justin Kim Barred from Securities Industry for Refusing to Provide Information to FINRA
According to FINRA, Justin Kim (CRD #6703074) of Foster City, California, was barred from association with any FINRA member in all capacities after refusing to provide documents and information requested by FINRA in connection with a regulatory review.
The AWC was issued on March 16, 2026, with Kim consenting to the sanction and findings without admitting or denying the underlying allegations. The matter originated from FINRA's review of a Form U5 — the Uniform Termination Notice for Securities Industry Registration — filed by Kim's member firm. The Form U5 disclosed that Kim was terminated due to his failure to report an arrest in accordance with the firm's code of conduct and employee handbook, and further noted a pending matter related to the termination.
Form U5 disclosures trigger FINRA reviews for a straightforward reason: investors are entitled to know if a broker they are working with has been terminated for cause, has an undisclosed arrest, or is subject to a pending legal or regulatory matter. When FINRA conducts a follow-up review and the subject refuses to cooperate, it prevents regulators from gathering the facts necessary to fully assess the situation and protect the public.
FINRA Rule 8210 provides FINRA with authority to require any associated person to provide documents and information in connection with an investigation. Refusal to comply with a Rule 8210 request results in a permanent bar from the industry, regardless of the merits of the underlying matter under review.
This case illustrates an important principle: disclosures on Form U5 and similar regulatory filings exist precisely so that investors can make informed decisions about their financial professional. When brokers fail to make required disclosures to their firm and then compound those failures by refusing to cooperate with FINRA's subsequent review, the harm to investor transparency is compounded. Investors can use FINRA BrokerCheck to review a broker's Form U5 disclosures and disciplinary history.