CHRISTOPHER KEVIN NICHOLS (CRD #2375174, REGISTERED PRINCIPAL, LAFAYETTE, CALIFORNIA)

Christopher Kevin Nichols (CRD #2375174, Registered Principal, Lafayette, California) submitted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent in which he was fined $5,000 and suspended from association with any FINRA member in any capacity for 15 business days. The fine must be paid either immediately upon Nichols’ reassociation with a FINRA member firm following his suspension, or prior to the filing of any application or request for relief from any statutory disqualification, whichever is earlier. Without admitting or denying the findings, Nichols consented to the described sanctions and to the entry of findings that he engaged in a business activity outside the scope of his employment with his firm by lending money to and receiving interest payments from individuals who were clients of a sports agency Nichols’ brother owned and operated. The findings stated that the loans were made Disciplinary   and directly by Nichols to the borrowers or Nichols gave the loan amounts to his brother, who then disbursed the funds to the borrowers. Nichols failed to provide prompt written notice of these lending activities to his firm. The suspension was in effect from December 16, 2013, through January 7, 2014. (FINRA Case #2012034326801).