WELLS FARGO ADVISORS STOCKBROKER MISCONDUCT

Wells Fargo Advisors is the stockbrokerage arm of the giant Wells Fargo Bank. Wells Fargo has played catch-up in the stockbrokerage world through aggressive acquisitions. Wells Fargo Advisors now includes not only the former Wells Fargo brokers, but also Wachovia. Wachovia had only just begun to digest A.G. Edwards, its own large merger, before it fell, and was bought by Wells Fargo Advisors. Wells Fargo also includes Bache & Co. as a predecessor firm. Wells Fargo Advisors is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri and has more than 15,000 financial advisors, throughout the United States.

Wells Fargo Advisors describes itself as a national investment firm with a heritage of client service and unparalleled capabilities. As of the end of 2013, Wells Fargo Advisors is the third largest full service provider of retail brokerage services in the United States. Wells Fargo Advisors deploys its registered representatives across the United States in more than 3,600 retail stores and maintains more than $1.4 trillion in client assets. Wells Fargo Advisors provides advisory services, asset management, brokerage services, estate planning strategies, retirement planning, and portfolio analysis and monitoring to its customers. Wells Fargo Advisors includes Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC and First Clearing, LLC.