Between 2004 and 2010 Peter Carron advised 11 clients to invest a total of £2.4m in three companies of which he was director and majority shareholder without adequately disclosing this fact to them.
The clients later lost approximately £2.2m when the companies went into liquidation between May and August 2010.
St James’s Place subsequently paid these 11 investors £1.9m in compensation.
As a result, the FCA has concluded that Carron lacks honesty and integrity, fined him £300,000 and banned him from performing any function related to regulated activities in financial services.
The regulator has not criticised St James’s Place in relation to this matter.
Tracey McDermott, director of enforcement and financial crime, said: “People go to advisers because they want expert help on how to make the most of their money.
“They are entitled to expect that their adviser will act in their best interests, not his own.
“Advisers should think very carefully and make clear and full disclosure if they are intending to advise clients to invest in ventures in which they have an interest.”
Carron misled clients about the likely performance of their investments, by guaranteeing a return or providing inappropriate financial projections of future returns.
He continued to reassure investors and advise them to invest, even when he knew his companies were in financial difficulties.
Carron also led clients to believe that the investments were approved or endorsed by St James’s Place, which was not the case.
He advised the clients to invest without assessing whether the investments were suitable for their needs, and failed to alert them to the possible risks.
In August Carron was banned by the High Court for 13 years from acting as a director or managing or controlling a company.
