Unfortunately, a bad broker does not take on the same attributes as a fine wine. Bad brokers do rarely improve with time.

At least this was the recent message of Robert Ketchum, head of FINRA. But should all brokers who have any pings on their record be foreclosed from the industry? Certainly not, but what should you do?

The question is tougher when the broker coming to you with some knocks on his record has been a historically high producer for his prior member firm. Surely, there must be more to the story.
In my experience, there usually is more to the story. Just because someone has some marks does not mean he/she is not worthy to be with your firm. But be careful.

Anyone coming to your firm with any pings on their U-4 should be brought on under heightened supervision. This way you can personally assess this person and test the reasons why this person has been pinged in the past. Maybe the registered representative was just the victim of circumstance in the past.

Either way, if you are going to bring someone on with a checkered past, you better be willing to take the time to watch over this person. After all, by bringing them to your firm, you have assumed responsibility for them. Take caution on the front end or be ready to pay the price later.