Business PracticesQuestion 84 of 100
An agent's friend asks about the holdings and balance in a mutual acquaintance's brokerage account. The agent should:
a.Share general information as long as no dollar figures are given
b.Share the information if the friend is also a client of the firm
c.Share the information because account data is not confidential
d.Decline, because customer account information is confidential and may be released only with the customer's consent or under proper legal authority
Explanation
Disclosing confidential customer information without the customer's consent is an unethical business practice; the recognized exceptions are limited to responses to subpoenas, court orders, and legitimate regulatory demands. Being a client of the same firm gives the friend no right to another customer's data. Withholding dollar amounts does not make the disclosure permissible, since holdings themselves are confidential.
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