SEC Investigation of Merriah Harkins Has Ended with No Action Taken, Re: In the Matter of GWG L Bonds

Merriah Harkins (CRD #: 2512241), a former registered broker with Beneficent Securities, is no longer under investigation by the SEC. The SEC has dropped its investigation and advised Ms. Harkins that it did not intend to recommend an enforcement action by the SEC against Merriah Hawkins. The letter further advised that per the final pararaph of Securities Act Release No. 5310, which states in part that the notice “must in no way be construed as indicating that the party has been exonerated or that no action may ultimately result from the staff’s investigation.” (The full text of Release No. 5310 can be found at: http://www.sec.gov/divisions/enforce/wells-release.pdf.)

According to Brokercheck.com, a publicly available website maintained by the Financial Regulatory Authority, Merriah Harkins was the EVP of Capital Markets for GWG Holdings from April, 2016 to December 2021. See https://files.brokercheck.finra.org/individual/individual_2512241.pdf.

According to her Linkedin profile as of August, 2024, Merriah Hawkins was:

Head of Retail Capital Markets Beneficient and GWG Holdings · Full-time Beneficient and GWG Holdings · Full-timeApr 2016 – Present · 8 yrs 5 mos Apr 2016 to Present · 8 yrs 5 mos Dallas, Texas; Seattle, Washington; and Southern California · HybridDallas, Texas; Seattle, Washington; and Southern California · Hybrid -Transitioned from GWG Holdings to Head of Retail Capital Markets for the Beneficient in February 2020, after the two companies combined -Led the investment sales team, strategy, product development, business development, and national accounts efforts to offer product and technological solutions to over 150 Independent Broker-Dealers, Family Offices, and Registered Investment Advisor firms and close to 5,000 advisors -Design and implement enhanced products, technological solutions, procedures and processes, activity metrics, and company-wide training which increased overall production and sales by 20% year-over-year to an annual level of $500M -Managed an annual budget of $40M and led a department that includes internal and external sales, national accounts, and marketing professionals and executives -Exceptional public speaking skills on a national level. https://www.linkedin.com/in/merriah-harkins-1080294/

GWG Holdings has filed for bankruptcy, resulting in investors experiencing losses on high-risk L bonds. https://cases.stretto.com/gwgtrust/#:~:text=On%20April%2020%2C%202022%20(the,the%20Southern%20District%20of%20Texas.

Presently, the GWG Litigation Trust is suing Brad Heppner for looting GWG Holdings of some $300 million via Heppner’s control over The Benficient Group Company LP, aka Beneficient. See https://gwgholdingstrust.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2024-04-19_Unsealed-Complaint.pdf.