RISK-FREE returns promised! Adviser STILL raked in $2 MILLION!

SEC v. Robert M. Thompson and The Financial Freedom Foundation d/b/a F3 Mastermind, Brandon K. Stucki — U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Litigation Release No. 26384, dated August 22, 2025.

The SEC charged Robert M. Thompson and his firm, The Financial Freedom Foundation d/b/a F3 Mastermind, with defrauding investors. They allegedly promised "risk-free" returns of up to 4,000% per year on investments in third-party trading programs. A default judgment was entered against Thompson, his firm, and a relief defendant, Brandon K. Stucki, who received ill-gotten gains.

In Plain English

Imagine someone promising you a magic money machine that guarantees huge profits with zero risk. Robert Thompson and his company, F3 Mastermind, did just that. They told people their money would be invested in special trading programs that would make them rich, promising returns as high as 4,000% a year. But it was all a lie, and the SEC stepped in to stop them.

Disclaimer: all facts are drawn from the SEC's own filings; the claims described are allegations unless and until a court rules or the parties settle, and some cases end in dismissal.

How the Alleged Scheme Worked

1. Marketing a Private Club Robert M. Thompson marketed The Financial Freedom Foundation, also known as F3 Mastermind, as a private membership group. Investors paid initial and ongoing monthly fees to join.
2. Promising Unrealistic Returns Thompson and F3 Mastermind allegedly offered members investments in trading programs run by third-party operators. These programs claimed to generate "risk-free" returns ranging from 20% per week to an astonishing 4,000% per year.
3. Recommending Investments Between early 2019 and mid-2022, Thompson and F3 Mastermind actively recommended these high-return trading programs to their members.
4. Investor Funds Flow Investors, who were members of F3 Mastermind, were persuaded to invest in these programs. Collectively, they provided at least $2 million to the third-party operators who managed the trading schemes.
5. Alleged Prime Bank Schemes The complaint alleged that F3 Mastermind members invested in "prime bank-like schemes," which are often associated with fraudulent investment opportunities promising exceptionally high returns.
6. Ill-Gotten Gains The SEC also alleged that a relief defendant, Brandon K. Stucki, received money from the scheme to which he had no legitimate claim, indicating a flow of funds to individuals outside the direct operation of the F3 Mastermind entity.

The Enforcement Action

On August 14, 2025, the SEC obtained a final judgment by default against Robert M. Thompson and The Financial Freedom Foundation d/b/a F3 Mastermind for defrauding investors in three securities offerings. The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri also entered a final judgment by default against relief defendant Brandon K. Stucki. The judgment enjoins Thompson and F3 Mastermind from violating antifraud provisions and orders them to pay disgorgement, prejudgment interest, and civil penalties. Stucki was ordered to pay disgorgement and prejudgment interest.

Named in this action: Robert M. Thompson and The Financial Freedom Foundation d/b/a F3 Mastermind, Brandon K. Stucki.

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