Schooley, a financial consultant on the fast track at the Enid, Okla., office, was fired after he took allegations of cheating and fraud all the way to the board of directors. He recently published a book about his ordeal, Merrill Lynch: The Cost Could Be Fatal.

“I ended up going through a divorce in 1994. You can’t blame others for it. Nevertheless, I have no doubt if Merrill Lynch hadn’t taken place, the marriage and family would be intact today,” said Schooley, who is independently employed in the oil and gas business.

Schooley said he couldn’t stand by and watch unethical behavior. He played it by the book. “The only thing I made the mistake on was trusting the company to take the appropriate action,” he said.