According to the BrokerCheck records kept by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) broker Matthew Giannone (Giannone) has been the subject of at least 6 customer complaints. The customer complaints against Giannone allege securities law violations that claim churning and excessive trading, unsuitable investments, unauthorized trading, fraud, misrepresentations, and inappropriate loans…
According to the BrokerCheck records kept by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) broker Louis Baudendistel (Baudendistel) has been the subject of at least 4 customer complaints. Customers have filed complaints against Baudendistel alleging securities law violations that focus primarily on churning and excessive trading. In addition to the churning claims,…
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) brought and enforcement action against broker Michael Highfill (Highfill) (FINRA No. 2015045652501) resulting in a bar from the securities industry alleging that Highfill failed to provide FINRA staff with information and documents requested. The failure to provide those documents and information to FINRA resulted…
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) barred (Case No. 201303930510) broker Kai Cheng (Cheng) concerning the broker’s failure to respond to requests for information concerning the regulators investigation into claims that Cheng engaged in conduct including entering into personal financial transactions with a customer, using a personal email address to…
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced enforcement actions against 36 municipal bond underwriting brokerage firms for material misstatements and omissions in municipal bond offering documents. The SEC offered favorable settlement terms to municipal bond underwriters and issuers who self-reported securities law violations leading to the settlements. The SEC alleged…
According to the BrokerCheck records kept by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) broker Duane Smith (Smith) has been the subject of at least two customer complaint and one employment separation. The customer complaints against Smith allege a number of securities law violations including that the broker made unsuitable investments, negligence,…
Our firm has been tracking the developments related to Thomas Buck’s termination from Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (Merrill Lynch), now known as Bank of America, NA (Bank of America) under highly unusual circumstances. (See Top Merrill Lynch Broker Thomas Buck Terminated Under Unusual Circumstances; Update On Broker…
As we previously reported, (See Top Merrill Lynch Broker Thomas Buck Terminated Under Unusual Circumstances) news sources have been investigating the termination of financial advisor Thomas Buck (Buck) and his daughter Ann Buck by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (Merrill Lynch), now known as Bank of America, NA…
Certain groups have been particularly vulnerable to advisors who engage in investment fraud. Among those groups well known are senior citizens who may have diminished capacity. Another group that serves as a common target are affinity frauds. In an affinity fraud the scammer preys upon members of a group or…
According to the BrokerCheck records kept by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) broker Roderick Yzaguirre (Yzaguirre) has been the subject of at least 10 customer complaints and one firm termination. Customers have filed complaints against Yzaguirre alleging that the broker made misrepresentations concerning investments and misappropriated their funds among other…