Broker Investigation: Madison Avenue Securities’ Noel Vincent

shutterstock_182053859The investment attorneys of Gana Weinstein LLP are interested in speaking with clients of Noel Vincent (Vincent). According to the BrokerCheck records kept by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Vincent has been the subject of at least 9 customer complaints, one regulatory event, and three judgment or liens. The customer complaints against Vincent allege securities law violations that claim unsuitable investments, misrepresentations, and fraud among other claims.

The most recent complaint was filed in August 2015, and alleged $50,000 in damages due to claims pertaining to investments purchased from 2005 through 2007 that were unsuitable based on the client’s risk tolerance, investment objectives, investment knowledge, time horizon, and liquidity needs.

In March 2015, a customer filed a complaint alleging an unsuitable series of investments between 2006 through 2009 resulting in damages of $413,000. In another case filed in October 2013, the client alleged unsuitable investments were made in 2007 resulting in $190,000 in damages. The case settled for $26,331. Also in April 2013, another customer complained that Vincent sold unregistered securities and committed fraud causing $638,000 in damages.

In addition, there are three liens filed against Vincent. In May 2012, a $4,385 tax lien was imposed. In May 2011, Vincent received a $104,688 tax lien. In February 2009, a $76,279 tax lien was imposed against Vincent. A broker with large liens are an important consideration for investors to consider when dealing with a financial advisor. An advisor may be conflicted to offer high commission investments to customers in order to satisfy liens and debts that may not be in the client’s best interests.

Vincent entered the securities industry in 1989. From September 2001, until November 2009, Vincent was associated with Investors Capital Corp. Since November 2009 onward Vincent has been associated with Madison Avenue Securities, LLC. out of the firm’s Houston, Texas branch office location.

All advisers have a fundamental responsibility to deal fairly with investors including making suitable investment recommendations. In order to make suitable recommendations the broker must have a reasonable basis for recommending the product or security based upon the broker’s investigation of the investments properties including its benefits, risks, tax consequences, and other relevant factors. In addition, the broker must also understand the customer’s specific investment objectives to determine whether or not the specific product or security being recommended is appropriate for the customer based upon their needs.

The number of customer complaints against Vincent is high relative to his peers. According to InvestmentNews, only about 12% of financial advisors have any type of disclosure event on their records. Brokers must publicly disclose certain types of reportable events on their CRD including but not limited to customer complaints. In addition to disclosing client disputes brokers must divulge IRS tax liens, judgments, and criminal matters. However, FINRA’s records are not always complete according to a Wall Street Journal story that checked with 26 state regulators and found that at least 38,400 brokers had regulatory or financial red flags such as a personal bankruptcy that showed up in state records but not on BrokerCheck. More disturbing is the fact that 19,000 out of those 38,400 brokers had spotless BrokerCheck records.

The investment lawyers at Gana Weinstein LLP represent investors who have suffered investment losses due to allegations of wrongdoing. The majority of these claims may be brought in securities arbitration before FINRA. Our consultations are free of charge and the firm is only compensated if you recover.

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