Articles Posted in Alternative Investment

Currently financial advisor Cole Conrad (Conrad), currently employed by brokerage firm LPL Financial LLC has been subject to at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint. According to a BrokerCheck reports most of the recent customer complaints concern either corporate debt securities or alternative investments such as direct participation products (DPPs) like business development companies (BDCs), non-traded real estate investment trusts (REITs), oil & gas programs, annuities, and private placements.  The attorneys at Gana Weinstein LLP have represented hundreds of investors who suffered losses caused by these types of high risk, low reward products.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint on March 01, 2021.

The complainant alleges that the REITs that were sold to him beginning in or around 2014 were unsuitable for his conservative portfolio.

Currently financial advisor Timothy Hanson (Hanson), currently employed by brokerage firm Mcdonald Partners LLC has been subject to at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint. According to a BrokerCheck reports most of the recent customer complaints concern either corporate debt securities or alternative investments such as direct participation products (DPPs) like business development companies (BDCs), non-traded real estate investment trusts (REITs), oil & gas programs, annuities, and private placements.  The attorneys at Gana Weinstein LLP have represented hundreds of investors who suffered losses caused by these types of high risk, low reward products.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint with a damage request of $46,000.00 on March 08, 2021.

Claimant alleges that investments made in 2016 in two different private placement offerings were unsuitable.

Previously financial advisor Jerrold Borrowman (Borrowman), previously employed by brokerage firm Hornor, Townsend & Kent, INC. has been subject to at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint. According to a BrokerCheck reports most of the recent customer complaints concern either corporate debt securities or alternative investments such as direct participation products (DPPs) like business development companies (BDCs), non-traded real estate investment trusts (REITs), oil & gas programs, annuities, and private placements.  The attorneys at Gana Weinstein LLP have represented hundreds of investors who suffered losses caused by these types of high risk, low reward products.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint on March 08, 2021.

The FINRA action alleges that the former Registered Representative recommended unsuitable investments for his IRA portfolios (REITs). It alleges violations of FINRA Broker-Dealer rules, violation of FINRA Rule 3010, breach of fiduciary duty, negligence, fraudulent and negligent misrepresentations, and liability under the doctrine of Respondeat Superior. It claims losses of principal, interest, commissions and fees, loss of income if managed properly, attorneys’ fees, costs and other expenses, and interest, all other sums Claimant is entitled to at law or equity, and punitive damages.

Currently financial advisor Joseph Michaletz (Michaletz), currently employed by brokerage firm Dai Securities, LLC has been subject to at least 3 disclosable events. These events include 3 customer complaints. According to a BrokerCheck reports most of the recent customer complaints concern either corporate debt securities or alternative investments such as direct participation products (DPPs) like business development companies (BDCs), non-traded real estate investment trusts (REITs), oil & gas programs, annuities, and private placements.  The attorneys at Gana Weinstein LLP have represented hundreds of investors who suffered losses caused by these types of high risk, low reward products.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint with a damage request of $2,550,000.00 on March 24, 2021.

Claimants allege unsuitable recommendation and overconcentration of private placements.

Currently financial advisor Richard Weeks Iv (Weeks Iv), currently employed by brokerage firm Hightower Securities, LLC has been subject to at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint. According to a BrokerCheck reports most of the recent customer complaints concern either corporate debt securities or alternative investments such as direct participation products (DPPs) like business development companies (BDCs), non-traded real estate investment trusts (REITs), oil & gas programs, annuities, and private placements.  The attorneys at Gana Weinstein LLP have represented hundreds of investors who suffered losses caused by these types of high risk, low reward products.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint with a damage request of $450,000.00 on April 09, 2021.

Richard Weeks is the subject of a FINRA arbitration alleging sales practice violations, including a violation of suitability obligations, in connection with a private placement investment made on or around February 2017, currently required to be disclosed pursuant to FINRA guidance. \, \, The FINRA arbitration for this matter is still pending, and the FINRA arbitration tribunals have not yet finalized its evaluation of the client’s statement of claim. In keeping with FINRA’s disclosure requirements, this arbitration is required to be disclosed before Mr. Weeks can defend his actions.

Previously financial advisor Frank Betsch (Betsch), previously employed by brokerage firm Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments has been subject to at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint. According to a BrokerCheck reports most of the recent customer complaints concern either corporate debt securities or alternative investments such as direct participation products (DPPs) like business development companies (BDCs), non-traded real estate investment trusts (REITs), oil & gas programs, annuities, and private placements.  The attorneys at Gana Weinstein LLP have represented hundreds of investors who suffered losses caused by these types of high risk, low reward products.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint with a damage request of $75,000.00 on April 26, 2021.

Client alleges that Financial Professional misrepresented the risks associated with REITS and BDCs and that the investments were unsuitable.

Currently financial advisor Dawn Strachan (Strachan), currently employed by brokerage firm Osaic Wealth, INC. has been subject to at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint. According to a BrokerCheck reports most of the recent customer complaints concern either corporate debt securities or alternative investments such as direct participation products (DPPs) like business development companies (BDCs), non-traded real estate investment trusts (REITs), oil & gas programs, annuities, and private placements.  The attorneys at Gana Weinstein LLP have represented hundreds of investors who suffered losses caused by these types of high risk, low reward products.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint with a damage request of $999,999.00 on April 29, 2021.

Clients allege 2015 Private Placement and Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) purchases were unsuitable.

Previously financial advisor Brian Grumbach (Grumbach), previously employed by brokerage firm Hightower Securities, LLC has been subject to at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint. According to a BrokerCheck reports most of the recent customer complaints concern either corporate debt securities or alternative investments such as direct participation products (DPPs) like business development companies (BDCs), non-traded real estate investment trusts (REITs), oil & gas programs, annuities, and private placements.  The attorneys at Gana Weinstein LLP have represented hundreds of investors who suffered losses caused by these types of high risk, low reward products.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint with a damage request of $250,000.00 on April 27, 2021.

Brian Grumbach is the subject of a FINRA arbitration alleging certain sales practice violations, including a violation of suitability obligations, in connection with a private placement investment made on or around March 2017, currently required to be disclosed pursuant to FINRA guidance.

For many American retirees, the dream of a secure retirement is built on decades of prudent saving, workplace retirement accounts, and a belief that financial advice from licensed professionals will protect their nest egg. But a recent article in The Guardian highlights a troubling trend that may undermine that belief by expanding access to complex, high-risk financial products to everyday investors—without commensurate investor protections.

Read the full Guardian article here.

The report, titled “I feel like I’m in a financial prison”: Trump Wall Street plan puts ‘mom and pop’ investors at risk, examines how recent regulatory shifts and executive actions are opening the door for “mom and pop” investors to be sold alternative investments traditionally reserved for sophisticated, institutional buyers.

Private placements and alternative investments sold through networks of broker-dealers often appear “stable” on account statements, sometimes persist for years without valuation changes, and can outperform in normal markets. But when economic conditions shift, rising costs and cash-flow stress can expose weaknesses that leave investors with large losses and few real options.

That dynamic is on display in the recent Chapter 11 filing by Inspired Healthcare Capital, a senior housing and assisted living developer that raised funds through a network of independent broker-dealers. The bankruptcy leaves investor noteholders and private placement purchasers on the hook and may spark litigation as investors look for ways to recover losses.

InvestmentNews covered the story here.

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