Articles Posted in Churning (Excessive Trading)

According to BrokerCheck records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) broker Michael Blumer (Blumer), previously associated with Spartan Capital Securities, LLC, has been subject to at least 2 disclosable events. These events include 2 customer complaints. Several of those complaints against Blumer  concern allegations of high frequency trading activity also referred to as churning or excessive trading among other securities laws violations.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a award / judgment customer complaint with a damage request of $10,900,000.00 on October 10, 2022.

Michael Blumer was a subject of the customer’s complaint against his member firm that asserted the following causes of action: unsuitability, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, negligence, unjust enrichment, strict liability, and failure to supervise.

According to BrokerCheck records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) broker Larry Schwartzman (Schwartzman), currently associated with Oppenheimer & CO. INC., has been subject to at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint. Several of those complaints against Schwartzman  concern allegations of high frequency trading activity also referred to as churning or excessive trading among other securities laws violations.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint on October 06, 2022.

Customer asserts claims for unsuitability, breach of fiduciary duty, churning and excessive trading, unauthorized trading and violation or FINRA and securities laws and regulations. 10/2018 – 10/2022.

According to BrokerCheck records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) broker Charles Malico (Malico), previously associated with Network 1 Financial Securities INC., has been subject to at least 3 disclosable events. These events include 2 customer complaints, one regulatory event. Several of those complaints against Malico  concern allegations of high frequency trading activity also referred to as churning or excessive trading among other securities laws violations.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on October 11, 2022.

Without admitting or denying the findings, Malico consented to the sanctions and to the entry of findings that he willfully violated the Best Interest Obligation under Rule 15l-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Regulation Best Interest or Reg BI) by recommending a series of transactions in a retail customer’s account that was excessive in light of the customer’s investment profile. The findings stated that the trades that Malico recommended in the customer’s account resulted in an annualized cost-to-equity ratio exceeding 158 percent – meaning that the customer’s account would have had to grow by more than 158 percent annually just to break even. Malico’s recommendations caused the customer to pay more than $54,000 in commissions and other trading costs, and made it virtually impossible for the customer to realize a profit. In fact, the customer lost more than $17,500 as a result of Malico’s recommendations.

According to BrokerCheck records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) broker Joachim Terzi (Terzi), currently associated with J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, has been subject to at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint. Several of those complaints against Terzi  concern allegations of high frequency trading activity also referred to as churning or excessive trading among other securities laws violations.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint with a damage request of $203,007.00 on December 15, 2022.

Time frame: November 2019 – December 2021. Claimant alleges suitability, churning, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, unauthorized trading, negligence, misrepresentation, omission of material facts

According to BrokerCheck records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) broker Jason Rossi (Rossi), currently associated with LPL Financial LLC, has been subject to at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint. Several of those complaints against Rossi  concern allegations of high frequency trading activity also referred to as churning or excessive trading among other securities laws violations.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint with a damage request of $203,007.00 on December 15, 2022.

Time frame: November 2019 – December 2021. Claimant alleges suitability, churning, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, unauthorized trading, negligence, misrepresentation, omission of material facts

According to BrokerCheck records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) broker Dominick Diorio (Diorio), currently associated with Aegis Capital Corp., has been subject to at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint. Several of those complaints against Diorio  concern allegations of high frequency trading activity also referred to as churning or excessive trading among other securities laws violations.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint with a damage request of $62,468.00 on December 15, 2022.

Time frame: December 2012 – June 2022. Claimant alleges suitability, churning, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, unauthorized trading, negligence, misrepresentation, omission of material facts

According to BrokerCheck records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) broker Bryan Lubitz (Lubitz), currently associated with Equitable Advisors, LLC, has been subject to at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint. Several of those complaints against Lubitz  concern allegations of high frequency trading activity also referred to as churning or excessive trading among other securities laws violations.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint with a damage request of $139,224.00 on January 18, 2023.

Time frame: March 2013 – August 2022. Claimant alleges suitability, churning, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, unauthorized trading, negligence, misrepresentation, omission of material facts

According to BrokerCheck records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) broker Joseph Hurley (Hurley), previously associated with Cambridge Investment Research, INC., has been subject to at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint. Several of those complaints against Hurley  concern allegations of high frequency trading activity also referred to as churning or excessive trading among other securities laws violations.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint on May 11, 2023.

Statement of Claim alleges an investment recommendation was made for the purpose of generating high commissions and fees and that Claimants were deprived of the ability to generate reasonable returns that would have been received in a diversified portfolio.

According to BrokerCheck records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) broker Lawrence Whipple (Whipple), currently associated with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, has been subject to at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint. Several of those complaints against Whipple  concern allegations of high frequency trading activity also referred to as churning or excessive trading among other securities laws violations.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint with a damage request of $2,000,000.00 on May 14, 2024.

Power of Attorney for client alleges excessive trading in client’s account from December 2022 to November 2023

According to BrokerCheck records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) broker Christian Ramsey (Ramsey), previously associated with Gwn Securities INC., has been subject to at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint. Several of those complaints against Ramsey  concern allegations of high frequency trading activity also referred to as churning or excessive trading among other securities laws violations.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a pending customer complaint with a damage request of $250,000.00 on June 11, 2025.

Respondents exploited Claimant’s lack of understanding by selling high-commission, complex, and illiquid alternative investments. They encouraged Claimant to rely on their advice while referencing inflated pricing without disclosing that no true market existed. Claimant was left uninformed of available liquidation or mitigation options, keeping him dependent on Respondents’ guidance and delaying any potential complaint.\, \, Despite ongoing duties, Respondents continued advising Claimant to hold these unsuitable investments, misrepresenting them as ‘lower risk’ despite their illiquidity, concentration issues, and high commissions. Claimant reasonably relied on Respondents’ superior knowledge and believed they would act in his best interest, particularly given his nearing retirement. Instead, Respondents prioritized their own compensation, ignoring regulatory standards for sales of complex products to retail investors.\, \, Respondents’ misrepresentations and omissions caused Claimant to invest in and retain unsuitable products, resulting in substantial losses. The delayed discovery of this misconduct does not relieve Respondents of liability.\, \, No dates were provided.

Contact Information