alternative investment attorney Tag Archives

Advisor Wenjinn Chang Has Alternative Investment Complaints

February 5, 2024 | by Staff Attorney

According to BrokerCheck records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) broker Wenjinn Chang (Chang), currently associated with Independent Financial Group, LLC (IFG), has been subject to at least two customer complaints during his career. Those complaints against Chang allege that Chang recommended unsuitable investments in various investments among other allegations of misconduct relating to the handling of their accounts.

In February 2020, a customer complained that Chang violated securities laws by alleging that Chang engaged in negligent investment advice, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, and fraud. The claim alleged $128,000 in damages and settled for $85,000.

In October 2018, a customer complained that Chang’s recommendations of an over-concentration in non-traded REIT’s was unsuitable. The claim alleged $50,000 in damages. The claim settled for $32,500.

Arkadios Advisor Mark Reffett Accused of Unsuitable Investment Practices

September 21, 2022 | by Staff Attorney

The attorneys at Gana Weinstein LLP are investigating BrokerCheck records reports that Mark Alexander Reffett (Reffett), currently employed by Arkadios Capital, has been subject to at least one customer complaint his career. According to records kept by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Reffett’s customer complaint alleges that Reffett engaged in unsuitable investment strategy and alternative investments.

In May 2020, a customer complained that Reffett violated the securities laws by alleging that Reffett engaged in unsuitable investment strategy and alternative investments beginning in 2014 and continuing to 2016. The claim alleges $1,575,881 in damages and is currently pending.

Alternative investments include a class of products including DDPs such as non-traded REITs, oil and gas offerings, equipment leasing products, and other alternative investments. These alternative investments virtually never profit investors and are almost always unsuitable for investors because of their high fee and cost structure. Brokers selling these products are paid additional commission in order to hype these inferior quality investments providing a perverse incentives to create an artificial market for the investments.

Several studies have confirmed that Non-traded REITs underperform publicly traded REITs with some showing that Non-Traded REITs cannot even beat safe benchmarks, like U.S. treasury bonds. Brokers selling these products must disclose to the investor that non-traded REITs provide lower investment returns than treasuries while being high risk and illiquid – but almost never do. Because investors are not compensated with additional return in exchange for higher risk and illiquidity, these kinds of alternative investment products are rarely, if ever, appropriate for investors. Continue Reading

Centaurus Advisor Conrad Corcoran Has Alternative Investment Complaints

April 22, 2021 | by Staff Attorney

Advisor Conrad Corcoran (Corcoran), currently employed by brokerage firm Centaurus Financial, Inc. has been subject to at least four customer complaints during the course of his career. According to a BrokerCheck report the two most recent customer complaints filed in 2020 concern 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.

In July 2020 a customer complained that Corcoran violated the securities laws by alleging that Corcoran made investments where the documentation for their investments contained incorrect personal information and that certain initials/signatures were not theirs. The claim involves a real estate security, alleged damages, and is currently pending.

DDPs include products such as non-traded REITs, oil and gas offerings, equipment leasing products, and other alternative investments. These alternative investments virtually never profit investors and are almost always unsuitable for investors because of their high fee and cost structure. Brokers selling these products are paid additional commission in order to hype these inferior quality investments providing a perverse incentives to create an artificial market for the investments.

Several studies have confirmed that Non-traded REITs underperform publicly traded REITs with some showing that Non-Traded REITs cannot even beat safe benchmarks, like U.S. treasury bonds. Brokers selling these products must disclose to the investor that non-traded REITs provide lower investment returns than treasuries while being high risk and illiquid – but almost never do. Because investors are not compensated with additional return in exchange for higher risk and illiquidity, these kinds of alternative investment products are rarely, if ever, appropriate for investors. Continue Reading

Scot Fairchild Has Complaints Over Alternative Investment Sales Practices

May 18, 2020 | by Staff Attorney

Advisor Scot Fairchild (Fairchild), currently employed by Lucia Securities, LLC (Lucia Securities) has been subject to at least two customer complaints during the course of his career. According to a BrokerCheck report one of the customer complaint concerns 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.

In December 2019 a customer complained that Fairchild violated the securities laws by alleging that Fairchild engaged in sales practice violations related to breach of fiduciary duty, misrepresentations and omissions, negligence and unsuitable investments in high risk, illiquid investments purchased between 2013 and 2014 and in violation of Nevada Securities Laws. The claim alleges $214,335 and is currently pending.

In January 2019 a customer complained that Fairchild violated the securities laws by alleging that Fairchild engaged in sales practice violations related to breach of fiduciary duty, negligence, breach of contract, and unsuitable investment recommendations related to Real Estate Investment Trusts purchased between on or around 2013 and 2014. The claim alleges $500,000 and settled for $175,000.

DDPs include products such as non-traded REITs, oil and gas offerings, equipment leasing products, and other alternative investments. These alternative investments virtually never profit investors and are almost always unsuitable for investors because of their high fee and cost structure. Brokers selling these products are paid additional commission in order to hype these inferior quality investments providing a perverse incentives to create an artificial market for the investments.

Several studies have confirmed that Non-traded REITs underperform publicly traded REITs with some showing that Non-Traded REITs cannot even beat safe benchmarks, like U.S. treasury bonds. Brokers selling these products must disclose to the investor that non-traded REITs provide lower investment returns than treasuries while being high risk and illiquid – but almost never do. Because investors are not compensated with additional return in exchange for higher risk and illiquidity, these kinds of alternative investment products are rarely, if ever, appropriate for investors. Continue Reading

Dustin Shafer Has Complaints Over Alternative Investment Sales Practices

May 3, 2020 | by Staff Attorney

Advisor Dustin Shafer (Shafer), currently employed by Newbridge Securities Corporation (Newbridge Securities), has been subject to at least seven customer complaints and two tax liens or judgement during the course of his career. According to a BrokerCheck report one of the customer complaints concern 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.

In January 2020 a customer complained that Shafer violated the securities laws by alleging that Shafer engaged in sales practice violations related to recommending an investment that was not explained and that was guaranteed a montly dividend. The claim alleges $175,000 and is currently pending.

In January 2020 a customer complained that Shafer violated the securities laws by alleging that Shafer engaged in sales practice violations related to recommending alternatives investment beginning in 2013 that were misrepresented. The claim alleges violations of Illinois securities laws, breach of fiduciary duty, negligence, and violation of FINRA rules. The claim alleges $454,000 in damages and is currently pending.

Timothy Vanlohuizen Has Complaints Over Alternative Investments

April 13, 2020 | by Staff Attorney

Advisor Timothy Vanlohuizen (Vanlohuizen), currently employed by SagePoint Financial, Inc. (SagePoint Financial) has been subject to at least seven customer complaints during the course of his career. According to a BrokerCheck report the customer complaints concern alternative investments such as direct participation products (DPPs) like non-traded real estate investment trusts (REITs), oil & gas programs, 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.

In February 2020 a customer complained that Vanlohuizen violated the securities laws by alleging that Vanlohuizen engaged in sales practice violations related to recommending unsuitable investments. The claim seeks $100,000 and is currently pending.

In May 2019 a customer complained that Vanlohuizen violated the securities laws by alleging that Vanlohuizen engaged in sales practice violations related to recommending negligence, unsuitable investments, misrepresentations, and breach of fiduciary duty related to oil and gas investments and precious metals. The claim seeks $350,000 and is currently pending.

DDPs include products such as non-traded REITs, oil and gas offerings, equipment leasing products, and other alternative investments. These alternative investments virtually never profit investors and are almost always unsuitable for investors because of their high fee and cost structure. Brokers selling these products are paid additional commission in order to hype these inferior quality investments providing a perverse incentives to create an artificial market for the investments. Continue Reading

Charles Stevens Subject to Multiple Customer Complaints Over Alternative Investments

July 4, 2018 | by Staff Attorney

Current D.H. Hill Securities, LLLP (D.H. Hill) broker Charles Stevens (Stevens) has been subject to four customer complaints and five tax liens. According to a BrokerCheck report many of the complaints concern alternative investments and direct participation products (DPPs) such as non-traded real estate investment trusts (REITs). The attorneys at Gana Weinstein LLP have extensive experience handling investor losses caused by these types of products.

In addition, Stevens is subject to massive tax liens totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars. In March 2017 Stevens disclosed a tax lien of over $202,000. The fact that a broker cannot manage his own personal finances is material information for a client to consider. In addition, the types of products clients have alleged were unsuitable are high commission products that may be recommended to generate high profits for the advisor at the expense of the client.

In March 2018 a customer filed a complaint alleging unsuitable recommendations, breach of fiduciary duty, negligence, failure to supervise and breach of contract during period of 2012 to 2017. The client alleged $150,000 in damages and the claim is currently pending.

Alvery Bartlett Subject to Multiple Customer Complaints Over Alternative Investments

June 16, 2018 | by Staff Attorney

Current Arete Wealth Management, LLC (Arete Wealth) broker Alvery Bartlett (Bartlett) has been subject to three customer complaints. According to a BrokerCheck report many of the complaints concern alternative investments, private placements, and direct participation products (DPPs) such as non-traded real estate investment trusts (REITs) and oil and gas programs. The attorneys at Gana Weinstein LLP have extensive experience handling investor losses caused by these types of products.

In March 2018 a customer filed a complaint alleging that the investments purchased between 2003 and 2011 were unsuitable and were misrepresented to him. The client also alleged that the firm failed to conduct adequate due diligence on the investments and failed to supervise the representative. The claim is currently pending and alleges damages of $6,637,918.

Our firm often handles cases involving direct participation products, Non-Traded REITs, oil and gas offerings, equipment leasing products, and other alternative investments. These products are almost always unsuitable for investors. In addition, the brokers who sell them are paid additional commission in order to hype inferior quality investments which provides a perverse incentives by brokers to create an artificial market for products that no honest advisor would sell.