Capitol Securities Management Tag Archives

Capitol Securities Broker Ian Greenblatt Sanctioned By Regulator Over Customer Disputes

February 4, 2019 | by Staff Attorney

According to BrokerCheck records financial advisor Ian Greenblatt (Greenblatt), currently employed by Capitol Securities Management, Inc. (Capitol Securities) has been subject to at least four customer complaints and one regulatory action. According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), most of Greenblatt’s customer complaints allege that Aziz made unsuitable recommendations in a variety of investments.

In September 2018 FINRA brought a regulatory action against Greenblatt where he consented to sanctions and findings that he settled a customer complaint away from his member firm. FINRA found that customers became dissatisfied with the performance of their brokerage account since their account had declined in value by over $170,000. FINRA found that after one of these customers complained verbally to Greenblatt about the losses they incurred Greenblatt did not report customer’s complaint to the firm and instead met with customers at their home to discuss their complaint. At that meeting, FINRA determined that Greenblatt wrote a personal check for $46,000 to the customers’ son in settlement of customers’ complaint.

FINRA Bars Broker Andrew Kramer Over Securities Practices

June 11, 2017 | by Staff Attorney

Broker Andrew Kramer (Kramer) was recently sanctioned by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in an enforcement action. According to the FINRA AWC (Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent) FINRA found that Kramer consented to sanctions that he failed to respond to FINRA’s requests for documents and information related to an examination concerning a customer complaint.

The securities lawyers of Gana Weinstein LLP are investigating the six customer complaints brought against Kramer. The customer complaints allege a number of securities law violations including that the broker made unsuitable investments among other claims. Accorded to one complaint, it was alleged that Kramer implemented a bear market strategy. When brokers recommend these strategies they are rarely profitable and almost always unsuitable for the client. Historically the market is only negative a small fraction of the time. Accordingly, a sustain bear market strategy always bets against the odds rarely makes sense.

The most recent claim was filed in December 2016 alleging Kramer engaged in unsuitable trades causing $1,000,000 in damages. The complaint is currently pending.

Broker Investigation: Customer Complaints Against McNally Financial Broker Marshall Cassedy

February 6, 2016 | by Staff Attorney

The securities lawyers of Gana Weinstein LLP are investigating customer complaints filed with The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) against broker Marshall Cassedy (Cassedy). According to BrokerCheck records Cassedy is subject to 17 customer complaints, 3 regulatory actions, and one employment separation. The customer complaints against Cassedy allege securities law violations that including unsuitable investments, churning (excessive trading), unauthorized trading, misrepresentations, and breach of fiduciary duty among other claims.

The most recent regulatory action was filed by the State of Florida in 2010 and alleged unauthorized trading and unregistered activity. Prior to that, Capitol Securities Management, Inc. terminated Cassedy alleging that the broker had customer complaints concerning violations of the firm’s policies with respect to the handling of their accounts. In 2006, the State of Georgia filed a regulatory action against Cassedy alleging that the broker failed to disclose another regulatory investigation by the State of Florida. That investigation was filed in 2005 and alleged unsuitable securities.

Brokers have a responsibility treat investors fairly which includes obligations such as making only suitable investments for the client. In order to make a suitable recommendation the broker must meet certain requirements. First, there must be reasonable basis for the recommendation the product or security based upon the broker’s investigation and due diligence into the investment’s properties including its benefits, risks, tax consequences, and other relevant factors. Second, the broker then must match the investment as being appropriate for the customer’s specific investment needs and objectives such as the client’s retirement status, long or short term goals, age, disability, income needs, or any other relevant factor.