NFP Advisor Services

FINRA suspends Chelsea Financial Broker George Warner for Filing Inaccurate Client Records

September 4, 2018 | by Staff Attorney

The investment fraud attorneys at Gana Weinstein LLP are currently investigating Chelsea Financial Services (Chelsea Financial) broker George Warner (Warner). According to BrokerCheck Records, Warner has been subject to a regulatory matter in which the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) sanctioned Warner for the violation of the securities laws. In addition, Warner has been subject to termination from two firms of employment and a customer complaint.

In November 2014, Warner was permitted to resign from NFP Advisor Services for changing customer documents and information after the clients had signed the documents. In June 2013, Warner was discharged from LPL Financial LLC for getting customer signatures on account transfer forms that were blank.

Subsequently, in April 2017, FINRA found that Warner altered customer documents without customer knowledge or permission on over five occasions in which he included customer liquidity needs, net worth, annual income, alternative investment forms, and an IRA application. By altering the firm’s documents, Warner impeded on the firm’s ability to maintain accurate records. Without admitting or denying the findings, Warner consented to the sanctions and to the entry of findings. Consequently, FINRA imposed a $5,000 fine and 30 day suspension.

In addition, Warner has been subject to a customer dispute. In August 2009. a customer alleged that Warner purchased CIT bonds instead of CITI Corp bonds. The case was settled at $225,000.

Broker Investigation: NFP Advisor Services Broker Kevin Ellman

September 4, 2015 | by Staff Attorney

According to the BrokerCheck records kept by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) broker Kevin Ellman (Ellman) has been the subject of at least four customer complaints and one regulatory action. The customer complaints against Ellman allege in one of the complaints that the broker made misrepresentations related to the sale of auction rate securities. In another complaint, the customer alleged negligence in connection with a mezzanine financing investment. In a third complaint, the customer alleged that Ellman made unsuitable investment recommendations.

Ellman entered the securities industry in 1991. From January 2006 onward Ellman has been registered with NFP Advisor Services, LLC (NFP Advisor).

Advisers have an obligation to deal fairly with investors and that obligation includes 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 costs, 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.

Broker Spotlight: Ellwood Jones’ Investment Recommendations

June 26, 2015 | by Staff Attorney

According to the BrokerCheck records kept by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) broker Ellwood Jones (Jones) has been the subject of at least four customer complaints. Customers have filed complaints against Bell alleging a number of securities law violations including that the broker made unsuitable investments, misrepresentations and false statements, among other claims. Some of these claims involve recommendations in private placements such as hedge funds, insurance products, and direct participation programs (DPPs).

Since 1997 Jones was associated with NFP Advisor Services (NFP) until March 2011. According to Jones’ BrokerCheck records, Jones has a number of other disclosed outside businesses including Capital Region International, LLC, A.B.R.C., and Synergex International Corporation.

One customer complaint against Jones alleged damages of $10,000,000 resulting from negligence and misrepresentations concerning hedge funds. In another action, the customer alleged misrepresentations in relation to the customer’s participation in a welfare benefit plan. Finally, in a third customer complaint the customer alleged misrepresentations in connection with the sale of insurance and other financial transactions involving alternative investments and limited partnership interests.