Articles Tagged with unsuitable investment attorney

shutterstock_94719376-300x214The attorneys at Gana Weinstein LLP are investigating BrokerCheck records reports that financial advisor Clint Keener (Keener), formerly employed by Capital City Securities, LLC (Capital City) has been subject to at least five customer complaints, three regulatory actions, and one employment termination for cause during the course of his career.  According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Keener’s customer complaint alleges that Keener recommended unsuitable investments among other allegations of misconduct relating to the handling of their accounts.

In November 2019 FINRA brought a regulatory action against Keener that he settled consenting to findings that he refused to appear for FINRA on-the-record testimony requested in connection with an investigation into potential unsuitable recommendations.

In July 2010 FINRA brought a regulatory action against Keener that he settled consenting to findings that he made unsuitable trades resulting in an overconcentration in a client account of non-investment grade bonds.  FINRA also determined that certain transactions were mismarked as unsolicited when in fact thery were solicited.

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shutterstock_189135755-300x300The attorneys at Gana Weinstein LLP are investigating BrokerCheck records reports that financial advisor Joel Davidman (Davidman), currently employed by Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated (Stifel Nicolaus) has been subject to at least three customer complaints, one employment termination for cause, and two regulatory actions during the course of his career.  According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Davidman’s customer complaint alleges that Davidman recommended unsuitable investments in a variety of investment products including bonds among other allegations of misconduct relating to the handling of their accounts.

In May 2015 Davidman’s employer Morgan Stanley discharged Davidman alleging that the representative engaged in discretionary trades in a client’s account without authorization.

Thereafter, FINRA investigated the allegations and in July 2017 suspended Davidman after alleging that he consented to sanctions and findings that he exercised discretionary trading authority in the accounts of customers without obtaining prior written authorization from each of the customers or approval from his member firm to treat the customers’ accounts as discretionary. FINRA found that Davidman effected some of the trades using time and price discretion and the remaining occurred without Davidman discussing and receiving approval for the trades from the customers on the dates of the transactions.

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shutterstock_177792281-300x198The attorneys at Gana Weinstein LLP are investigating BrokerCheck records reports that financial advisor Charles Kerker (Kerker), formerly employed by Next Financial Group, Inc. (Next Financial) was has been subject to at least one customer complaint and one employment termination for cause during the course of his career.  According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Westenbarger’s customer complaint alleges that Kerker recommended unsuitable investments among other allegations of misconduct relating to the handling of their accounts.

In June 2019 Kerker’s employer, Next Financial, discharged Kerker alleging failure to adequately respond to a compliance inquiry regarding equity transactions in 12 customer accounts. Specifically, the date and time that clients were contacted regarding each transaction, the rationale for the transactions, the suitability analysis conducted for each customer and copies of investment research.

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shutterstock_183544004-300x200The attorneys at Gana Weinstein LLP are investigating BrokerCheck records reports that financial advisor Anthony Joslin (Joslin), currently employed by Garden State Securities, Inc. (Garden State Securities) has been subject to at least eight customer complaints, one employment termination for cause, and two regulatory actions during the course of his career.  According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Joslin’s customer complaints alleges that Joslin recommended unsuitable investments, negligence, and breach of fiduciary duty among other allegations of misconduct relating to the handling of their accounts.

In June 2014 the State of Massachusetts brought a regulatory action against Joslin alleging that he has been subject to eight customer complaints and contributed $103,000 towards the settlement of complaints.  Further, Joslin resigned while under investigation from the Grayson Financial, LLC brokerage firm under allegations that he misappropriated proprietary information from the firm.  Further, the state found that Joslin had been subject of an NASD action due to his failure to supervise and prevent violations of the securities laws by those under his supervision.  The state of Massachusetts placed Joslin under heightened supervision for 3 years.

In June 2019 a customer complained that Joslin violated the securities laws by alleging violations of the securities laws including breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, and negligence. The claim alleges $300,763 in damages and is currently pending.

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shutterstock_188874428-300x200The attorneys at Gana Weinstein LLP are investigating BrokerCheck records reports that financial advisor Christopher Watkins (Watkins), currently employed by Silver Oak Securities, Incorporated (Silver Oak Securities) has been subject to at least one employment termination for cause and one customer complaint during the course of his career.  According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Watkins’ customer complaint alleges that Watkin recommended unsuitable investments among other allegations of misconduct relating to the handling of their accounts.

In November 2018 Watkins’ then employer, LPL Financial LLC (LPL Financial), discharged Watkins claiming that he facilitated the distribution of advisory fee monies to an unregistered person.

In August 2019 a customer complained that Watkins violated the securities laws by alleging violations of the securities laws including unsuitable investments involving REITs and energy investments. The claim alleges $115,000 in damages and is currently pending.

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shutterstock_64025263-199x300The law offices of Gana Weinstein LLP are investigating claims against advisor Mel Hertz (Hertz), currently registered with The Strategic Financial Alliance, Inc. (Strategic Financial) out of Kailua, Hawaii.  According to a BrokerCheck report, Hertz has been subject to at least three customer complaints and one investigation.  According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), the complaints against Hertz concern allegations of unsuitable investment recommendations.

In May 2018 Hertz was investigated by the State of Hawaii over allegations of his unsuitable investment recommendations.  This investigation is currently pending.

In April 2018 a customer filed a complaint alleging that from April 2013 through April 2018 Hertz engaged in unsuitable investments and misrepresentations causing $133,000 in damages.  The customer also alleged that Hertz failed to properly monitor third-party managed account.  This dispute is still pending.

In April 2013 a customer alleged that Hertz made unsuitable alternative investments of direct participation products (DPPs) and real estate securities causing in damages.  The claim settled for $150,000.

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shutterstock_187532303-300x200The attorneys at Gana Weinstein LLP are investigating BrokerCheck records reports that financial advisor Richard Cagle (Cagle), formerly employed by Hilltop Securities Independent Network Inc. (Hilltop Securities) has been subject to at least two customer complaints and one regulatory complaint resulting in a bar from the financial industry.  According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Cagle’s customer complaints allege that Cagle recommended unsuitable securities recommendations among other allegations of misconduct in the handling of customer accounts.

In July 2019 Cagle consented to the sanction and to the entry of findings that he refused to appear and provide an on-the-record testimony requested by FINRA.  FINRA stated that it commenced an investigation into whether Cagle violated FINRA rules by making unsuitable investment recommendations and mismarking customer order tickets while associated with his former member firm.  Cagle’s failure to respond to the investigation drew an automatic bar from the industry.

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shutterstock_70513588-300x200According to BrokerCheck records financial advisor Demos Argyros (Argyros), currently employed by Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. (Oppenheimer) has been subject to at least five customer complaints during the course of his career.  According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Argyros’ customer complaints allege that Argyros recommended unsuitable securities recommendations in a variety of products including unsuitable equities and warrants among other allegations of misconduct in the handling of customer accounts.

In February 2019 a customer filed a complaint alleging that Argyros violated the securities laws by, among other things, that Argyros breached his fiduciary duty, negligence, breach of contract relating to unsuitable equities and warrants from May 2008 until November 2016 causing $100,000 in damages.  The claim is currently pending.

In April 2017 a customer filed a complaint alleging that Argyros violated the securities laws by, among other things, that Argyros breached his fiduciary duty, churning, excessive fees and missing funds from January 2008 until December 2016 causing $900,000 in damages.  The claim settled for $275,000.

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shutterstock_52426963-300x200According to BrokerCheck records financial advisor William Hobby (Hobby), formerly employed by UBS Financial Services Inc. (UBS) has been subject to an astonishing 23 customer complaints and one employment termination for cause during the course of his career.  According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Hobby’s customer complaints allege that Hobby recommended unsuitable securities recommendations among other allegations of misconduct in the handling of customer accounts.

In September 2018 UBS discharged Hobby claiming that the firm’s review found that he exercised discretion in client account without written authorization, failed to escalate same client’s complaint, and worked against firm’s interests by assisting that client in efforts to procure settlement from firm.

In October 2018 a customer filed a complaint alleging that Hobby violated the securities laws by, among other things, from August 2016 to October 2018 that due to her age she should not have been labeled as an aggressive investor and suffered losses she could not afford. The alleged damages are estimated to be in excess of $5,000 and settled for $24,000.

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shutterstock_57938968-200x300According to BrokerCheck records former financial advisor Michael Ralby (Ralby), formerly employed by Morgan Stanley has been subject to eight customer complaints and one regulatory matter in his career.  According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), many of the complaints against Ralby concern allegations of unsuitable investments.

In March 2018, Ralby entered into a consent agreement with FINRA where Ralby consented to the sanction and to the entry of findings that he refused to appear for a FINRA on-the-record testimony for the regulator’s investigation into whether Ralby had accepted loans from a customer in violation of FINRA rules.

In July 2018, a customer filed a complaint alleging that Ralby engaged in unsuitable investments in structured products from March 2016 until August 2016.  The client alleged $37,170 in damages and the case was resolved.

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