Securities Lawyers Blog
According to BrokerCheck records financial advisor Xavier Patino (Patino), currently employed by Newbridge Securities Corporation (Newbridge Securities) and formerly with J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (JP Morgan) has been subject to one regulatory action, one one employment termination for cause, and two customer disputes during his career. According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), the regulatory action against Patino concerns allegations over variable annuity sales practices.
In June 2018 Patino consented to sanctions and to the entry of findings that Patino made material misstatements to a customer and guaranteed the customer against loss in connection with a variable annuity purchase. FINRA also found that Patino solicited this customer to purchase a $192,000 variable annuity contract with the variable annuity prospectus describing the features and risks of the product. However, FINRA found that prior to finalizing the sale the client presented Patino with a document she had prepared and asked Patino to sign it explicitly signifying that he agreed with the statements. FINRA found that thereafter, the customer’s variable annuity lost value, she complained to Patino’s member firm about her losses, and presented the guarantees signed by Patino.
In April 2017, JP Morgan discharged Patino claiming that he admitted to signing an unapproved document that guaranteed the customer would not lose principal on an investment in violation of firm policy.
Variable annuities are complex financial and insurance products. In fact, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) released a publication entitled: Variable Annuities: What You Should Know encouraging investors to ask questions about the variable annuity before investing. Essentially, a variable annuity is a contract with an insurance company under which the insurer agrees to make periodic payments to you. The investor chooses the investments made in the annuity and value of your variable annuity will vary depending on the performance of the investment options chosen. The primary benefits of variable annuities are the death benefit and tax deferment of investment gains.
However, the benefits of variable annuities are often outweighed by the terms of the contract that include exorbitant expenses such as surrender charges, mortality and expense charges, management fees, market-related risks, and rider costs.
Patino entered the securities industry in 2008. From October 2010 through May 2017 Patino was registered with JP Morgan. Since June 2017 Patino has been registered with Newbridge Securities out of the firm’s Oakbrook Terrace, Illionis office location.
Investors who have suffered losses are encouraged to contact us at (800) 810-4262 for consultation. At Gana Weinstein LLP, our attorneys are experienced representing investors who have suffered securities losses due to the mishandling of their accounts. Claims may be brought in securities arbitration before FINRA. Our consultations are free of charge and the firm is only compensated if you recover.