Securities Lawyers Blog
According to BrokerCheck records financial advisor Jonathan Iraggi (Iraggi), currently associated with National Securities Corporation (National Securities), has been subject to two customer complaints and one employment separation for cause. According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Iraggi has been accused by customers of unauthorized trading among other claims.
In July 2017, Iraggi was permitted to resign from Garden State Securities, Inc. (Garden State) after allegations were made that the broker engaged in unauthorized trading. Also in July 2017 a customer filed a complaint against Iraggi stating damages of $22,000 caused by unauthorized trades. The claim was denied by the firm. In 2015 another customer filed a complaint also claiming unauthorized trading.
Advisors are not allowed to engage in unauthorized trading. Such trading occurs when a broker sells securities without the prior authority from the investor. All brokers are under an obligation to first discuss trades with the investor before executing them under NYSE Rule 408(a) and FINRA Rules 2510(b). These rules explicitly prohibit brokers from making discretionary trades in a customers’ non-discretionary accounts. The SEC has also found that unauthorized trading to be fraudulent nature because no disclosure could be more important to an investor than to be made aware that a trade will take place.
The number of complaints against Iraggi are unusual compared to his peers. According to newsources, only about 7.3% of financial advisors have any type of disclosure event on their records among brokers employed from 2005 to 2015. Brokers must publicly disclose reportable events on their CRD customer complaints, IRS tax liens, judgments, investigations, and even criminal matters. However, studies have found that there are fraud hotspots such as certain parts of California, New York or Florida, where the rates of disclosure can reach 18% or higher. Moreover, according to the New York Times, BrokerCheck may be becoming increasing inaccurate and understate broker misconduct as studies have shown that 96.9% of broker requests to clean their records of complaints are granted.
Iraggi entered the securities industry in 2011. From February 2011 until April 2011 Iraggi was associated with Spartan Capital Securities, LLC. From May 2011 until April 2012, Iraggi was registered with Portfolio Advisors Alliance, Inc (Portfolio Advisors). Then from April 2012 until June 2012, Iraggi was associated with American Capital Partners, Inc. From May 2012 until August 2012, Iraggi was again registered with Portfolio Advisors. From August 2012 until December 2015 Iraggi was associated again with Spartan Capital. From January 2016 until August 2017 Iraggi was associated with Garden State. Currently, Iraggi is registered with National Securities out of the firm’s Morganville, New Jersey office location.
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.