This post continues our investigation into whether or not brokerage firms have a basis to continue to sell non-traded real estate investment trusts (Non-Traded REITs). Non-Traded REIT sales have exploded becoming the latest it product of Wall Street. However, experts and regulators have begun to question the basis for selling…
Securities Lawyers Blog
FINRA Bars Former Securities America Broker Judith Woodhouse
According to the BrokerCheck records kept by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) broker Judith Woodhouse (Woodhouse) has been barred for failing to respond to requests for information by the agency. The requests may have related to the reasons Securities America, Inc. (Securities America) gave for terminating Woodhouse’s employment. Upon termination…
Controversy Over Non-Traded REITs: Should These Products Be Sold to Investors? Part I
As longtime readers of our blog know we have reported numerous instances of sales and other practice violations regarding how brokers and brokerage firms sell non-traded real estate investment trusts (Non-Traded REITs). See list of articles below. As Non-Traded REITs have become the latest darling product of the financial industry…
FINRA Sanctions Morgan Stanley and Scottrade for Failing to Supervise Customer Transfers to Third-Party Accounts
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) issued a press release concerning two settlements fining Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, LLC (Morgan Stanley) $650,000 and Scottrade, Inc. $300,000 for failing to implement reasonable supervisory systems to monitor the transmittal of customer funds to third-party accounts. The settlements included allegations that both firms…
FINRA Bars Advisor James Ham Over Outside Business Activities
According to the BrokerCheck records kept by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) broker James Ham (Ham) has been the subject of at least two customer complaints, one financial matter, three regulatory events, two employment separations, and one judgement/lien. Recently, FINRA barred the broker for failing to cooperate in the agencies…
Cushing Mutual Funds Investor Update
The attorneys at Gana Weinstein LLP have been following the collapse of a series of mutual funds managed by Cushing Asset Management. The funds involved include: Cushing Closed-End Funds Cushing Renaissance Fund Cushing Royalty & Income Fund Cushing MLP Total Return Fund Mainstay Cushing Mutual Funds MainStay Cushing MLP Premier…
Numerous Customer Complaints Against Herbert J. Sims Broker Robert Delguercio
According to the BrokerCheck records kept by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) broker Robert Delguercio (Delguercio) has been the subject of at least eight customer complaints, two financial matters, and one employment separation. The customer complaints against Delguercio allege a number of securities law violations including that the broker made…
Gana LLP Investigation: Broker Duane Smith
According to the BrokerCheck records kept by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) broker Duane Smith (Smith) has been the subject of at least two customer complaint and one employment separation. The customer complaints against Smith allege a number of securities law violations including that the broker made unsuitable investments, negligence,…
Gana LLP Investigation: Claims Against Broker George Lincoln
According to the BrokerCheck records kept by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) broker George Lincoln (Lincoln) has been the subject of at least three customer complaints, one regulatory action, and one employment separation. The customer complaints against Lincoln allege a number of securities law violations including that the broker made…
Broker Spotlight: Churning Claims Against Advisor Jason Klabal
According to the BrokerCheck records kept by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) broker Jason Klabal (Klabal) has been the subject of at least eight customer complaints six of which have been filed since 2014. The customer complaints against Klabal allege a number of securities law violations including that the broker…