According to the BrokerCheck records kept by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) broker Robert Horning (Horning) has been the subject of at least 8 customer complaints. Customers have filed complaints against Horning alleging a number of securities law violations including that the broker made unsuitable investments, misrepresentations, fraud, breach of…
Articles Posted in direct participation programs
Customers File Dozens of Complaints Against Broker John Schooler
According to the BrokerCheck records kept by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) broker John Schooler (Schooler) has been hit with at least 26 customer complaints over his career. Customers have filed complaints against Schooler alleging securities law violations including that the broker made unsuitable investments, negligence, misrepresentations, breach of fiduciary…
Former National Securities Corporation Broker Brian Folland Subject to Numerous Customers Complaints
According to the BrokerCheck records kept by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) broker Brian Folland (Folland) has been hit with at least 30 customer complaints over his career and two tax liens. Customers have filed complaints against Folland alleging securities law violations including that the broker made unsuitable investments, negligence,…
Equipment Leasing Programs LEAF and ICON: Too Costly to Invest In
Our firm has written numerous times about investor losses in programs such as various equipment leasing programs like LEAF Equipment Leasing Income Funds I-IV and ICON Leasing Funds Eleven and Twelve. These direct participation programs, like their non-traded REIT and oil and gas cousins, all suffer from the same crippling…
Gana LLP Broker Investigation – Former Berthel Fisher Broker Robert Smith
The law offices of Gana Weinstein LLP are investigating a series of claims before The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in relation to the conduct of financial advisor Robert Smith (Smith). Smith has been accused by at least 10 customers over his career concerning allegations that Smith overconcentrated the customer’s…
John Towers of VSR Financial Sanctioned Over Unsuitable Sale of Alternative Investments and Private Placement Securities
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) sanctioned financial advisor John H. Towers (Towers) of VSR Financial Services, Inc. (VSR) concerning allegations of unsuitable sales of over $6,000,000 in alternative investments including oil and gas interests, real estate investment trusts (REITs), and other speculative private placement investments to an investor. FINRA’s…
FINRA Proposes Rule Addressing Valuation Issues of REITs and DPPs
FINRA has recently proposed a rule change that would amend the procedures for valuing Direct Participation Programs (DPPs) and Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs). The rule change is intended to provide greater clarity to investors concerning the value of these investments, an extremely contentious issue. A REIT is a security…