On September 15, 2015 FINRA suspended former First Allied broker, Herbert Leonard Kaye, for four months and fined him $25,000 which includes the disgorgement of $11,000 in commissions. According to FINRA, Mr. Kaye entered over 2,000 discretionary trades in the account of a customer between June 2010 and April 2013 without…
Articles Posted in Investment Attorney
SEC Cracks Down on Wrap Accounts to Prevent “Reverse Churning”
A recent InvestmentNews article explored The Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) attempts to prevent conflicts of interest at registered investment advisers, a breach of their fiduciary duties, by focusing on potential misuse of popular flat-fee wrap accounts. The use of these accounts have given rise to claims of “reverse churning.”…
Gana LLP is Investigating Benjamin F. Edwards in connection with the Firm’s Supervision of Aon Miller
Gana Weinstein LLP, a nationally recognized securities arbitration boutique, is investigating Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. (“BFE”) in connection with the firm’s supervision of its former registered representative Aon D. Miller. From November 2011 through September 2012, it is alleged that Aon D. Miller, participated in five different securities transactions…
FINRA Suspends former Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Broker Travis Shannon for Failing to Divulge Information
On August 25, 2014, FINRA suspended Travis S. Shannon, of Santa Barbara, California, formerly of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. According to FINRA, from July 2010 through June 2013, Mr. Shannon engaged in two outside business activities without first providing written notice to Morgan Stanley, in violation of FINRA Rule 2010,…
Gana LLP is Investigating LPL Financial broker, Kenneth W. Schulz for Improper Conduct
On September 11, 2014, FINRA, permanently barred Kenneth W. Schulz, a former broker of LPL Financial from associating with any FINRA member. According to the Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, in June 2013, Kenneth W. Schulz directed a registered assistant to impersonate six of Schulz’s former customers in phone calls…
Choosing the Right Securities Arbitration Attorney
When to Call a Securities Arbitration Attorney Securities arbitration attorneys, sometimes referred to as investment attorneys, FINRA attorneys, or securities attorneys, should be contacted whenever an investor believes he or she has been a victim of broker misconduct. An investor may have cause to retain a securities fraud attorney to file a…
FINRA Suspends Financial Advisor Over Unsuitable Variable Universal Life (VUL) Sales Practices
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) sanctioned broker James Moniz (Moniz) concerning allegations that while registered with Signator Investors, Inc. (Signator) Moniz made unsuitable recommendations to a married couple that they purchase a Variable Universal Life insurance policy (VUL) on the husband’s life and use the proceeds of a reverse…
FINRA Alleges that Former Waddell & Reed Employee, Jeffrey Meyer, Engaged in 37 Private Placement Transactions without Proper Notice
On August 21, 2014, Richard A. March, Senior Regional Counsel of FINRA’s Department of Enforcement filed a complaint against Jeffrey Meyer, a financial advisor in Lake in the Hills Illinois who was formerly associated with Waddell & Reed, Inc. The complaint alleges that while employed at Waddell & Reed and WRP Investments, Inc.…
UBS Preparing to Face Investor Claims Over Puerto Rico Bond Funds
According to UBS’ second quarter earnings report, the bank is now looking at over $600 million in claims brought by Puerto Rico investors, who have suffered significant losses related to their investments in closed-end bond funds. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has been inundated with a plethora of claims…
Broker Ismail Elmas Terminated Over Outside Business Activities
According to broker Ismail Elmas’ (Elmas) Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) BrokerCheck records the representative was recently discharged from CUSO Financial Services, LP (CUSO Financial) concerning allegations that the broker “converted client funds for personal use as well as participated in an unauthorized outside business activity involving investments without the…