Securities Lawyers Blog
The law offices of Gana Weinstein LLP are investigating claims against advisor Mel Hertz (Hertz), currently registered with The Strategic Financial Alliance, Inc. (Strategic Financial) out of Kailua, Hawaii. According to a BrokerCheck report, Hertz has been subject to at least three customer complaints and one investigation. According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), the complaints against Hertz concern allegations of unsuitable investment recommendations.
In May 2018 Hertz was investigated by the State of Hawaii over allegations of his unsuitable investment recommendations. This investigation is currently pending.
In April 2018 a customer filed a complaint alleging that from April 2013 through April 2018 Hertz engaged in unsuitable investments and misrepresentations causing $133,000 in damages. The customer also alleged that Hertz failed to properly monitor third-party managed account. This dispute is still pending.
In April 2013 a customer alleged that Hertz made unsuitable alternative investments of direct participation products (DPPs) and real estate securities causing in damages. The claim settled for $150,000.
Brokers are required under the securities laws to treat their clients fairly. This obligation includes the duties to disclose material risks of the investments they recommend and to present products, particularly complex or confusing products, in a fair and balanced manner that allows the client to evaluate the recommendation. Another important obligation advisors have is to make only suitable recommendations for investments to the client. There are many investments that are not appropriate for the majority of investors or for certain investors given their risk tolerance, age, and other factors. Advisors should not present these investment options to clients. There are two screens that advisors must employ to determine whether an investment is suitable for a client. First, there must be a reasonable basis for the recommendation – meaning that the product has been investigated and due diligence conducted into the investment’s features, benefits, risks, and other relevant factors. The advisor must conclude that the investment is suitable for at least some investors and some securities may be suitable for no one. Second, the broker then must match the investment as being appropriate for the customer’s specific investment needs and objectives such as the client’s retirement status, long or short term goals, age, disability, income needs, or any other relevant factor.
According to newsources, a study revealed that 7.3% of financial advisors had a customer complaint on their record when records from 2005 to 2015 were examined. Brokers must publicly disclose reportable events on their BrokerCheck reports that include customer complaints, IRS tax liens, judgments, investigations, terminations, and criminal cases. In addition, research has shown a disturbing pattern with troublesome brokers where brokers with high numbers of customer complaints are not kicked out of the industry but instead these brokers are sifted to lower quality brokerage firms with loose hiring practices and higher rates of customer complaints. These lower quality firms may average brokers with five times as many complaints as the industry average.
Hertz entered the securities industry in 1980. Since October 2003 Hertz has been registered with Strategic Financial out of the firm’s Kailua, Hawaii 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.