Securities Lawyers Blog

FINRA Suspends Brad Lawing for Unsuitable Investment Recommendations

June 15, 2018 | by Staff Attorney

The investment lawyers of Gana Weinstein LLP are investigating the regulatory action brought by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) against Brad Lawing (Lawing). According to BrokerCheck records, Lawing has been subject to 11 customer complaints. In addition, Lawing has been subject to a regulatory matter in which FINRA sanctioned Lawing for various violations of the securities laws including unsuitable recommendations.

In November 2017, FINRA found that Lawing recommended shares of a business development company (BDC) to three customers that did not satisfy suitability standards for two customers and resulted in over-concentration for the other customer. FINRA found that Lawing did not use reasonable diligence to ascertain customers’ financial situation, risk tolerance, and other factors affecting for suitability consideration. FINRA also alleged that in one case Lawing recommended an investment without speaking with the customer. Additionally, Lawing disclosed non public information for ten of his customers whose previous registered representative was statutorily disqualified from participating in the brokerage industry. In November 2017, Lawing was suspended for 5 months and fined $10,000.

Brokers have a responsibility treat investors fairly which includes obligations such as making only suitable investments for the client. In order to make a suitable recommendation, the broker must meet certain requirements. First, there must be reasonable basis for the recommendation the product or security based upon the broker’s investigation and due diligence into the investment’s properties including its benefits, risks, tax consequences, and other relevant factors. 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.

Mark Chamberlain Subject to Multiple Customer Complaints

June 15, 2018 | by Staff Attorney

The securities attorneys at Gana Weinstein LLP are investigating claims against First Allied Securities, Inc. (First Allied) broker Mark Chamberlain (Chamberlain). According to BrokerCheck records, Chamberlain has been subject to seven customer complaints and one regulatory action. The majority of the complaints concern alternative investments and annuities.

Most recently, in May 2015, a customer alleged that Chamberlain engaged in unsuitable investments requesting $29,700 in damages.

In May 2012, a customer alleged that from October 2009 to May 2011, Chamberlain engaged in breach of fiduciary duty, constructive fraud, and unauthorized transactions. This dispute settled for $13,000.

Janney Montgomery Scott Advisor Jack Griffith Subject to Multiple Complaints Over Unsuitable Investments

June 12, 2018 | by Staff Attorney

According to BrokerCheck records financial advisor Jack Griffith (Griffith), currently employed by Janney Montgomery Scott LLC (Janney Scott) has been subject to five customer complaints and one lien. According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), most of a Griffith’s customer complaints allege that Griffith made unsuitable recommendations in equity securities.

In January 2018 a customer made allegations unsuitable recommendations for the client’s account, overconcentration, and breached his fiduciary duty. The claim alleged $200,000 in damages and is currently pending.

Also in January 2018 another customer made allegations of unsuitable recommendations for the client’s account. The claim alleged $150,000 in damages and is currently pending.

Advisor Oscar Francis Terminated By MML Investor Services After Private Securities Transactions Discovered

June 12, 2018 | by Staff Attorney

According to BrokerCheck records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) advisor Oscar Francis (Francis), formerly associated with MML Investor Services, LLC (MML) in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, was terminated for cause by MML concerning allegations that he engaged in private securities transactions. MML stated that Francis’ was “terminated in connection with an investigation into an undisclosed outside business activity, potential selling away and an unauthorized non-securities life insurance transaction.” In addition, Francis has been subject to three customer complaints concerning unapproved investments. Further, in April 2017, the Department of Justice opened an investigation into Francis’ investment activities.

At this time it is unclear the extent and nature of the outside business activities or private securities transactions that occurred. The allegations concerning private securities transactions is a practice known in the industry as “selling away” – a serious violation of the securities laws.

In the industry the term selling away refers to when a financial advisor solicits investments in companies, promissory notes, or other securities that are not pre-approved by the broker’s affiliated firm. However, even though when these incidents occur the brokerage firm claims ignorance of their advisor’s activities the firm is obligated under the FINRA rules to properly monitor and supervise its employees in order to detect and prevent brokers from offering investments in this fashion. In order to properly supervise their brokers each firm is required to have procedures in order to monitor the activities of each advisor’s activities and interaction with the public. Selling away misconduct often occurs where brokerage firms either fail to put in place a reasonable supervisory system or fail to actually implement that system. Supervisory failures allow brokers to engage in unsupervised misconduct that can include all manner improper conduct including selling away.

Advisor Brian Travers Barred By Regulator For Failing to Disclose Securities Transactions

June 11, 2018 | by Staff Attorney

According to BrokerCheck records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) advisor Brian Travers (Travers), operating under the d/b/a Travers and Associates, Inc., in December 2017, was barred from the financial industry by FINRA concerning allegations that he engaged in private securities transactions. According to FINRA Travers consented to the sanction and bar due to the fact that he refused to appear and provide FINRA with testimony in connection with their investigation into potential undisclosed outside business activities and private securities transactions. At this time it is unclear the extent and nature of the outside business activities or private securities transactions that occurred.

Travers employer, MML Investors Services, LLC (MML) discharged Travers in March 2017 alleging that Travers engaged in undisclosed outside business activities. The only activity listed on Travers’ public records is his insurance business. FINRA’s allegations concern private securities transactions– a practice known in the industry as “selling away” – is a serious violation of the securities laws.

In the industry the term selling away refers to when a financial advisor solicits investments in companies, promissory notes, or other securities that are not pre-approved by the broker’s affiliated firm. However, even though when these incidents occur the brokerage firm claims ignorance of their advisor’s activities the firm is obligated under the FINRA rules to properly monitor and supervise its employees in order to detect and prevent brokers from offering investments in this fashion. In order to properly supervise their brokers each firm is required to have procedures in order to monitor the activities of each advisor’s activities and interaction with the public. Selling away misconduct often occurs where brokerage firms either fail to put in place a reasonable supervisory system or fail to actually implement that system. Supervisory failures allow brokers to engage in unsupervised misconduct that can include all manner improper conduct including selling away.

John Maloney Has Multiple Customer Complaints Over Unsuitable Investments

June 11, 2018 | by Staff Attorney

According to BrokerCheck records financial advisor John Maloney (Maloney), formerly employed by Edward Jones has been subject to five customer complaints and one termination for cause. According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), in May 2016 Edward Jones terminated Maloney stating that he did not adhere to the firm’s policy regarding suitability of recommendations. Most of a Maloney’s customer complaints allege that Maloney made unsuitable recommendations in equity securities.

In November 2017 a customer made allegations of misrepresentation, suitability, breach of fiduciary duty, and churning of her accounts. The claim is currently pending.

In September 2017 a customer alleged an unsuitable investment recommendation in Fire Eye stock causing losses of $329,523. The claim is currently pending.

Former Royal Alliance Broker Kimberly Kitts Accused of Misappropriating Nearly $2 Million in Client Funds

June 10, 2018 | by Staff Attorney

According to BrokerCheck records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) advisor Kimberly Kitts (Kitts), formerly associated with Royal Alliance Associates, Inc. (Royal Alliance) in Palmer, Massachusetts was terminated for cause by Royal Alliance concerning allegations that she engaged in misappropriation of funds. Royal Alliance stated that it received correspondence from a client that Kitts had converted or misappropriated funds. In addition, Kitts has been subject to four customer complaints.

In December 2017, FINRA barred Kitts from the securities industry when she failed to respond to requests for information concerning her activities.

At this time it is unclear the extent and nature of Kitts’ alleged misappropriation of funds, outside business activities, or private securities transactions. Kitts disclosed a number of outside business activities including Marquis Consulting which is described as an investment related activity involved in business valuation. Kitts also disclosed involvement as a trustee for an estate and also a volunteer for a non-profit company called Center for Coastal Studies.

Anthony Sica Subject to Multiple Regulatory Sanctions and Customer Complaints

June 9, 2018 | by Staff Attorney

According to BrokerCheck records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) broker Anthony Sica (Sica) has been subject to three regulatory actions and nine customer complaints. Sica is currently registered with Joseph Gunnar & Co. LLC (Joseph Gunnar). The most recent regulatory action filed against Sica was in January 2018 by the Maryland Securities Commissioner who alleged that when it inquired about information provided to the state Scia agreed to withdraw his registration request. Many of the customer complaints against Sica concerning high frequency trading activity also referred to as churning.

In Novemebr 2017, FINRA found that Sica unsuitable recommendations to an elderly customer living on a fixed income. FINRA alleged that Sica repeatedly recommended that the customer purchase high-risk securities that were inconsistent with her investment profile and resulted in an over concentration of the customer’s account in speculative securities. FINRA also found that Sica engaged in short-term in-and-out trading of the speculative investments in the customer’s accounts causing substantial losses. FINRA alleged that Sica also engaged in unauthorized trading by placing trades in the IRA accounts of a customer who Sica knew was deceased. FINRA suspended Sica for three months.

When brokers engage in excessive trading, sometimes referred to as churning, the broker will typical trade in and out of securities, sometimes even the same stock, many times over a short period of time. Often times the account will completely “turnover” every month with different securities. This type of investment trading activity in the client’s account serves no reasonable purpose for the investor and is engaged in only to profit the broker through the generation of commissions created by the trades. Churning is considered a species of securities fraud. The elements of the claim are excessive transactions of securities, broker control over the account, and intent to defraud the investor by obtaining unlawful commissions. A similar claim, excessive trading, under FINRA’s suitability rule involves just the first two elements. Certain commonly used measures and ratios used to determine churning help evaluate a churning claim. These ratios look at how frequently the account is turned over plus whether or not the expenses incurred in the account made it unreasonable that the investor could reasonably profit from the activity.

Did John Pronovost Sell You the LJM Preservation Growth Fund?

April 19, 2018 | by Staff Attorney

The investment attorneys at Gana Weinstein LLP are investigating customer complaints against Cambridge Investment Research broker John Provonost (Pronovost).

According to BrokerCheck records kept by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), a customer alleged in February 2018 that Pronovost engaged in unsuitable investments. Another customer alleged in March 2018 that Pronovost engaged in unsuitable investments and misrepresented the investor’s needs.

Pronovost allegedly sold the LJM Preservation and Growth Fund to multiple customers (LJMAX, LJMCX, LJMIX). Investors may have been unaware of the risks associated with this investment, as the fund’s name belies its risky strategy. Gana Weinstein LLP has already filed a case against Cambridge Investment Research, Mr. Pronovost’s employer for the sale of the LJM Preservation and Growth Funds.

Dave Nicolas Has Been Subject to a Customer Complaint

March 7, 2018 | by Staff Attorney

The investment attorneys at Gana Weinstein LLP are investigating a customer complaint against Garden State Securities broker Dave Nicolas (Nicolas).

According to BrokerCheck records kept by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), A customer alleged in June 2016 that Nicolas engaged in unsuitable investments and churning and alleged failure to supervise on the part of Garden State Securities, Inc.

Brokers have a responsibility treat investors fairly which includes obligations such as making only suitable investments for the client. In order to make a suitable recommendation, the broker must meet certain requirements. First, there must be reasonable basis for the recommendation the product or security based upon the broker’s investigation and due diligence into the investment’s properties including its benefits, risks, tax consequences, and other relevant factors. 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.