HD Vest Investment Services Tag Archives

The law offices of Gana Weinstein LLP continue to investigate the Woodbridge Group of Companies and the Woodbridge Mortgage Funds (Woodbridge). The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has alleged that the Woodbridge operated a billion-dollar Ponzi scheme ensaring about 8,400 investors. Woodbridge solicited hundreds of disreputable insurance agents and investment brokers to sell its false notes that the firm claimed to be backed by mortgages. In plain sight to regulators, Woodbridge engaged in a nationwide investment fraud by offering the sale of unregistered securities.

One of Woodbridge’s agents was Jerry Raines (Raines) formerly associated with HD Vest Investment Services (HD Vest). A dozen clients have alleged that Raines recommended Woodbridge causing a near complete loss of their investments. Federal securities laws and the FINRA rules require firms to monitor and supervise its employees, like Raines, 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. Supervisory failures allow brokers to engage in unsupervised misconduct that can include all manner improper conduct including recommending fraudulent investments.

The signs that the Woodbridge Funds was a giant fraud debacle ware all apparent. Woodbridge and its agents have been sanctioned by multiple state regulators for offering unregistered securities. Going back to May 2015, the Massachusetts Securities Division imposed a bar on the Woodbridge Mortgage Investment Funds and ordered the companies to permanently cease and desist from selling unregistered or non-exempt securities in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The securities lawyers of Gana Weinstein LLP are investigating Daniel Kasbar (Kasbar) bar from the securities industry. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) recently brought an enforcement action (FINRA No. 2015045744901) against Kasbar alleging that between 2010 and 2015, Kasbar engaged in an outside business activity beyond the scope of the approvals provided by his FINRA member firm – also referred to as “selling away” in the industry – HD Vest Investment Services (HD Vest) and LPL Financial, LLC (LPL). On September 17, 2015 FINRA requested that Kasbar provide documents and information. Kasbar did not provide any of the requested documents and information drawing an automatic bar from the industry.

Kasbar entered the securities industry in February 2011. Between February 2011 and March 2014, Kasbar was associated with HD Vest. From March 2014 until June 2015, Kasbar was associated with brokerage firm LPL until he was discharged from the firm.

It is unclear from the regulatory filings what the nature of the outside business activities were but from publicly available information, Kasbar’s brokercheck disclosures reveal several outside business activities including Kasbar Financial, Daniel G. Kasbar & Company, Inc. – a general contracting company, Emerald Village Professional Plaza, Kasbar Consulting – a tax prep, accounting, bookkeeping firm, and A R K Construction Company, Inc.

Articles Tagged with HD Vest Investment Services

Customers Allege Jerry Raines Recommended Investments in the Woodbridge Mortgage Fruad

FINRA Bars Broker Daniel Kasbar In Connection With Undisclosed Outside Business Activities