REIT investment attorney

Strategic Student & Senior Housing Trust Investors Suffer Losses – Investment Attorneys

June 8, 2020 | by Staff Attorney

The securities lawyers of Gana Weinstein LLP are investigating recommendations by brokerage firms for their clients to invest in Strategic Student & Senior Housing Trust (SSSHT) – a non-traded real estate investment trust (non-traded REIT). Strategic Student & Senior Housing Trust has stopped distributing a dividend leaving investors with no returns for the time being. As is too common in the brokerage industry, firms fail to understand the flawed non-traded REIT business model and only recommend these products for their 7% commissions – not because they benefit investors.

Strategic Student & Senior Housing Trust has been particularly hard hit in the recent recession due to the nature of its investments properties. Strategic Student and Senior Housing Trust is a public, non-traded REIT focused exclusively on assets in the student housing and senior housing areas. The fund is premised on investing in two areas “with strong demographic drivers from college students and baby boomers” according to its website.

The fund states that SSSHT intends to take advantage of the growing demand for recession-resistant asset classes and desirable demographic trends. The REIT states that it believes that SSSHT can provide stability, diversification, income, and potential growth over the long-term.

However, in an April 2020 prospectus update, Strategic Student & Senior Housing Trust stated that it incurred a net loss of approximately $19.6 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. Further, the REITs accumulated losses are approximately $41.8 million as of December 31, 2019. Moreover, due to the current recession the REIT suspended its primary offering while still early in its acquisition stage. Strategic Student & Senior Housing Trust warned that its operations may not be profitable in 2020.

Further Strategic Student & Senior Housing Trust investors are now trapped in the REIT when in March 2020, when the REIT’s board of directors determined to suspend the share redemption program with respect to common stockholders effective as of May 3, 2020. The REIT stated that until it can establish a net asset value per share it was not currently possible to determine accurately redeem or sell shares.

Moody National REIT II Investors Suffer Losses – Investment Attorneys

June 8, 2020 | by Staff Attorney

The securities lawyers of Gana Weinstein LLP are investigating recommendations by brokerage firms for their clients to invest in Moody National REIT II (Moody REIT) – a non-traded real estate investment trust (non-traded REIT). According to secondary market quotes, Moody National REIT II has suffered massive losses and may only be worth less than 50 cents for every dollar purchased. In addition, Moody National REIT II no longer distributes a dividend. As is too common in the brokerage industry, firms fail to understand the flawed non-traded REIT business model and only recommend these products for their 7% commissions – not because they benefit investors.

Moody REIT has been particularly hard hit in the recent recession due to the nature of its investments properties. Moody National REIT II, Inc. was formed in July 2014 to acquire a portfolio of hospitality properties (a/k/a hotels and resorts) focusing primarily on the select-service segment of the hospitality sector with premier brands including, but not limited to, Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt.

According to the investments’ Fact Sheet, Moody REIT’s objectives are to “Preserve, protect and return stockholders’ capital contributions. Pay regular cash distributions to stockholders. Realize capital appreciation upon the ultimate sale of the real estate assets acquired by Moody National REIT II, Inc.”

However, according to filings with the SEC, on March 24, 2020, the Company’s board of directors approved the suspension of: (1) the sale of shares in Moody REIT; (2) the payment of distributions to the company’s stockholders; (3) reinvestments; and (4) the operation of the share redemption program.

Our firm often handles cases involving direct participation products (DPPs), private placements, Non-Traded REITs, and other alternative investments. These products are almost always unsuitable for middle class investors. In addition, the brokers who sell them are paid additional commission in order to hype inferior quality investments providing perverse incentives for brokers to sell high risk and low reward investments.

Enrique Lopez Has Complaints Over Alternative Investments

April 14, 2020 | by Staff Attorney

Advisor Enrique Lopez (Lopez), currently employed by Arkadios Capital, has been subject to at least four customer complaints during the course of his career. According to a BrokerCheck report the customer complaints concern alternative investments such as direct participation products (DPPs) like non-traded real estate investment trusts (REITs), oil & gas programs, and private placements. Lopez discloses that he operates a number of outside businesses, some of which are investment related, including Cristobal Eden Partners, LLC, Lopez Brothers Distribution, LLC, Gallop Investment Partners, LLC, Cordero Diego, LLC, and Texas Regional Bank. The attorneys at Gana Weinstein LLP have represented hundreds of investors who suffered losses caused by these types of high risk, low reward products.

In January 2020 a customer complained that Lopez violated the securities laws by alleging that Lopez engaged in sales practice violations related to recommending investments that were not suitable including non-traded REITs. The claim is currently pending.

In June 2019 a customer complained that Lopez violated the securities laws by alleging that Lopez engaged in sales practice violations related to between 2014 and 2016 advisor misrepresented and recommended unsuitable, concentrated investments in speculative real estate investment trusts. The investor also alleged that the advisor recommended an unsuitable annuity switch. The claim seeks $2,000,000 in damages and is currently pending.

DDPs include products such as non-traded REITs, oil and gas offerings, equipment leasing products, and other alternative investments. These alternative investments virtually never profit investors and are almost always unsuitable for investors because of their high fee and cost structure. Brokers selling these products are paid additional commission in order to hype these inferior quality investments providing a perverse incentives to create an artificial market for the investments. Continue Reading

Advisor Kenneth Guerra Has Complaints Over Alternative Investment Sales

February 3, 2020 | by Staff Attorney

Advisor Kenneth Guerra (Guerra), currently employed by Independent Financial Group, LLC (Independent Financial) has been subject to at least two customer complaints, one financial disclosure, and one regulatory violation during the course of his career. According to a BrokerCheck report the customer complaints concern alternative investments such as direct participation products (DPPs) like non-traded real estate investment trusts (REITs), oil & gas programs, annuities, and equipment leasing programs. The attorneys at Gana Weinstein LLP have represented dozens of investors who suffered losses caused by these types of high risk, low reward products.

In September 2019 a customer complained that Guerra violated the securities laws by alleging that Guerra engaged in sales practice violations related investments in high-risk alternative investments, resulting in a loss of some of their retirement assets. The claim alleges $100,000 in damages and settled for $25,000.

In March 2013 a customer complained that Guerra violated the securities laws by alleging that Guerra engaged in sales practice violations related to non-traded REITs purchased in 2007 through 2008 that were misrepresented and unsuitable. The claim alleges $80,000 in damages and settled for $60,000.

Advisor Genevieve Mar Has Complaints Over Alternative Investment Sales

December 27, 2019 | by Staff Attorney

Advisor Genevieve Mar (Mar), currently employed by Berthel, Fisher & Company Financial Services, Inc. (Berthel Fisher) has been subject to at least four customer complaints and one termination for cause during the course of her career. According to a BrokerCheck report the customer complaints concerns alternative investments such as direct participation products (DPPs) like non-traded real estate investment trusts (REITs), oil & gas programs, annuities, and equipment leasing programs. The attorneys at Gana Weinstein LLP have represented dozens of investors who suffered losses caused by these types of high risk, low reward products.

In May 2019 a customer complained that Mar violated the securities laws by alleging that Mar engaged in sales practice violations related to investments purchased between 2010 through 2015 that were unsuitable and misrepresented to them by the representative. The customers also allege that the firm failed to supervise the actions of the representative. The claim alleges $1,500,000 in damages and is currently pending.

In July 2018 a customer complained that Mar violated the securities laws by alleging that Mar engaged in sales practice violations related to investments purchased between 2014 through 2016 were unsuitable, are not preforming as expected, and that the high risk level associated with the investments was not explained to them at the time of purchase. They also allege the firm failed to supervise the actions of the representative. The claim alleges $250,000 in damages and is currently pending.

Advisor Anthony Hobson Has Complaints Over Alternative Investments

October 17, 2019 | by Staff Attorney

Advisor Anthony Hobson (Hobson), currently employed by Money Concepts Capital Corp (Money Concepts) has been subject to at least three customer complaints during the course of his career. According to a BrokerCheck report some of the customer complaints concerns alternative investments such as direct participation products (DPPs) like non-traded real estate investment trusts (REITs), oil & gas programs, annuities, and equipment leasing programs. The attorneys at Gana Weinstein LLP have represented investors who suffered losses caused by these types of products.

In June 2019 a customer complained that Hobson violated the securities laws by alleging between April 2008 and November 2010, Hobson over-concentrated accounts in high-risk and speculative alternative investments. The claim alleges $218,500 in damages and is currently pending.

In January 2015 a customer complained that Hobson violated the securities laws by alleging that Hobson misrepresented a non-traded REIT. The claim was settled by the firm for $32,500.

DDPs include products such as non-traded REITs, oil and gas offerings, equipment leasing products, and other alternative investments. These alternative investments virtually never profit investors and are almost always unsuitable for investors because of their high fee and cost structure. Brokers selling these products are paid additional commission in order to hype these inferior quality investments providing a perverse incentives to create an artificial market for the investments.

Advisor Jeffrey Davis Has Regulatory Sanction Over REIT Sales

October 16, 2019 | by Staff Attorney

Advisor Jeffrey Davis (Davis), currently employed by Kovack Securities Inc. (Kovack Securities) has been subject to at least ten customer complaints, one employment termination for cause, and one regulatory action during the course of his career. According to a BrokerCheck report some of the customer complaints concerns alternative investments such as direct participation products (DPPs) like non-traded real estate investment trusts (REITs), oil & gas programs, annuities, and equipment leasing programs. The attorneys at Gana Weinstein LLP have represented investors who suffered losses caused by these types of products.

In April 2017 FINRA alleged that Davis consented to the sanctions and to the entry of findings that he recommended and effected unsuitable transactions in the accounts of customers by over-concentrating their assets in illiquid non-traded REITs. FINRA stated that the investments totaled $566,000, and represented between approximately 30% and 52% of the customers’ liquid net worth. FINRA found that this concentration in illiquid investments were excessive and unsuitable in light of the customers’ financial situations, risk tolerances, and investment objectives.

In June 2019 a customer complained that Davis violated the securities laws by alleging that Davis recommended an unsuitability of a fixed index annuity and mutual funds and the overconcentration of REITs in her account. The claim alleges $5,380 in damages.

Wenjinn Chang Subject to Complaints Over REITs and Alternative Investments

January 14, 2019 | by Staff Attorney

Advisor Wenjinn Chang (Chang), currently employed by Independent Financial Group, LLC (Independent Financial) has been subject to at least two customer complaints. According to a BrokerCheck report the customer complaints concern alternative investments and direct participation products (DPPs) such as non-traded real estate investment trusts (REITs), oil & gas programs, annuities, and equipment leasing programs. The attorneys at Gana Weinstein LLP have extensive experience handling investor losses caused by these types of products.

In October 2018 a customer filed a complaint alleging that Chang violated the securities laws by alleging over-concentration of non-traded REITs that were not suitable and that resulted in losses. The claim alleged $50,000 in damages and the claim is currently pending.

In September 2018 a customer filed a complaint alleging that Chang violated the securities laws by Alleging that the broker failed to advise of the risks of the investments made and that the Claimant has suffered losses as a result of the investments made. The claim alleged $75,000 in damages and the claim settled for $10,000.

Steven Knuttila Subject to Numerous Customer Complaints Over Alternative Investments

September 25, 2018 | by Staff Attorney

Former Capital Financial Services, Inc. (Capital Financial) and Questar Capital Corporation (Questar) broker Steven Knuttila (Knuttila) has been subject to at least 25 customer complaints, one employment terminations for cause, and two regulatory actions. According to a BrokerCheck report many of the customer complaints concern alternative investments and direct participation products (DPPs) such as non-traded real estate investment trusts (REITs), oil & gas programs, annuities, and equipment leasing programs. The attorneys at Gana Weinstein LLP have extensive experience handling investor losses caused by these types of products.

In June 2018 FINRA barred Knuttila from the securities industry after he refused to appear for FINRA on-the-record testimony relating to an investigation into allegations that Knuttila made unsuitable recommendations to customers. FINRA’s bar comes after a bar by Knuttila’s home State of Minnesota after it alleged that Knuttila sold numerous unsuitable investments to clients. In addition, in 2012 Knuttila was terminated by Questar for failing to report customer complaints and wrongful use of discretion in client accounts.

Healthcare Trust REIT Value Falls Even Further – Investment Loss Options

July 29, 2018 | by Staff Attorney

Previously, the securities lawyers of Gana Weinstein LLP reported on the decline in value of Healthcare Trust, Inc. a non-traded real estate investment trust (Non-Traded REIT). However, recent news reveals the health of Healthcare Trust may be in further decline. A tender offer on Healthcare Trust shares was recently made at only $12.11 per share – a significant loss on the original purchase price of $25.00. In more bad news for investors, the company lowered its annual distribution rate from $1.45 to $0.85 per share or a cut of over 40%. Had the company continued to pay the higher dividends those payments would have exceeded the cash flows from operations.

According to the firm’s website, Healthcare Trust is an investment trust which seeks to acquire a diversified portfolio of real estate properties focusing primarily on healthcare-related assets including medical office buildings, seniors housing, and other healthcare-related facilities.

Our firm handles where brokers recommend investments in direct participation products (DPPs), private placements, Non-Traded REITs, and other alternative investments. These products are almost always unsuitable for middle class investors. In addition, the brokers who sell them are paid additional commission in order to hype inferior quality investments providing perverse incentives for brokers to sell high risk and low reward investments.