Royal Securities

Broker Allen Green Alleged to Have Made Unsuitable Investment Recommendations Based a Theory of Economic Collapse

March 6, 2015 | by Staff Attorney

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has filed a complaint against broker Allen Green (Green) concerning allegations that Green violated FINRA’s suitability rule by making unsuitable recommendations to a disabled customer, and also by having no reasonable basis to recommend non-traditional exchange traded funds (Non-traditional ETFs) to his customers.

Green has been in the securities industry since 1976 and also has been a registered principal since 2003. From May 2006, until November 2009, Green was associated with Cullum & Burks Securities, Inc. Thereafter, from November 2009 until April 2013, Green was registered with Royal Securities Company (Royal Securities). According to FINRA, Green was the supervising principal for one of Royal Securities’ Michigan branch offices and did business in that branch under the name A Green Financial Group.

FINRA alleged in the complaint that Green believed that the world economy was on the precipice of catastrophe and that certain asset classes would increase in value due to the resulting “world chaos” that would result. As a result of his view, FINRA alleged that Green recommended to virtually all of his customers that they invest almost exclusively in securities with exposure to precious metals, natural resources, commodities, and energy as part of a comprehensive investment strategy.

FINRA Alleges Royal Securities Company Failed to Supervise the Sale of Church Investments – Part II

March 6, 2014 | by Staff Attorney

This article continues the findings of The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) that led to sanctions against Royal Securities Company (Royal Securities) concerning allegations Royal lacked adequate supervision and controls in several areas. FINRA found that from 2009 through 2011, Royal Securities failed to establish adequate supervisory systems to ensure due diligence, training, and fair pricing of church bonds and funds sold by its representatives.

FINRA alleged that Royal Securities acted as the lead underwriter for three churches who were issuing church bonds. From May 2009, through October 2011, according to FINRA Royal Securities sold approximately $4.3 million in church bonds to customers. FINRA also found that Royal Securities was also involved in the sale of secured certificates of participation in a fund that raised capital for Christian churches. The church fund was sold primarily by another broker-dealer but FINRA found that Royal Securities had a secondary clearing arrangement with the broker-dealer where 151 church fund sales occurred in 65 accounts with a total of approximately $2,908,000 in sales.

FINRA found that Royal Securities failed to adopt reasonable written supervisory procedures and supervisory controls to govern church bonds and church funds lines of business. Specifically, FINRA found that Royal Securities procedures did not address specific suitability considerations, particularly supervision of issues, or any required due diligence of church bonds underwritten.

FINRA Alleges Royal Securities Company Had Numerous Supervisory Deficiencies – Part I

March 4, 2014 | by Staff Attorney

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) sanctioned brokerage firm Royal Securities Company (Royal Securities) concerning allegations Royal lacked adequate supervision and controls in several areas. FINRA alleged that Royal Securities failed to properly supervise two of its registered representatives, one of which utilized a unitary investment strategy for virtually all of his customers. FIRNA also found that other representative made unsuitable recommendations in three customer accounts.

FINRA alleged that between January 2010 and May 2012, representatives of Royal Securities recommended nontraditional exchange-traded funds (Non-Traditional ETFs) to customers without having a reasonable basis to do so. Further, FINRA found that Royal Securities failed to establish and maintain a supervisory system and training regarding the sale of Non-Traditional ETFs that was reasonably designed to comply with FINRA rules.

Royal Securities has been a FINRA member since September 1982 and the firm’s business lines include hedge funds, an investment advisory business, and a traditional brokerage business. Royal Securities has approximately 41 registered persons operating out of nine offices.

Thomas Oakes of Royal Securities Sanctioned Over Allegations of Unsuitable Investments

February 11, 2014 | by Staff Attorney

Broker Thomas C. Oakes (Oakes) has been suspended and fined by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) concerning allegations from 2005 through May 2008, Oakes had engaged in unsuitable short term trading of low priced and/or speculative securities in the accounts of at least three customers causing substantial losses.

Oakes has been in the securities industry as a member of the FINRA since 1988. Since November 2003, Oakes has been a registered representative of Royal Securities Company (Royal). Oakes’ BrokerCheck disclosures reveal that at least 9 customer complaints have been filed against the broker. The customer complaints allege a variety of securities misconduct including securities fraud, unauthorized trading, unsuitable investments, churning, and breach of fiduciary duties.

According to FINRA, in 2005 or 2006, three customers opened new accounts at Royal with Oakes as their registered representative. Each of the customers New Account Form identified a primary investment objective of “Growth.” Royal defined a “Growth” investment objective as the goal of generating long-term capital growth through high quality equity investments consisting of large cap funds and a balanced portfolio of investment grade growth stocks with smaller positions in high grade corporate bonds. Growth investors should also be willing to assume more market risks than balance/conservative growth in return for yields that are expected to meet or slightly exceed the S&P 500 stock market index over the long run.