The GMS Group

According to BrokerCheck records financial advisor Paul Mante (Mante), employed by The GMS Group, LLC (The GMS Group), has been subject to eight customer complaints. According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Mante has been accused by a customers of unsuitable investment advice concerning recommendations to invest in Puerto Rico bonds. Puerto Rico has been devastated by a $70 billion debt it cannot pay in addition to extensive hurricane damage. However, according to news reports, the process to resolve Puerto Rico’s debts could take years.

In January 2018 a customer filed a complaint alleging that Mante violated the securities laws by, among other things, making misrepresentations of Puerto Rico bonds for the period of May 2014 through to December 2017. The complaint alleged $1 million in damages and was settled for $450,000.

In January 2018 a customer filed a complaint alleging that Mante violated the securities laws by, among other things, that the broker negligently recommended and misrepresented the safety of the Puerto Rico bonds from the time period of May 2013 through to September 2014. The complaint alleged $40,000 in damages and was settled for $13,500.

The securities attorneys at Gana Weinstein LLP have been investigating The GMS Group, LLC (GMS Group) broker Cormac Maughan (Maughan). According to BrokerCheck records, Maughan has been subject to 2 customer disputes involving unsuitable recommendations of municipal bonds, one of which is still pending. Maughan has also been subject to two regulatory actions in which New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) sanctioned Maughan for various violations of the securities laws, including unauthorized trading and unsuitable investments.

In November 2017, a customer alleged that from January 2009 through to November 2015, Maughan recommended Puerto Rico municipal bonds which were unsuitable to the customer’s investment needs and that Maughan breached his fiduciary duty to the client. This dispute is still pending.

In addition, in May 2004, the NYSE found that Maughan engaged in unauthorized trading by exercising discretionary power with oral but not with written authorization from customer or member firm. The NYSE also found that Maughan also engaged in unsuitable investments that were inconsistent and excessive for his customer in terms of the customer’s age, investment objectives, and financial circumstances. This violation of NYSE rules 408(a) and 3529c) resulted in a one month suspension for Maughan.

Articles Tagged with The GMS Group

Advisor Paul Mante Alleged to Have Recommended Unsuitable Puerto Rico Municipal Bonds

Cormac Maughan Subject of Pending Customer Complaint Alleging Unsuitable Bond Investments