[Post updated March 2021] When this post was first written in 2011, Ameriprise had just released its annual report, which showed its securities broker dealer subsidiary, Securities America, was hemorrhaging cash. Securities America’s capital had dropped by a whopping 86% in just one year as the company defended itself against investor lawsuits. The company’s actual […]
Can David Lerner Associates Survive?
My first encounter with David Lerner Associates came in July 2011. That month I spoke with a pleasant woman who had invested heavily with a David Lerner Associates broker in an Apple REIT (real estate investment trust). She was calling for advice on whether she accept their offer to buy back her REIT investment. “At […]
Senator to SEC: Strengthen Stockbroker Fraud Rules
Following a recent expose in the Wall Street Journal, Massachusetts Senator Edward Markey called on the Securities & Exchange Commission to strengthen FINRA’s ability to fight stockbroker fraud. (FINRA is the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, a self regulatory organization that derives its enforcement powers from the SEC.) The Journal reported that over 5000 stockbrokers are […]
Massachusetts Targets REITs… Again
We have written many posts about REITs – Real Estate Investment Trusts. They can be great investments but many have liquidity problems. Stockbrokers often recommend them to the wrong customers as well. In May, Massachusetts Secretary of State William Gavin announced that five brokerage firms had agreed to pay restitution of $6.1 million to settle […]
Lincoln Financial Advisors Rep Sanctioned By FINRA
Lincoln Financial Advisors says it wants to be the country’s “premier fee-based financial planning firm.” A recent decision by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s (FINRA) Enforcement Department suggests that the firm is off to a rocky start. FINRA sanctioned former registered rep and investment advisor William Babb III with “trading away” and failure to cooperate […]
Securities America Fined For Improper Supervision – Stockbroker Fraud Post
Securities America is a large broker dealer headquartered in La Vista Nebraska. Licensed in all 50 states and in business for over 3 decades, the firm is well established in the industry. Lately, however, it has attracted some negative attention for its business practices. Some say the company has allowed or ignored fraud by some […]
LPL Broker Charged With Securities Fraud
Less than 24 hours ago we wrote a story about securities fraud and the need for brokerage firms to protect clients against advisers who rip off clients by “selling away.” Today the SEC announced it charged a former LPL Financial stockbroker, Blake Richards, with securities fraud after accusing him of stealing $2 million in client […]
Hooters Girls and Investment Fraud
The story written by Bruce Kelly of Investment News had all the makings of a tabloid scandal. Stockbrokers, forged documents, sexual harassment, an SEC investigation, Hooters girls and the misappropriation of customer funds from a prominent brokerage firm. The problem is that Kelly is a real journalist and the story he penned today about Commonwealth […]
Stockbrokers Dont Want To Air Dirty Laundry – Stockbroker Fraud Post
by Brian Mahany We are firm believers in full and complete disclosure. Americans are smart enough to understand that not every complaint against a stockbroker is legitimate. Many complaints are unfounded or frivolous. But as customers and clients, we should have the right to know if other complaints are pending against a broker. Under a […]
Zombie Stockbrokers – Land of the Living Dead – Stockbroker Fraud Post
by Brian Mahany Zombie horror is quite the rage these days in the entertainment industry. Movies, TV shows… even my local Barnes & Noble retailer has an entire section of books devoted to the living dead. While the zombies in the entertainment industry are imaginary, debarred stockbrokers and investment advisers really do come back from […]
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