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 […]
Is Bambi Holzer A Fraud? Some People Think So
Bambi Holzer – investment adviser to celebrities and prolific author of books on money and investing. In 2007, she published “Financial Bliss.” According to one review, the book is a valuable “guide that helps couples solve money problems and create a life plan.” Dozens of former clients have a different opinion; they think she almost […]
Investment Fraud Roundup – September 2013
This post summarizes recent enforcement actions against stockbrokers. You may be able to recover your money if you suffered losses as a result of investment fraud, unregistered offerings of securities, excessive trades, unauthorized trades, bad investment advice (suitability rules), or broker misconduct. Kevin Cline, Robert Burr, Vincent Christopher & Thomas Gilleland – Source Capital Group Kevin […]
Cockroaching – New Trend in Investment Fraud Cases
“Cockroaching” – I must admit until I picked up today’s Wall Street Journal, I wasn’t familiar with term. Although the term was new to me, the underlying practice is unfortunately well known in the world of investment fraud lawyers. Cockroaching refers to the practice of stockbrokers jumping from one troubled brokerage firm to another. The […]
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 […]
Justice Delayed – The Story Of Anderson Scott Hall & Abaco Securities
From 2006 through 2011, Anderson Scott Hall and the company he ran, Abaco Securities International, were household words in Jacksonville, Florida. Abaco conned many Duval County teachers and administrators into turning over their hard earned savings. Prosecutors say millions in savings. Hall’s clients were promised stable, secure investment returns from 6 to 18%. Instead of being invested, […]
TIC Awards Still Haunt Brokerage Firms
Claims for failed Tenants in Common (TIC) investments still haunt stockbrokers and investment advisers according to a story in InvestmentNews. According to the report published on Friday, arbitration awards continue to be made against broker dealers. TICs were a popular investment vehicle several years ago. An IRS ruling allowed individuals to pool their monies and […]
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 […]