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 […]
Stockbroker Fraud – Another Broker Dealer In Dire Straits
Stockbroker fraud is a hot topic these days. Thousands of investors make claims each year about investment scams and Ponzi schemes. In many cases, when the dust settles, the only “deep pocket” is the brokerage firm that facilitated the sale of the investment. Other times, registered reps simply don’t take the time to know their […]
As The World Churns – FINRA Socks Stockbroker For $1.9 Million
by Brian Mahany Churning is a bad word in the securities industry. It happens when a stockbroker engages in excessive buying and selling of securities in a customer’s account. The motive is almost always high commissions. Each transaction generates a commission – the more turnover in an account the more the broker makes. (Investment advisers […]
New Rules Good For Defrauded Brokerage Clients
by Brian Mahany On Monday, new rules are in effect for stockbrokers, rules that benefit customers. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, issued new rules in late May to enhance due diligence requirements for stockbrokers. Those rules take effect July 9th. Investment advisers have long owed a fiduciary duty to their clients. Customers of […]
Four Stockbroker Giants Fined Millions For Selling Risky Investments
by Brian Mahany Everyday we seem to encounter another story of a big bank doing something wrong. Often it has to do with mortgage lending and foreclosure practices. Sometimes it involves helping Ponzi scheme fraudsters hide their crimes. Today’s story involves Citi, Wells Fargo, UBS and Morgan Stanley and their sale of risky investments. According […]
Massachusetts Securities Regulators Slam Broker For Elder Fraud
by Brian Mahany Massachusetts state securities regulators took action against a stockbroker for defrauding an 83 year old woman suffering from Alzheimers. According to a complaint filed by the Massachusetts Securities Division, Paul Dumochel is charged with securities fraud. Regulators say that Dumochel learned that an elderly million had $1.5 million in bank accounts and […]
Woman in Her 80's Wins $880,000 from Merrill Lynch
by Brian Mahany Everyone loves a good David versus Goliath story, especially where the winner is a woman in her 80’s and the villain is a Wall Street giant. Harriet Baker and her son won $880,000 against Merrill Lynch for mismanaging her brokerage account. The sad news is that she died the day the award […]