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According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for December 2024, the following individuals were barred from FINRA and cannot currently work for a FINRA brokerage firm for failing to provide FINRA with information it requested or to keep information current with FINRA pursuant to FINRA rules:

NAME FORMER EMPLOYERS
Akshita Bhatia
Glenn Colangelo American Independent Securities Group
The O.N. Equity Sales Company
Peter Girgis SW Financial
Worden Capital Management LLC
Matthew Kagan Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC
Zayed Rodriguez NYLife Securities LLC

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According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for December 2024, the following individuals were suspended from FINRA and cannot currently work for a FINRA brokerage firm for failing to provide FINRA with information it requested or to keep information current with FINRA pursuant to FINRA rules. However, these individuals remain bound by the securities arbitration agreement to arbitrate any disputes between themselves and their former customers:

NAME FORMER EMPLOYERS
Yiu Yeung Pacific Century Securities, LLC
Michael Banks Morgan Stanley
Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC
Joscelyn Cockburn Innovation Partners LLC
FSC Securities Corporation
Luis Jean-Bart PFS Investments Inc.
Peter Lawrence American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc.
Questar Capital Corporation
Emma McAuley Edward Jones
Marques Mcleon NYLIfe Securities LLC
Jennifer Nelson Edward Jones
Robert Ornelas Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC
Edgar Shanoyan Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments
Robert Thomas IBN Financial Services, Inc.
Avantax Investment Services, Inc.

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According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for December, 2024, the following individuals were suspended from FINRA for failing to comply with a FINRA arbitration award or settlement agreement pursuant to FINRA rules:

NAME FORMER EMPLOYERS
Silvio Borrero MML Investors Services, LLC
Oppenheimer & Co, Inc.
Sevag Haddadian Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC
Morgan Stanley
Michael Magruder Raymond James &Associates, Inc.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
Anthony Tassone Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC
Morgan Stanley

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San Diego, CA-based Independent Financial Group, LLC has been fined and censured by the SEC after the firm failed to establish and follow a supervisory system for supervising the firm's brokers when handling customer accounts. This failure occurred between July 2020 and December 2022 and included noncompliance with Registration Best Interest and other requirements. During the same time frame, IFG failed to supervise one broker that churned, or excessively traded, five customer accounts and violated FINRA Rules 3110 and 2010. From September 2022 through April 2024, IFG also made “late and incomplete responses” to a FINRA Rule 8210 request violating FINRA Rules 8210 and 2010.San Diego, CA-based Independent Financial Group, LLC has been fined and censured by the SEC after the firm failed to establish and follow a supervisory system for supervising the firm’s brokers when handling customer accounts. This failure occurred between July 2020 and December 2022 and included noncompliance with Registration Best Interest and other requirements. Continue reading ›

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Robert Thompson (Robert Kennedy Thompson CRD# 1975407, aka, “Bob Thompson”) is a previously registered broker and currently registered investment advisor with Concourse Financial Group Securities, Inc. (CRD# 15708) of Palos Hills, IL. His previous employers include The Concord Equity Group, LLC (CRD# 14569) of Iselin, NJ, Emissary Financial Group, Inc. (CRD# 44568) of Mentor, OH, and   Money Concepts Capital Corp (CRD# 12963) of Palm Beach Gardens, FL. He has been in the industry since 1989. Concourse Financial discharged Thompson on 10/6/2023 for engaging in outside business activity (OBA) without the firm’s approval and written consent. On February 1, 2023, Thompson sought pre-approval from Concourse Financial Group to work as a business development officer at an external bank. Concourse Financial Group denied his request.Robert Thompson (Robert Kennedy Thompson CRD# 1975407, aka, “Bob Thompson”) is a previously registered broker and currently registered investment advisor with Concourse Financial Group Securities, Inc. (CRD# 15708) of Palos Hills, IL. His previous employers include The Concord Equity Group, LLC (CRD# 14569) of Iselin, NJ, Emissary Financial Group, Inc. (CRD# 44568) of Mentor, OH, and Money Concepts Capital Corp (CRD# 12963) of Palm Beach Gardens, FL. He has been in the industry since 1989. Continue reading ›

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Richard Mireles (Richard Randy Mireles CRD# 5288651) is a currently registered broker and investment advisor with  Independent Financial Group, LLC (CRD# 7717) of San Diego, CA. He was previously registered with Western Financial Advisors (CRD# 35098), also of San Diego. He has been in the industry since 2007. In the disciplinary action, FINRA detailed how from July 2020 and December 2022, despite notifications from lower-level managers, Mireles did not respond or act on “red flags” escalated to him. These red flags were for a registered representative who had traded excessively in five customer accounts during this period. Multiple trades were repeatedly “red-flagged” for this representative. The parameters were designed to notify the firm of solicited trades with high principal amounts.Richard Mireles (Richard Randy Mireles CRD# 5288651) is a currently registered broker and investment advisor with  Independent Financial Group, LLC (CRD# 7717) of San Diego, CA. He was previously registered with Western Financial Advisors (CRD# 35098), also of San Diego. He has been in the industry since 2007. Continue reading ›

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Maria Leon (Maria De Los Angeles Leon CRD# 6042515, aka, Maria D. Del Real, Maria De Los Angeles Del Real, Maria Del Real, Maria D Delreal, Maria D. Delreal, Maria De Los Angeles Delreal, Maria Delreal) is a previously registered broker last employed with PNC Investments (CRD# 129052) of Grand Rapids, MI. Her previous employers were J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (CRD# 79) of Chicago, IL and San Leandro, CA, and Chase Investment Services Corp. (CRD# 25574) of Michigan City, IN. She has been in the industry since 2012. PNC Investments discharged Leon on August 13, 2024 for misappropriation of customer funds following an investigation. The firm issued a Uniform Termination Notice for Securities Industry Registration (Form U5) for her termination. Despite no longer being an employee of PNC or any other member broker-dealer, Leon continues to be subject to FINRA’s jurisdiction. FINRA sent requests for related information, documents, and for on-the-record testimony to Leon on September 10, 2024.  Leon acknowledged the requests in an email on the same day and declined to provide the requested documents and information and refused any on-the-record testimony. This refusal violates FINRA Rules 8210 and 2010.Maria Leon (Maria De Los Angeles Leon CRD# 6042515, aka, Maria D. Del Real, Maria De Los Angeles Del Real, Maria Del Real, Maria D Delreal, Maria D. Delreal, Maria De Los Angeles Delreal, Maria Delreal) is a previously registered broker last employed with PNC Investments (CRD# 129052) of Grand Rapids, MI. Her previous employers were J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (CRD# 79) of Chicago, IL and San Leandro, CA, and Chase Investment Services Corp. (CRD# 25574) of Michigan City, IN. She has been in the industry since 2012. Continue reading ›

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An elderly retiree has been awarded $152,382.41 in compensatory damages and attorneys’ fees of $48,762.37 in a FINRA arbitration against broker-dealer Citizens Securities relating to the sale of Colorado Bankers’ annuities. Most of the FINRA arbitration fees were to be paid by the broker-dealer. The action resulted from the client’s purchase of Colorado Bankers’ Life annuities. In the arbitration, the retiree’s legal counsel argued that Citizens Securities violations included breach of contract and warranties, promissory estoppel; violation of state securities statutes; state insurance statute violations; breach of fiduciary duty; claims under common law; and vicarious liability. Citizens Securities heavily promoted these annuities, offering high commissions and incentives to brokers for selling them. But when North Carolina regulators seized company assets, investors’ money was frozen and unavailable. Most were elderly retirees and investors who bought Colorado Bankers’ Life annuities for the income from the dividends and were then left without that income.An elderly retiree has been awarded $152,382.41 in compensatory damages and attorneys’ fees of $48,762.37 in a FINRA arbitration against broker-dealer Citizens Securities relating to the sale of Colorado Bankers’ annuities. Most of the FINRA arbitration fees were to be paid by the broker-dealer. Continue reading ›

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Roy Williams (Roy Kevin Williams CRD# 843607) is a former registered broker and investment advisor last employed with Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated (CRD# 793) of Indianapolis, IN. He was previously employed with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney (CRD# 149777) and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (CRD# 7059), also of Indianapolis, and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (CRD# 7691). He has been in the industry since 1977. On June 5, 2023, a customer filed a dispute alleging that Williams convinced them to “make personal loans to him from 2019 through 2021. The client requested damages of $59,000, and the dispute was settled for the same amount.Roy Williams (Roy Kevin Williams CRD# 843607) is a former registered broker and investment advisor last employed with Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated (CRD# 793) of Indianapolis, IN. He was previously employed with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney (CRD# 149777) and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (CRD# 7059), also of Indianapolis, and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (CRD# 7691). He has been in the industry since 1977. Continue reading ›

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Christian De Berardinis (CRD# 4312327, aka Christian Eduardo DeBerardinis) is a previously registered broker and currently registered investment advisor last registered with Morgan Stanley (CRD# 149777) of New York, NY. His previous employers include J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (CRD# 79) of Miami, FL, Phoenix Derivatives Group, LLC (CRD# 25802) and Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. (CRD# 249), also of New York, NY. He has been in the industry since 2001. A customer dispute filed on 3/1/23 by multiple claimants alleged that De Bernadinis “solicited outside investment opportunities not authorized from the firm from February 20, 2020 to March 1, 2023.”  The customers requested damages of $6,500,000, and the claim was settled for $1,350,000.Christian De Berardinis (CRD# 4312327, aka Christian Eduardo DeBerardinis) is a previously registered broker and currently registered investment advisor last registered with Morgan Stanley (CRD# 149777) of New York, NY. His previous employers include J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (CRD# 79) of Miami, FL, Phoenix Derivatives Group, LLC (CRD# 25802) and Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. (CRD# 249), also of New York, NY. He has been in the industry since 2001. Continue reading ›

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