Articles Posted in variable annuities

Phillip Andrew Johnson (CRD #501352) is a former registered broker and investment advisor whose last employer was D.H. Hill Securities, LLLP (CRD #41528) of Kingwood, TX. His previous employers include SunTrust Investment Services, Inc. (CRD #17499) of Nashville, TN, AXA Advisors, LLC (CRD #6627) and The Equitable Life Assurance Society…

Silver Law Group and The Law Firm of David Chase are reviewing potential claims of fraudulent inducement of federal employees into purchasing high fee paying variable annuity products by LPL Financial LLC (CRD#6413) affiliated brokers Brandon Long (CRD# 5975459) , Christopher S Laws (CRD#4479529) , Johnathan Dax Cooke (CRD#5365691) and…

Silver Law Group is investigating former Pennsylvania-based Metlife Securities Inc. (CRD# 14251), also known as MSI Financial Services, Inc., broker Brian P. Murphy (CRD# 2953503) over allegations that he conducted outside business activities without the permission of his firm. According to Murphy’s FINRA BrokerCheck report, Signator Investors, Inc. (CRD# 468)…

Silver Law Group is investigating former Dallas, Texas-based LPL Financial LLC (CRD# 6413) broker Marcos Yanez (CRD# 5353857) over allegations that Yanez misrepresented certain aspects in the sale of a variable life insurance policy amidst other allegations. According to Yanez’s FINRA BrokerCheck report, a customer filed a complaint against Yanez…

Silver Law Group is investigating former Montana-based Western International Securities, Inc. (CRD# 39262) broker Jed E. Tinder (CRD# 1013144) over allegations of unsuitability, recklessness and negligence. According to Tinder’s FINRA BrokerCheck report, Tinder currently has three (3) pending FINRA arbitration complaints.  The first, filed in September 2015, alleges unsuitable recommendations…

Silver Law Group is investigating former Nebraska-based Independent Financial Group, LLC (CRD# 7717) broker Matthew L. Geiser after FINRA permanently barred him. According to Geiser’s FINRA BrokerCheck report, FINRA permanently barred Geiser from acting as a broker or otherwise associating with firms that sell securities to the public in November…

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) fined eight firms, including VOYA Financial Advisors (CRD# 2882) (“VOYA”) and five broker-dealer subsidiaries of Cetera Financial Group (Cetera Advisor Networks LLC (CRD# 13572)), for failing to supervise sales of variable annuities (VAs).  The eight firms are required to pay a fine of $6.2…

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has recently sponsored a new securities industry rule that makes the information included on customer account statements more transparent.  Transparent commissions will likely lower the total up-front commissions a broker can collect on certain popular securities as investors realize the steep fees they are…

Of all the guarantees, bells and whistles associated with variable annuities, perhaps the biggest guarantee is the steep up-front commission the financial advisor can earn for selling the product. According to a recent Reuters’ article, variable annuity sales in the U.S. totaled $142.8 billion last year, and brokers can earn…

The Securities Exchange Commission (SEC), Investor Bulletin on fees and expenses reminds investors about the effect fees on investment accounts can have on a portfolio over the long run.  According to the SEC Investor Bulletin, “These fees may seem small, but over time they can have a major impact on your investment portfolio.” …