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Articles Posted in Stockbroker Misconduct

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The SEC has issued an investor alert for people regarding fraudsters posing as brokers and investment advisors. We’ve previously discussed brokers and investment advisors and their different schemes for defrauding clients—especially long-term clients. But as the SEC warns, there’s more to it than that, and a tactic you may not realize exists. While you may have an established relationship with an investment professional, there are others who may attempt to convince you to terminate that relationship in favor of a new one. These individuals are frequently not registered brokers or investment advisors, but fraudsters. And that’s where the trouble starts. Many Ponzi schemes and other investment frauds use unregistered financial advisors to sell their securities. Sometimes, these advisors characterize themselves as senior wealth advisors or elder specialists to gain access to clients.   False Claims And Misrepresentation In The Sale of Securities If you’ve ever received a friend request on social media from someone you are already connected to, you’ve experienced a “spoof.” This happens when someone creates an account pretending to be someone you already know. They steal a few pictures and facts so that people believe that the new account is the same friend. Also called “cloning,” you may not realize that the second account isn’t the same person until you begin conversing with them and realize something is wrong.The SEC has issued an investor alert for people regarding fraudsters posing as brokers and investment advisors.

We’ve previously discussed brokers and investment advisors and their different schemes for defrauding clients—especially long-term clients. But as the SEC warns, there’s more to it than that, and a tactic you may not realize exists. Continue reading ›

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According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for June 2021, 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
  Lorenzo Atkins   The Huntington Investment Company
  Fifth Third Securities, Inc.
  Cyntera Belser   J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
  Amanda Berry   MML Investors Services, LLC
  NYLife Securities LLC
  Tiffany Burgess
  James Carpenter II   Simplified Wealth Management
  LPL Financial LLC
  Jinnie Chean   Allstate Financial Services, LLC
  Paul Furusho   AWA Capital, Inc
  Comprehensive Asset Management & Servicing, Inc.
  Courtney Mahdak   Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
  Marco Rivera   J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
  Janie Royal   Key Investment Services LLC

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According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for June 2021, 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
  Gina Adly   MML Investors Services, LLC
  NYLife Securities LLC
  Patrick Carberry   AXA Advisors, LLC
  NYLife Securities LLC
  Roy Cederfranco   Morgan Stanley
  Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
  Michael Gopie   AXA Advisors, LLC
  Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc
  Cary Kievman   Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.
  Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
  Gaetano Magarelli   Newbridge Securities Corp
  Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.
  Margarita Medina   LPL Financial LLC
  Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC

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Dustin Shafer (Dustin Paul Shafer CRD# 34198962) is a former registered broker and investment advisor who was registered most recently with Newbridge Securities Corporation from 2019-2020, but spent the previous decade of his career with Money Concepts Capital Corp in Springfield, Illinois. Shafer worked in the brokerage industry since 2000. Dustin Shafer Discharged From Newbridge Securities In November 2020, Shafer was discharged from Newbridge. According to Shafer’s BrokerCheck Report, published by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Shafer’s discharge stemmed from allegations that he “borrowed money from an existing client without firm pre-approval, in contradiction of firm policies.” Allegations That Shafer Borrowed From Clients Leads To Regulatory Sanctions First, in December 2020, Shafer was investigated by the Illinois Securities Department for allegations that while employed by Newbridge and Money Concepts, he “borrowed over $55,000 from one of his elderly clients” in violations of Illinois securities laws.  For this alleged misconduct, the state issued a permanent bar.Dustin Shafer (Dustin Paul Shafer CRD# 34198962) is a former registered broker and investment advisor who was registered most recently with Newbridge Securities Corporation from 2019-2020, but spent the previous decade of his career with Money Concepts Capital Corp in Springfield, Illinois. Shafer worked in the brokerage industry since 2000. Continue reading ›

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A growing trend in the brokerage industry is for financial advisers to offer their customers access to pre-IPO “deals”. Often, investors are promised “inside access” to invest in start-ups or even well-known companies before the initial public offerings (“IPOs”), but in reality investors are just investing in some sort of venture or company that promises to acquire the pre-IPO shares. While the sales pitch of getting in on the ground floor of growing companies can be enticing to retail investors, many pre-IPO investment “vehicles” are in fact complex products that contain hidden commissions and fees that make it nearly impossible for investors to turn a profit. Investors should be weary of these products. While there are legitimate and profitable ways to invest in pre-IPO companies, this type of investment is highly susceptible to fraud, self-dealing, and other misconduct and these products are sometimes sold by unregistered brokers and there is even a risk that these products can be outright frauds.A growing trend in the brokerage industry is for financial advisers to offer their customers access to pre-IPO “deals”. Often, investors are promised “inside access” to invest in start-ups or even well-known companies before the initial public offerings (“IPOs”), but in reality investors are just investing in some sort of venture or company that promises to acquire the pre-IPO shares. Continue reading ›

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According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for May 2021, 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
  Scott Kaufman   Vanguard Marketing Corporation
  LPL Financial LLC
  Thomas Marino   R.M. Stark & Co, Inc
  J.W. Cole Financial, Inc.
  Thomas Rohan   Woodstock Financial Group
  AXA Advisors, LLC
  John Schmidt   Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC
  Stifel, Nicholas, & Company Incorporated
  Christopher Wright   LPL Financial LLC
  Private Advisor Group, LLC

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According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for May 2021, 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
  Samantha Beasley   Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC
  Annie Boghossian   J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
  Lawrence Ehren   Landolt Securities, Inc.
  Oberweis Securities, Inc.
  Michael Goonan   Equitable Advisors, LLC
  Park Avenue Securities LLC
  Eileen Kenny   LPL Financial LLC
  Private Advisor Group, LLC
  Norma Kuklis
  William Kursim   Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC
  National Financial Services LLC
  John Margain   State Farm VP Management Corp.
  Hector Mejia   ADP Broker-Dealer, Inc.
  Curtis Smiley   Primex
  Sandlapper Securities, LLC
  Michael Swenson   Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
  Piper Jaffray & Co.
  Joseph Switzer Sr.   Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC
  Joseph Valenti   Newbridge Securities Corporation
  Reid & Rudiger LLC

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According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for May 2021, 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
  Ryan Callahan   State Farm VP Management Corp.
  James Childress   LPL Financial LLC
  Securities Service Network, Inc.
  Nayely Gamez   Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC
  Jorge Guzman   Pruco Securities, LLC
  Yonay Perez   Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC
  Richard Ramos   Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC
  Dwight Sulc   B.B. Graham & Company, Inc.
  PFS Investments Inc.

Continue reading ›

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According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for April 2021, 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
  Tracy Adams   Avantax Investment Services, Inc.
  Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.
  Jason Anderson   Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
  LPL Financial LLC
  Solomon Apprey   Pruco Securities, LLC
  AXA Advisors, LLC
  Ronald Bartsch   Union Capital Company
  Liberty Partners Financial Services, LLC
  Spyridon Chandrinos   Millennium Advisors, LLC
  Nelson Polun   Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC
  Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
  Jeffrey Sandwell   LPL Financial LLC
  National Planning Corporation
  Jon Scheier   Edward Jones

Continue reading ›

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According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for April 2021, 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
  John Arnold   Voya Financial Advisors, Inc.
  LPL Financial LLC
  Zachary Bader   National Securities Corporation
  Craig Scott Capital, LLC
  Peter Brown   Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.
  Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.
  Riza Hernandez   Lincoln Financial Securities Corporation
  Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC

Continue reading ›

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