Stockbroker Misconduct

West Palm Beach, Florida Broker William T. Eaton Under Investigation After FINRA Suspends Him

June 6, 2017 | Silver Law Group

Silver Law Group is investigating former Florida-based LPL Financial LLC (CRD# 6413) and Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC (CRD# 19616) (Also known as Wells Fargo Clearing Services) broker William T. Eaton (CRD# 3058469) after FINRA suspended him.

According to Eaton’s FINRA BrokerCheck report, FINRA suspended Eaton from acting as a broker in September 2016. Eaton allegedly failed to comply with an arbitration award or settlement agreement or to satisfactorily respond to a FINRA request to provide information concerning the status of compliance.

LPL Financial employed Eaton from August 2015 to November 2016 at its West Palm Beach, Florida location. Wells Fargo Advisors employed Eaton from April 2013 to August 2015 at its Wellington, Florida location. Prior to Wells Fargo and LPL Financial, Suntrust Investment Services, Inc. (CRD# 17499) employed Eaton from July 2011 to April 2013 at its Delray Beach, Florida branch.

Former Metlife Broker Brian P. Murphy Under Investigation Over Outside Business Allegations

June 6, 2017 | Silver Law Group

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) terminated Murphy after Murphy allegedly admitted to conducting an unapproved, outside business activity. FINRA barred Murphy in October 2016 after Murphy failed to respond to a FINRA inquiry.

The discharge follows five other disclosures on his BrokerCheck report. In 2000, Murphy was permitted to resign from his employing firm. In November 2014, Metlife terminated Murphy after he allegedly represented that he had a professional designation that he had not earned. In December 2015, a customer dispute alleging misrepresentations of variable annuities was settled for the full amount demanded.

Former Ameriprise Broker William B. Wyman Under Investigation Over Allegations of Selling Unapproved Investments

June 6, 2017 | Silver Law Group

Silver Law Group is investigating form Palm Bay, Florida-based Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. (CRD# 6363) broker William B. Wyman (CRD# 4155621) after allegations that he sold away from his employing firm surface.

According to Wyman’s FINRA BrokerCheck report, FINRA barred Wyman in January 2017 after he failed to request termination of his suspension after his suspension period ended. Accordingly, FINRA automatically barred him from associating with any FINRA member in any capacity.

Wyman’s most recent BrokerCheck disclosure is a customer complaint that alleges negligence and that Wyman sold the customer an unapproved investment outside the brokerage firm. The complaint alleges almost $100,000 in damages.

Former Coral Gables, Florida-based UBS Broker Under Investigation for Allegations of Unauthorized Trading

May 25, 2017 | Silver Law Group

Silver Law Group is investigating former Coral Gables, Florida broker James P. Scullin (CRD# 1577362) for unauthorized trading in customer accounts among other allegations.

According to Scullin’s FINRA BrokerCheck report, UBS Financial Services Inc. (CRD# 8174) terminated Scullin when UBS learned that he actively traded in an undisclosed commodities account outside UBS, exercised discretion without written authorization in violation of firm policy, and entered an unauthorized trade.

According to an Acceptance, Waiver & Consent (“AWC”) entered into between FINRA and Scullin in May 2016, FINRA found that Scullin placed a trade of over $5 million without informing the individuals with authority over the account. Further, when one of the individuals questioned the unauthorized trade, Scullin concealed the trade.

Former Connecticut Broker Warren M. Rockmacher Under Investigation for Unsuitable Recommendations at Investacorp

May 25, 2017 | Silver Law Group

Silver Law Group is investigating former Connecticut-based Investacorp, Inc. (CRD# 7684) broker Warren M. Rockmacher (CRD# 2005652) after FINRA suspended and then permanently barred the broker.

Rockmacher currently has a FINRA arbitration pending that alleges unsuitable recommendations and misrepresentation with damages in the amount of $75,000.

On May 12, 2016, FINRA suspended Rockmacher for failing to comply with an arbitration award or settlement agreement or failed to respond to a FINRA request to provide information on the status of compliance. Two weeks later, FINRA barred Rockmacher completely from the securities industry.

Silver Law Group Investigates FINRA-barred Florida Broker Who Allegedly Sold Away Customers

May 25, 2017 | Silver Law Group

Silver Law Group is investigation former Florida-based Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC (CRD# 7784) broker Michael J. DeBoer (CRD# 2114067) for allegedly conducting outside business activities without notifying Fidelity and losing his customers a great deal of money in the process.

According to DeBoer’s FINRA BrokerCheck, FINRA permanently barred DeBoer in May 2016 for allegedly recommending two customers collectively invest $200,000 in securities offered by a software development company. In exchange for the referrals, the company allegedly gave DeBoer $32,000 in compensation, while the customers ultimately lost all of their investments.

Additionally, the Acceptance, Waiver & Consent (“AWC”), found that DeBoer marketed to his customers and other potential investors the services of an entity that provided separately-managed futures trading accounts. The AWC states that DeBoer referred approximately 28 people to the entity and received $70,000 in return for his referrals. Most of the referred individuals lost a substantial amount of the money invested.

Former Tennessee Woodbury Broker Under Investigation Over Allegations of Outside Business Activities

May 25, 2017 | Silver Law Group

Silver Law Group is investigation former Tennessee-based Woodbury Financial Services, Inc. broker David A. Ross (CRD# 3021782) for allegedly failing to disclose an outside business activity and accepting loans from firm clients.

According to Ross’s FINRA BrokerCheck report, Woodbury Financial Services (CRD# 421) discharged Ross in April 2016 for the allegations listed above as well as other undisclosed firm violations.

Ross has seven other disclosures on his FINRA BrokerCheck report. Of those other seven, six of them are tax liens totaling over $250,000.

Marcos Yanez, former LPL Financial Broker Under Investigation Over Variable Annuities Misrepresentation Allegations

April 26, 2017 | Silver Law Group

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 in March 2017. The FINRA arbitration complaint alleges misrepresentations in the sale of a variable life insurance policy, and that Yanez advised the customer to take out a margin loan in order to loan money to the advisor.

LPL Financial employed Yanez from December 2011 to March 2016 at its Dallas, Texas branch. According to Yanez’s detailed CRD report, Yanez operated under the moniker Staib Wealth Management from February 2014 until the name changed to Silver Sail Wealth Advisors in February 2015. Yanez is no longer registered with FINRA.

Jed E. Tinder, Former Montana-based Western International Securities Broker Under Investigation

April 26, 2017 | Silver Law Group

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 and damages in the amount of $1.2 million. The second, filed in July 2016, alleges unsuitability and damages in the amount of $187,000. The third, filed in August 2016, alleges recklessness, negligence and damages in the amount of over $181,000.

In 2006, though denied, a customer filed a complaint involving variable annuities and equity-indexed annuities.

Brett S. Murphy, Boca Raton, Florida-based Revere Securities Broker Under Investigation Over Allegations of Churning in Unit Investment Trusts

April 26, 2017 | Silver Law Group

Silver Law Group is investigating Boca Raton, Florida-based Revere Securities LLC (CRD# 14178) broker Brett S. Murphy (CRD# 2434384) over allegations that Murphy excessively traded unit investment trusts (“UITs”) in a customer’s account.

According to Scott’s FINRA BrokerCheck report, a customer filed a complaint against Scott alleging Scott churned the customer’s account in UITs and that the UITs were unsuitable. Further, the customer alleges that Scott’s employing firm, Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. (CRD# 249) as well as Revere Securities, failed to supervise Scott.

Oppenheimer employed Scott from July 2011 to March 2015 at its Palm Beach Gardens, Florida locations. Scott then moved further south to Revere Securities in Boca Raton, Florida where he is currently employed.