Donald Allen Blankenship of King of Prussia, PA, a stockbroker registered with Independent Financial Group, LLC, is the subject of an enforcement action initiated by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in which the regulator is seeking sanctions against Blankenship based upon allegations that Blankenship engaged in unsuitable trading in mutual funds. Department of Enforcement v. D….

Rodney Michael Ferruso (also known as Rod Ferruso), of Morgantown, West Virginia, a stockbroker registered with Osaic Wealth Inc. (previously known as Royal Alliance Associates Inc.), has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity because Ferruso refused to appear and testify in a FINRA investigation concerning allegations…

Jeffrey Martin Tabman of Woodbury, New York, a stockbroker registered with Equitable Advisors LLC, is the subject of a customer initiated investment related complaint filed on January 12, 2023, in which the customer requested compensation based upon allegations that Tabman made unsuitable recommendations of mutual funds when Tabman was associated with Equitable Advisors LLC. The…

Robert Spencer Gerstein of New York, New York, a stockbroker registered with Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner Smith Inc., has been fined $5,000.00 and suspended for six months by FINRA because Gerstein engaged in the unsuitable short term trading of mutual funds during the time that he was associated with Merrill Lynch. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver,…

Kyle W. Steibel, of Belleville, Illinois, a stockbroker registered with CUNA Brokerage Services Inc., has been suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity because Steibel failed to respond to FINRA’s request for information. FINRA Case No. 2022074241501 (May 1, 2023). According to FINRA’s Notice of Suspension letter issued…

Todd Ray Anderson of Tucson, Arizona, a stockbroker registered with Cetera Advisors LLC, has been fined $5,000.00 and suspended for 45 days from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity because Anderson made unsuitable investment recommendations of mutual funds. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent No. 2019063749201 (April 20, 2023). According…

Gary Mark Goldberg of Fishkill, New York, a stockbroker registered with Bruderman Brothers LLC, has been fined $25,000.00 and suspended for eighteen months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity because Goldberg made unsuitable recommendations of variable annuities. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent No. 2019064776201 (March 9, 2023)….

Mark David Yadron (also known as Mark Lynn Yoder), of Prescott, Arizona, a stockbroker registered with Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner Smith Incorporated, was the subject of a customer initiated investment related complaint that was settled on November 24, 2020, for $4,986.71 in damages based upon allegations that Yadron made unsuitable recommendations of mutual funds during…

Kenneth Anthony Luccioni of Sacramento, California, a stockbroker registered with Triad Advisors LLC, is the subject of a customer initiated investment related FINRA securities arbitration claim in which the customer requested $5,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Luccioni made unsuitable recommendations of mutual funds when Luccioni was associated with Triad Advisors LLC. Financial Industry…

Ignacio Antonio Perezanta Ordonez of San Antonio, Texas, a stockbroker formerly registered with BBVA Securities Inc., is the subject of a customer initiated investment related complaint on March 23, 2022, in which the customer requested $5,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Ordonez made unsuitable recommendations in connection with the sale of mutual funds when…

Juan Guillermo Herrans Barreras of Miami, Florida, a stockbroker formerly registered with Merrill Lynch, is the subject of a customer initiated investment related FINRA securities arbitration claim which was resolved for $70,000.00 in damages because Barreras allegedly made misrepresentations and unsuitable investment recommendations in connection with the sale of mutual funds during the period that…

Emerson Equity LLC and its Chief Executive Officer, Dominic Julio Baldini, of San Mateo, California, have been sanctioned by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), supported by findings that they failed to supervise stockbrokers’ trading of mutual funds in customer accounts, resulting in unsuitable short-term switching of mutual funds by one of the Emerson Equity stockbrokers…

Boris Mihailevsky of New York New York a stockbroker currently registered with JP Morgan Securities LLC is the subject of a customer initiated investment related written complaint on March 20, 2020, where the customer requested $8,000.00 in damages supported by accusations that misrepresentations were made by Mihailevsky regarding mutual funds during the time that he…

NYLife Securities LLC a securities broker dealer headquartered in New York New York has been censured and fined $200,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) supported by findings that it failed to create and implement a supervision system and written supervisory procedures relating to the suitability of mutual fund switching, resulting in unsuitable short-term trades…

Fadi Sami Soliman of Liverpool New York a stockbroker formerly registered with Ameriprise Financial Services and IBN Financial Services Inc. is referenced in a New Jersey Bureau of Securities Order in which his securities agent registration in the state has been revoked as of October 15, 2020 founded on Soliman being sanctioned by Financial Industry…

NEXT Financial Group a securities broker dealer headquartered in Houston Texas has been censured and fined $750,000.00 by Financial industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) founded on findings that NEXT Financial Group failed to supervise its stockbrokers’ transactions resulting in unsuitable municipal bond and mutual fund transactions in customer accounts. Letter of Acceptance Waiver and Consent No….

Farmers Financial Solutions LLC a securities broker dealer headquartered in Westlake Village California has been censured and fined $100,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) supported by findings that the securities broker dealer failed to supervise its mutual fund business and its variable universal life insurance business. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent No. 2017052173001…

Triad Advisors LLC a securities broker dealer headquartered in Atlanta Georgia has been censured and fined $150,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) based on findings of Triad’s failure to supervise its stockbrokers’ transactions resulting in unsuitable trades being effected in customers’ accounts. Letter of Acceptance Waiver and Consent No. 2017052330501 (Feb. 9, 2021). According…

Herbert Lee Weith IV of Naples Florida a stockbroker formerly registered with Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC is the subject of a customer initiated investment related FINRA securities arbitration claim in which the customer sought $260,000.00 in damages supported by accusations of the stockbroker’s unsuitable recommendations as it pertained to a mutual fund and annuity…

Transamerica Financial Advisors Inc. a securities broker dealer headquartered in Saint Petersburg Florida has been censured and fined $4,400,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) founded on findings including that Transamerica failed to supervise securities transactions and investment recommendations that its stockbrokers made to customers. Letter of Acceptance Waiver and Consent No. 2015048250401 (Dec. 21,…

Angel Wynette Bardeche (also known as Angel Wynette Lentz) of Cincinnati Ohio a stockbroker formerly registered with Ameriprise Financial Services has been fined $10,000.00 and suspended for nine months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity founded on findings that Bardeche made unsuitable recommendations to customers concerning a short-term…

George Jones Lincoln IV (also known as Rip Lincoln) a stockbroker formerly registered with Citizens Securities Inc. is referenced in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on February 21, 2020 in which the customer sought $39,991.99 in damages supported by allegations that the customer had been placed into mutual funds without being apprised of…

Vincent Anthony Virga (also known as Vincenzo A. Virga Jr.) of Bayonne New Jersey a stockbroker and investment adviser representative of Madison Avenue Securities LLC has been fined $5,000.00 and suspended for one month from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity founded on findings that Virga made unsuitable investment…

Jeffrey Clay Templeman of Norfolk Virginia a stockbroker currently registered with Wells Fargo Advisors has been referenced in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on March 15, 2019 where the customer requested unspecified damages founded on allegations that the customer had been steered by Templeman towards investing in mutual funds without being provided clarity…

Juan Guillermo Herrans Barreras of Miami Florida a stockbroker currently registered with Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner Smith Incorporated is the subject of a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim in which the customer requested $800,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that misrepresentations had been made to the customer regarding mutual funds and that the customer…

Geraldine Gordon of Lexington Kentucky a stockbroker currently associated with Ameriprise Financial Services Inc. has been referenced in a customer initiated investment related complaint on December 10, 2018 in which the customer requested $149,980.77 in damages supported by allegations that closed end mutual fund recommendations made by Gordon failed to be suitable for the Ameriprise…

Quincy DeEarl Caldwell of Katy Texas a stockbroker formerly registered with PlanMember Securities Corporation has been fined $5,000.00 and suspended for three months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon findings that the stockbroker gave customers bad investment advice concerning mutual funds and had caused them to…

Neil Vinod Mehta of Pompano Beach Florida a stockbroker formerly associated with JP Morgan Securities LLC is referenced in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim which was settled for $40,000.00 in damages based upon accusations that the customer was poorly advised by Mehta regarding mutual funds held in the customer’s account during the period…

John Stephen Pronovost of Watertown Connecticut a stockbroker currently employed by Cambridge Investment Research Inc. is the subject of a customer initiated investment related complaint which was settled for $218,295.00 in damages on October 2, 2019 supported by allegations that mutual fund transactions executed by the stockbroker failed to be suitable. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority…

Charles Lawrence Doraine of Corpus Christi Texas a stockbroker formerly registered with Next Financial Group Inc. is referenced in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim in which the customer sought $500,000.00 in damages founded on accusations that between 2012 to 2018: (1) the customer’s diminished capacity had been exploited by the stockbroker (2) mutual…

William S. Fedor Jr. of Tucson Arizona a stockbroker currently registered with Robert W. Baird Co. Incorporated is the subject of a customer initiated investment related complaint on January 22, 2019 which was resolved for more than $10,000.00 in damages supported by allegations of Fedor failing to provide the customer with adequate information regarding the…

Timothy Robert Millis of Okemos Michigan a stockbroker registered with NYLife Securities LLC has been terminated by the securities broker dealer on April 1, 2019 supported by accusations that Millis effected inappropriate and unsuitable switches of mutual funds in the accounts of NYLife Securities LLC customers. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Public Disclosure confirms that…

Timothy Robert Millis of Okemos Michigan a stockbroker formerly employed by NYLife Securities LLC has been suspended for three months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that Millis poorly advised customers of NYLife Securities LLC in regard to a short-term mutual fund trading…

Dennis Albert Mehringer Jr. of Pasadena California a stockbroker formerly registered with Western International Securities Inc. has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity founded on accusations that Mehringer refused to comply with FINRA’s investigation into whether he effected trades that were unsuitable for customers of Western…

Jeffrey Paul Davis of Bristol Connecticut a stockbroker currently registered with Kovack Securities Inc. is the subject of a customer initiated investment related written complaint on June 10, 2019 in which the customer requested more than $5,000.00 in damages based upon accusations that (1) the customer was placed into inappropriate investments including mutual funds and…

William Hennion of Parsippany New Jersey a stockbroker currently registered with Hennion Walsh Inc. is the subject of a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim in which the customer requested $300,000.00 in damages supported by allegations that between 2015 and 2018, the customer was provided poor investment advice from Hennion as it pertained to investments…

Betty Rodriguez of Weston Florida a stockbroker formerly registered with Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC is the subject of a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim which was settled for $23,000.00 in damages supported by accusations that (1) the customer’s account had been over-concentrated in mutual fund products which resulted in losses and (2) the…

David Joseph Escarcega of Phoenix Arizona a stockbroker formerly employed by Center Street Securities Inc. is referenced in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim which was resolved for $20,000.00 in damages supported by accusations that CNL Lifestyle Real Estate Investment Trust and other mutual fund trades executed in customers’ accounts failed to be suitable…

Shannon Christopher Taylor of Roxboro North Carolina a stockbroker registered with BBT Securities LLC is referenced in a customer initiated investment related written complaint which was resolved for $36,308.87 in damages on October 31, 2018 based upon allegations that (1) misrepresentations had been made to the customer concerning the terms and conditions of investments and…

Timothy Trevor Kenska of Encinitas California a stockbroker currently registered with Citigroup Global Markets Inc. is the subject of a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim which was settled to resolve accusations of bad mutual fund trades being effected in the customer’s account between 2015 and 2017. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Arbitration No. FINRA…

Park Avenue Securities LLC a securities broker dealer headquartered in New York New York has been censured by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) supported by findings that (1) customers were excessively charged by the firm on mutual fund transactions and (2) the firm failed to adequately supervise its sales charges waivers to ensure that they…

Western International Securities a securities broker deal headquartered in Pasadena California has been censured and fined $75,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) based upon findings that the firm overcharged customers on mutual fund transactions placed in customers’ accounts. Letter of Acceptance Waiver and Consent No. 2017056440501 (July 16, 2019). According to the AWC, a…

David K. Mallett of Conway Arizona a stockbroker formerly registered with Wunderlich Securities Inc. has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity supported by allegations that Mallett disregarded a FINRA inquiry possibly concerning Mallett being discharged from Wunderlich Securities Inc. or Mallett being subject of customer initiated…

Ross Lionel Gordon of Raleigh North Carolina a stockbroker formerly employed by Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC is referenced in a customer initiated investment related written complaint which was resolved for $10,000.00 on April 4, 2016 supported by accusations that between 2015 and 2016, the customer was placed into mutual fund investments that were inappropriate…

Kery Shane Hutner of Chagrin Falls Ohio a stockbroker registered with Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC is referenced in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on June 11, 2018 where the customer sought damages estimated to exceed $5,000.00 based upon accusations that between October 23, 2012 and May 24, 2018, the customer’s funds were…

Phillip Robert Cheney Jr. of Norwell Massachusetts a stockbroker currently registered with Moors Cabot Inc. has been sanctioned by the State of Massachusetts Securities Division based upon findings that Cheney has been subject of customer disputes and has been terminated from at least one securities broker dealer founded on accusations of Cheney’s unsuitable investment transactions…

Todd Bruning Osing of Peoria Illinois a stockbroker currently employed by Edward Jones is referenced in a customer initiated investment complaint which was settled on June 19, 2018 to resolve accusations that Osing gave the customer unsuitable investment recommendations concerning the sale of mutual funds held in the customer’s investment portfolio. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority…

AXA Advisors LLC a securities broker dealer headquartered in New York New York has been censured and fined $600,000.00 by Financial industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) based on findings that (1) AXA Advisors made misrepresentations about the bonds sold to the firm’s retirement account customers and (2) AXA Advisors neglected to supervise its practices to ensure…

Voya Financial Advisors Inc. a securities broker dealer headquartered in Des Moines Iowa has been censured by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) based upon findings that (1) the firm overcharged customers on their purchases of mutual funds by failing to apply sales charge discounts and (2) the firm neglected to supervise its mutual fund sales…

Brian Lawrence Stephan of Xenia Ohio a stockbroker formerly registered with LPL Financial LLC has been fined $10,000.00 and suspended for eight months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity according to an Order Accepting Offer of Settlement based on findings that (1) Stephan gave the customer unsuitanble investment…

Apostolos Nicholas Papadea of Columbia South Carolina a stockbroker formerly registered with Wells Fargo Advisors LLC is the subject of a customer initiated investment related written complaint which was settled for $24,000.00 on January 17, 2017 based upon allegations of (1) omissions and misrepresentations being made to the customer concerning the risks of mutual funds…

Christopher Allen Coffman of York New England a stockbroker formerly registered with Edward Jones is referenced in a customer initiated investment related written complaint which was settled on June 23, 2016 to resolve accusations that omissions had been made to the customer concerning the tax liability pertaining to the exchange of mutual funds in the…

John I. Snyder of Fort Lauderdale Florida a stockbroker currently employed by Morgan Stanley is the subject of a customer initiated investment related written complaint which was resolved for $8,000.00 on March 20, 2017 based upon accusations that investment recommendations made to the customer were not suitable given that possible mutual fund breakpoint discounts had…

Richard David Blythe of Tucson Arizona a stockbroker currently registered with Summit Brokerage Services Inc. is the subject of a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim in which the customer requested $100,000.00 in damages supported by accusations of the unauthorized trading of equities and mutual funds in the customer’s investment account during the time Blythe…

ProEquities Inc. a brokerage firm headquartered in Birmingham Alabama has been censured by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) based upon consenting to findings that it excessively charged customers who purchased mutual funds through the firm. Letter of Acceptance Waiver and Consent No. 2016052179401 (Mar. 7, 2019). According to the AWC, a variety of mutual fund…

John Thomas Alexander III of Charlotte North Carolina a broker formerly registered with NYLife Securities LLC is referenced in a customer initiated investment related written complaint which settled for $93,052.21 on October 18, 2017 supported by accusations that (1) the customer had been provided poor advice concerning the insurance, mutual fund and annuity products purchased…

James Donald Routhier of Florham Park New Jersey a stockbroker formerly employed by Oppenheimer Co. Inc. is referenced in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim which settled for $92,500.00 in damages based upon allegations that (1) Routhier gave bad investment recommendations to the customer in reference to the customer’s mutual fund purchases and (2)…

Brandon Boyd Hanna of Minneapolis Minnesota a stockbroker formerly registered with Oppenheimer Co. Inc. is referenced in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on July 17, 2018 in which the customer sought $350,000.00 in damages founded on accusations that (1) the customer’s account was churned and (2) stock, mutual funds and exchange traded funds…

Stephen Brown of Fort Lauderdale Florida a stockbroker formerly registered with Oppenheimer Co. Inc. is referenced in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on July 29, 2016 in which the customer requested more than $5,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that (1) the customer’s assets were not appropriately diversified and (2) overly speculative mutual…

Kestra Investment Services LLC a brokerage firm headquartered in Austin Texas has been censured and fined $225,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) founded on allegations that the firm overcharged customers on mutual fund purchases. Letter of Acceptance Waiver and Consent No. 2016048404601 (Feb. 13, 2019). According to the AWC, from July 1, 2009 to…

Daniel YJ Kim of Flushing New York a stockbroker currently employed by J.P. Morgan Securities LLC is the subject of a customer initiated investment related complaint on May 5, 2016 in which the customer requested $50,000.00 in damages based upon accusations that unsuitable investment recommendations were made to the customer concerning mutual fund trades executed…

Bhenoy Dembla (also known as Ben Dembla) of Chicago Illinois a stockbroker formerly employed by Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner Smith Incorporated has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that Dembla violated the firm’s mutual fund policies by entering and cancelling fake…

Harold Weber of Airmont New York a stockbroker formerly employed by Wells Fargo Advisors LLC is referenced in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim which was settled for $50,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that between December of 2012 and June of 2016: (1) transactions were executed in the customer’s account that were not…

Steven Wayne Vance of Newtown Pennsylvania a stockbroker currently registered with Boenning Scattergood Inc. is referenced in a customer initiated investment related complaint involving Vance’s activities that was settled on February 27, 2018 for $9,138.67 in damages based upon accusations that (1) the customer’s portfolio was allocated in unsuitable mutual fund investments given the customer’s…

Robert Ian Siegel of Boca Raton Florida a stockbroker currently registered with Southeast Investments NC Inc. is referenced in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim in which the customer was awarded $14,482.00 in damages based upon findings that while Siegel was associated with Southeast Investments NC Inc: (1) Siegel failed to inform the customer…

Luis Currais Lopez of Dorchester Massachusetts a stockbroker formerly registered with Santander Securities LLC is referenced in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim in which the customer sought $65,000.00 in damages supported by accusations that (1) fiduciary duties were breached (2) the customer was falsely induced into inaction upon discovering volatility in the customer’s…

Jerry Michael Rayburn of Lake Grove New York a stockbroker currently registered with J.P. Morgan Securities LLC is the subject of a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim in which the customer sought $74,927.40 in damages founded on accusations that (1) misrepresentations had been made to the customer concerning the customer’s investments in mutual funds…

Cetera Advisor Networks LLC a brokerage firm headquartered in El Segundo California has been censured and fined $700,000.00 founded on allegations that the firm neglected to supervise a registered representative who made unsuitable trades and mutual fund switches in customer accounts. Letter of Acceptance Waiver and Consent No. 2014040951702 (Dec. 19, 2018). According to the…

Sanford Michael Katz of San Francisco California a stockbroker formerly registered with Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC has been censured and fined $850,000.00 by Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) according to an Order instituting Administrative and Cease and Desist Proceedings Making Findings and Imposing Remedial Sanctions in which Katz was found to have breached his…

Michael Vincent Foley of Upper Arlington Ohio a stockbroker currently registered with Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner Smith Inc. is referenced in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim which settled for $28,642.26 in damages founded on accusations that between March of 2010 and June of 2016: (1) misrepresentations were made to the customer concerning mutual…

James King of Winston-Salem North Carolina a stockbroker currently registered with Commonwealth Financial Network is the subject of a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim where the customer sought $470,000.00 in damages supported by allegations of (1) false or misleading statements being made to the customer regarding the returns on mutual fund investments and (2)…

Commonwealth Financial Network a brokerage firm headquartered in Waltham Massachusetts has been censured by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) supported by accusations that the firm excessively charged customers on mutual fund transactions by failing to apply discounts for the customers that were eligible for them. Letter of Acceptance Waiver and Consent No. 2016049975901 (Nov. 9,…

D.A. Davidson Co. a brokerage firm headquartered in Great Falls Montana has been censured by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) based upon consenting to findings that it (1) overcharged customers by failing to apply sales charges waivers and (2) failed to supervise its mutual fund transactions to ensure that eligible customers received applicable discounts. Letter…

Sandra Benain McKoy of Lauderdale Lakes Florida a stockbroker formerly registered with SunTrust Investment Services Inc. is referenced in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim which settled for $50,000.00 in damages supported by accusations that McKoy (1) poorly advised the customer concerning mutual fund and variable annuity products and (2) placed unsuitable transactions in…

David Raymond Colflesh of Tarko Missouri a stockbroker formerly employed by NYLife Securities LLC has been suspended for eighteen months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that he made unsuitable mutual fund investment recommendations to customers. Letter of Acceptance Waiver and Consent No….

Alex Jose Gierbolini of Guaynabo Puerto Rico a stockbroker currently employed by Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner Smith Incorporated is referenced in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim in which the customer sought $265,000.00 in damages founded on accusations that misrepresentations had been made to the customer and mutual fund transactions were placed in the…

Gary Gustave Benson of Encino California a stockbroker currently employed by NPB Financial Group LLC is referenced in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on August 22, 2017 where the customer sought unspecified damages supported by allegations that (1) unauthorized mutual fund trades were executed in the customer’s account and (2) transactions were effected…

Brian David Schwartz of New York New York a stockbroker currently employed by HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. is referenced in a customer initiated investment related written complaint which was resolved for $10,000.00 on October 3, 2017 supported by allegations that transactions were placed in the customer’s account that were not suitable for the customer because…

John Patrick Priebe of Waseca Minnesota a stockbroker currently registered with Principal Securities Inc. (also known as Princor Financial Services Corporation) is the subject of a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim where the customer sought $900,000.00 in damages based upon accusations that (1) Priebe executed mutual fund and options transactions in the customer’s account…

Damon Darrell Walker of Davenport Iowa a stockbroker formerly employed by Cambridge Investment Research Inc. has been censured and fined $7,000.00 by Iowa Insurance Division according to an Order containing findings that Walker made inappropriate mutual fund recommendations to the customer and altered the customer’s account documentation. Case No. 98241 (Sept. 7, 2018). Financial Industry…

Daniel Thomas Gamache of Denver Colorado a stockbroker registered with UBS Financial Services Inc. and representative of IFAM Capital has been referenced in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on July 9, 2018 where the customer requested $86,000.00 in damages founded on allegations that Gamache made unsuitable recommendations to the customer concerning mutual funds…

Francisco Javier Valenzuela of Tucson Arizona a stockbroker formerly employed by Morgan Stanley has been suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity founded on allegations that he did not respond to a FINRA request regarding his activities. Case No. 2018057266701 (Aug. 13, 2018). FINRA Public Disclosure reveals that…

Citigroup Global Markets Inc. a broker-dealer headquartered in New York New York has been censured and fined by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) based upon the firm’s consent to findings that it took advantage of customers by overcharging them on mutual fund purchases. Letter of Acceptance Waiver and Consent No. 2016049977601 (Sept. 7, 2018). According…

John Vincent Blanchard of Marshfield Massachusetts a stockbroker formerly employed by MetLife Securities Inc. (now known as MSI Financial Services Inc.) is referenced in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on July 23, 2018 in which the customer sought damages estimated to exceed $5,000.00 supported by accusations that (1) misrepresentations had been made to…

William K. Tress (also known as William K. Tress Garcia) of Dorchester Massachusetts a stockbroker formerly employed by Santander Securities is the subject of a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim where the customer requested $111,522.41 in damages based upon accusations including (1) gross negligence (2) breach of contract (3) failure to supervise (4) breach…

Gary Jesse Deardorff of Peoria Arizona a stockbroker formerly employed by National Planning Corporation is the subject of a customer initiated investment related written complaint on February 28, 2017 in which the customer sought damages estimated to exceed $5,000.00 in damages founded on allegations that Deardorff executed unsuitable mutual fund and equity transactions in the…

David JC Bolton of Bowling Green Kentucky a stockbroker formerly registered with Thurston Springer Miller Herd Titak has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon a Default Decision issued by the Office of Hearing Officers containing findings that Bolton engaged in mismarking customers’ trades and…

Karl Thomas Crytser of Trenton New Jersey a stockbroker formerly registered with National Planning Corporation is referenced in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on August 25, 2015 in which the customer requested $27,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that (1) unsuitable mutual fund trades were effected in the customer’s account (2) transactions were…

Brian Lawrence Stephan of Xenia Ohio a stockbroker formerly employed by LPL Financial LLC and Commonwealth Financial Network has been charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in a Complaint alleging that Stephan engaged in unsuitable mutual fund trading and the mismarking of transactions and switch forms. Department of Enforcement v. Brian Lawrence Stephan Disciplinary…

Gregory Jon Williams of Greenwood Village Colorado a stockbroker currently employed by Presidential Brokerage Inc. is the subject of a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim where the customer sought $151,337.00 in damages based upon allegations of misrepresentation and suitability pertaining to the customer’s investments in (1) mutual funds (2) corporate-debt products and (3) non-traded…

Thrivent Investment Management, Inc. a brokerage firm headquartered in Minneapolis Minnesota has been censured by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) based upon the firm’s consent to findings that it failed to supervise mutual fund sales with a view towards ensuring customers obtained breakpoint discounts and sales charge waivers. Letter of Acceptance Waiver and Consent No….

Charles William Sawyer Jr. of Owings Mills Maryland a stockbroker currently employed by Client One Securities, owned by the Creative One Marketing Corporation is the subject of a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim in which the customer requested $40,249.00 in damages supported by allegations that the customer was provided poor advice relating to mutual…

Michael John Osland of Scottsdale Arizona a stockbroker currently employed by Geneos Wealth Management Inc. is the subject of a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim where the customer sought $350,000.00 in damages founded on allegations that between 2008 and 2017, Osland made investment recommendations that were not suitable concerning (1) real estate securities (2)…

Eric Steven Korhut of Johnstown Pennsylvania a stockbroker formerly registered with Ameriprise Financial Services Inc. has been fined $5,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that he executed unauthorized trades in customer accounts. Letter of Acceptance Waiver and Consent No. 2016051348101…

Ronald Frank Loeb of Bloomfield Hills Michigan a stockbroker formerly registered with Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner Smith Inc. is referenced in a customer initiated investment related written complaint which settled for $15,000.00 on June 9, 2018 founded on accusations that Loeb made unsuitable investment recommendations to the customer concerning municipal bond investments and made misrepresentations…

Leslie George Markus, Jr., of Center Valley, Pennsylvania, a stockbroker formerly registered with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. has been fined $10,000.00 and suspended for two years from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity according to a FINRA Office of Hearing Officers Hearing Panel Decision containing findings that Markus effected…

Robert Thomas Steck of Great Neck New York a stockbroker currently employed by Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner Smith Inc. is the subject of a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim where the customer requested unspecified damages supported by accusations that between 2012 and 2017, misrepresentations had been made to the customer concerning over-the-counter equities and…

Charles Lawrence Doraine of Corpus Christi, Texas, a stockbroker currently registered with Next Financial Group, Inc., is referenced in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim where the customer sought $2,500,000.00 in damages founded on allegations that between 2012 and 2017, Doraine engaged in a pattern of in-and-out trading with respect to the customer’s mutual…

Russell G. Cappelen Jr. of Vero Beach Florida a stockbroker currently registered with UBS Financial Services Inc. is the subject of a customer initiated investment related written complaint which settled for $14,658.37 in damages founded on accusations that Cappelen effected mutual fund transactions that were not appropriate for the customer because the investments failed to…

Scott David Curtis of Great Neck New York a stockbroker currently employed by Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner Smith Inc. is referenced in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim in which the customer sought $100,000.00 in damages based upon accusations that (1) misrepresentations and omissions had been made to the customer and (2) unsuitable mutual…

Terance Treadwell Power of Beverly Hills California a stockbroker currently employed by Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner Smith Inc. is the subject of a customer initiated investment related written complaint which settled for $65,413.00 on April 26, 2018 supported by accusations that in September 2017, misrepresentations had been made to the customer concerning investments and mutual…

Nicole Danielle Jervis of Warren Ohio a stockbroker currently registered with LPL Financial LLC is the subject of a customer initiated investment related written complaint on March 14, 2018 in which the customer sought $10,322.00 in damages supported by allegations that mutual funds had been liquidated from the customer’s investment account without the customer’s authorization…

Fernando Batista Martins of Morristown New Jersey a stockbroker formerly registered with HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. is the subject of a customer initiated investment related written complaint on October 31, 2016 in which the customer requested $60,000.00 in damages founded on allegations that (1) transactions were placed in the customer’s account that were not suitable…

Alan Dean Schmidgall of Jersey City New Jersey a stockbroker currently employed by Geneos Wealth Management Inc. is referenced in a customer initiated investment related written complaint which was resolved for $16,147.71 in damages based upon allegations that investment recommendations made to the customer were not suitable. FINRA Public Disclosure confirms that Schmidgall has been…

Reginald Howell Robinson of Tampa Florida a stockbroker formerly employed by International Assets Advisory LLC is referenced in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim where the customer requested $300,000.00 in damages founded on allegations that faulty mutual fund switches in the customer’s account were not adequately supervised. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Arbitration No….

Christopher F. Halotek of West Hartford Connecticut a stockbroker formerly registered with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney is the subject of a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim in which the customer alleged that misrepresentations had been made concerning mutual fund and equity products between September of 2007 and May of 2017. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority…

Richard Robert Fulton of Palm Beach Gardens Florida a stockbroker formerly registered with Morgan Stanley is the subject of a customer initiated investment related complaint which settled on October 24, 2016 for $18,822.00 in damages based upon allegations that mutual fund trades were effected in the customer’s managed account on an excessive basis between January…

Philip Peter Parziale of Boston Massachusetts is a stockbroker currently registered with Citizens Securities Inc. who is the subject of a customer initiated investment related written complaint which settled on October 12, 2017 for $50,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Parziale made misrepresentations to the customer concerning mutual funds transactions executed in the customer’s…

John Joseph Pearce of Cincinnati Ohio is a stockbroker formerly employed by Fifth Third Securities who was terminated from employment on December 16, 2016 supported by accusations that the firm was not confident in Pearce’s ability to comply with the firm’s policies and procedures. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Public Disclosure confirms that this is…

Andrew Michael May of State College Pennsylvania is a stockbroker currently employed by Edward Jones who is the subject of a customer initiated investment related written complaint, which settled on May 22, 2017 for $7,257.38 in damages founded on accusations that May made misrepresentations to the customer concerning the tax liability pertaining to the customer’s…

First Kentucky Securities Corporation is a brokerage firm from Louisville Kentucky who has been censured and fined fifty thousand dollars by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) based upon consenting to findings that it overcharged customers by depriving them of sales charge waivers on eligible mutual fund purchases executed through the firm. Letter of Acceptance Waiver…

Pedro Omar Diaz, of Coconut Creek, Florida, a stockbroker employed with LPL Financial LLC, has been fired on November 29, 2017, founded on accusations that he violated LPL Financial’s policy by engaging in the short-term trading of mutual fund trades in customer accounts. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Public Disclosure reveals that Diaz has been…

Michael David Zeran, of Marion, Iowa, a stockbroker registered with Bancwest Investment Services, Inc., has been fired on July 12, 2016, supported by allegations that an investigation into Zeran’s business activities revealed that he engaged in short-term trading of mutual funds in customer accounts and mismarked investment transactions as unsolicited, causing the firm to lose…

FSC Securities Corporation, a brokerage firm headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, has been censured and fined $100,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) by consenting to findings that it failed to apply mutual fund sales charge waivers for its customers that were eligible to receive them. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2017054137901 (Dec. 20,…

Mark B. Geist of Lincoln, Nebraska, a stockbroker currently associated with UBS Financial Services Inc., is the subject of a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on August 8, 2017, in which the customer sought $280,542.00 in damages founded on accusations of negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, and unsuitable fixed income mutual fund transactions having…

Royal Alliance Securities, a brokerage firm headquartered in Jersey City, New Jersey, has been censured and fined $150,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) based upon accusations that the firm failed to appropriately apply sales charge discounts for customers when the customers were eligible to receive them, overcharging them as a result. Letter of Acceptance,…

Investors Capital Corporation, J.P. Turner & Company, L.L.C., VSR Financial Services, Inc., Investacorp., Inc., and BB&T Investment Services, Inc., have all been censured by FINRA for taking advantage of certain customers, namely retirement plans and charitable organizations, by overcharging them in mutual fund transactions. Evidently, the firms sold mutual funds containing multiple share classes, in…

William H. Paterson, of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, a former GWN Securities, Inc. registered representative, has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that he obstructed a FINRA investigation into allegations of his sales practice violations as alleged within a customer initiated…

Landon Lavon Williams, of Jacksonville, Florida, a stockbroker formerly registered with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, has been fined $10,000.00 and suspended for two years from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity according to a FINRA Office of Hearing Officers Order Accepting Offer of Settlement containing findings…

David James Boor, of Farmington Hills, Michigan, a stockbroker currently registered with UBS Financial Services Inc., is the subject of a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on May 30, 2017, in which the customer sought $139,000.00 in damages supported by allegations that between December 1, 2015, and May 30, 2017, Boor effected mutual funds…

Sherry Elaine McNair, of Lubbock, Texas, a stockbroker currently registered with 1st Global Capital Corp., is the subject of a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on January 8, 2016, in which the customer requested $250,000.00 in damages founded upon accusations that McNair placed unsuitable mutual fund transactions in the customer’s account. FINRA Arbitration No….

John Isaac Roach, of Beachwood, Ohio, a stockbroker formerly registered with CCO Investment Services Corp., has been fined $5,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that he placed unauthorized mutual fund trades in a customer’s account. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and…

Sean J Mcelduff, of Parsippany, New Jersey, a stockbroker formerly registered with Hennion & Walsh, Inc., has been identified in a customer initiated investment related arbitration on December 16, 2016, in which the customer requested $260,000.00 in damages based upon accusations of suitability regarding municipal debt transactions effected in the customer’s investment account. Financial Industry…

Ronald Benevento, of Holbrook, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with American Portfolio Financial Services, Inc., has been fined and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that he effected unsuitable mutual fund switches in customer accounts, and mismarked customers trades as unsolicited….

Sammy Junito Carrasquillo, of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Chase Investment Services Corp., is the subject of a customer initiated investment related written complaint on August 8, 2011, in which the customer requested $19,902.44 in damages based upon allegations that Carrasquillo effected unsuitable transactions in the customer’s account and made misrepresentations…

James Jordan Plasterer Jr, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, a stockbroker formerly registered with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on March 29, 2017, in which the customer requested $2,500,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that he did not properly handle the customer’s portfolio of…

Daniel Ki Roh, of Fort Lee, New Jersey, a stockbroker currently registered with J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, has been named in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on April 18, 2017, in which the customer requested $7,250.00 in damages based upon allegations that he omitted information from the customer concerning the fees on mutual…

MSI Financial Services, Inc., a brokerage firm headquartered in Springfield, Massachusetts, has been censured by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) by consenting to findings that excessive fees were charged by the firm within customers’ accounts regarding mutual fund transactions, and that the firm did not appropriately supervise operations to protect customers from being overcharged. Letter…

James Davis Trent, of Columbia, South Carolina, a stockbroker formerly registered with AXA Advisors LLC, was suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity pursuant to an Order Accepting Offer of Settlement issued by FINRA Office of Hearing Officers which contained findings that Trent made unsuitable investment recommendations to…

William Bartly Wolf, of Newark, New Jersey, a stockbroker formerly registered with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, has been named in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on September 2, 2015, based upon allegations that Wolf effected mutual fund trades in the customer’s investment account without the customer’s consent. Financial Industry Regulatory…

Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, a brokerage firm headquartered in El Segundo, California, has been censured by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) based upon consenting to findings that the firm charged customers with excessive fees in reference to mutual fund transactions, and inadequately supervised its business operations to make sure customers were not overcharged. Letter of…

Jonathan M. Lo, of New York, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with NYLife Securities LLC, has been permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that he failed to cooperate with a FINRA investigation into allegations that he effected unsuitable exchanges of…

James Davis Trent, of Columbia, South Carolina, a stockbroker formerly registered with AXA Advisors LLC, was charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement in a Complaint containing allegations that he made unsuitable investment recommendations to customers. Department of Enforcement v. James Davis Trent, No. 2014041539301 (Apr. 27, 2017). According to the Complaint,…

Legend Equities Corporation, a brokerage firm headquartered in Delaware, was censured by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) based upon consenting to findings that the firm took advantage of charitable entities and retirement plan customers by overcharging them in mutual fund transactions. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2016050259801 (Apr. 4, 2017). According to the…

Renee Rochelle Fields, of Manchester, Missouri, a stockbroker formerly registered with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., was terminated from employment on October 3, 2016, based upon allegations that Fields exercised discretion in customers’ accounts without their consent, effected a mutual fund trading strategy which was unsuitable for customers, and failed to apprise customers of material information…

Citizens Securities, Inc., a brokerage firm headquartered in Dedham, Massachusetts, was censured and fined $50,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) based upon consenting to findings that the firm overcharged charitable entities and retirement plan customers in reference to mutual fund transactions. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2016049977401 (Mar. 31, 2017). According to the…

Jarred M. Lawson, of Jacksonville, Florida, a stockbroker formerly registered with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, has been fined $10,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that he made misrepresentations and omissions to customers, and furnished misleading account documentation…

Mark David Yadron, of Prescott, Arizona, a stockbroker currently registered with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, has been named in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on February 3, 2017, in which the customer requested $5,095.35 in damages based upon allegations that Yadron effected unauthorized closed-end fund trades in the customer’s investment…

Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member broker dealers, including Invest Financial Corporation, SII Investments, Investment Centers of America, and National Planning Corporation, have all been censured and fined by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) based upon consenting to findings that the firms overcharged charitable organization and retirement account customers in mutual funds transactions, and did…

David Jonathan Bolton, of Bowling Green, Kentucky, a stockbroker formerly registered with Signator Investors, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on April 1, 2016, based upon allegations that Bolton effected unsuitable class A share mutual fund transactions in an elderly customer’s account, and charged the customer with excessive commissions…

Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a broker-dealer headquartered in Fairfield, Iowa, has been censured by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that the firm overcharged charitable organization and retirement account customers in connection with mutual funds transactions. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015046952401 (Dec. 17, 2016). According to the AWC, Cambridge provides…

HD Vest Investment Services, a broker-dealer headquartered in Irving, Texas, was censured by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that the firm overcharged customers within mutual funds transactions, and failed to supervise the firm’s mutual funds business in order to ensure that customers received sales charge waivers when eligible for such. Letter…

MML Investor Services, LLC, a broker-dealer headquartered in Springfield, Massachusetts, was censured by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that the firm excessively charged customers concerning mutual funds transactions, and failed to have adequate supervisory procedures and protocols designed to make sure that eligible customers received waivers of sales charges. Letter of…

Robert M. Lyons, of Augusta, Georgia, was fined $5,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he made unsuitable recommendations to customers. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2014040668202 (Sept. 1, 2016). According to the AWC, Lyons made recommendations and subsequently…

Kimberly Springsteen-Abbott, of Holiday, Florida, the chairman and chief executive officer of Commonwealth entities, including Commonwealth Funds, was fined $100,000.00 and barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity in connection with a FINRA National Adjudicatory Council Decision which affirmed findings that Springsteen-Abbott misappropriated investor funds. Department of…

UBS Financial Services, Inc., was censured and fined $250,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that the firm overcharged customers who purchased mutual funds, and failed to create and preserve supervisory processes to ensure that customers who were eligible for such discounts had received them. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent,…

Seth David Lampman, of Osceola, Iowa, a stockbroker for Edward Jones, was fined $5,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized trading in customer accounts. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2014042505601 (July 13, 2016). According…

Brett W. Burgesser, of Orlando, Florida, a stockbroker with Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, was fined $5,000.00 and suspended for sixty-days from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in the unsuitable switching of mutual funds in customer accounts. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and…

David Randall Lockey, of Dallas, Texas, a stockbroker with SWS Financial Services, Inc., was charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement in a Complaint alleging that Lockey prompted unsuitable switching and trading of investments; while also falsifying forms pertaining to customer accounts. Department of Enforcement v. Lockey, No. 2013034954001  (Mar. 30, 2016)….

Lombard Securities Inc., headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, was censured and fined $50,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) pursuant to an Order Accepting Offer of Settlement containing findings that the firm committed supervisory violations pertaining to mutual fund switches, uniform investment trusts (UITs), and non-traditional exchange traded funds (ETFs); and failed to provide customers with…

Derek Prater, of Baytown, Texas, a stockbroker with Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P., was fined $17,500.00 and suspended for two years from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that he engaged in unauthorized trades in customer accounts; and misled his firm in the course…

Matthew D. Maberry, of Alton, Illinois, was fined $10,000.00, suspended from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity, and ordered to pay restitution of $38,445 after consenting to findings that he failed to supervise non-traditional exchange traded funds and made unsuitable recommendations to customers. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent,…

Eric W. Kuchel of Brea, California, a stockbroker with LPL Financial LLC, was charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement in a Complaint alleging that Kuchel repeatedly delayed and failured to provide requested testimony in connection with a FINRA investigation into Kuchel’s alleged mutual fund transactions and private securities transactions. Department of…

Jeffrey Davidson of Stuart, Florida, a stockbroker with American Portfolio Financial Services, was suspended from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any and all capacities for three months and fined $10,000 after consenting to findings that he engaged in unsuitable mutual fund switching in customer accounts. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver…

John D. Wiswell of Stuart, Florida, a stockbroker with American Portfolio Financial Services, was fined $5,000 and suspended for fifteen business days from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any principal capacity after consenting to findings that she failed to supervise a Stockbroker’s conduct in order to prevent unsuitable recommendations from…

Barclay’s Capital, Inc., headquartered in New York, New York, was censured and fined $3,750,000 after consenting to findings that the firm had inadequate supervisory systems and written supervisory procedures for supervising the sale of mutual funds to retail brokerage customers. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015044544001 (Dec. 18, 2015). According to the AWC,…

Quest Capital Strategies, Inc. of Miami, Florida, was censured and fined $25,000 from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after consenting to findings that the firm had failed to establish adequate supervisory systems and written supervisory procedures pertaining to supervision of mutual funds sales, supervision of accounts to prevent overcharging of customers, and other compliance…

Robert N. Adrian of Memphis, Tennessee, a registered representative with Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, was fined $5,000 and suspended for forty-five days from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in all principal capacities after consenting to findings that he failed to supervise a registered representative in a manner designed to detect the…

Stephens, Inc., located in Little Rock, Arkansas, was censured by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for disadvantaging certain retirement plan and charitable organization customers that were eligible to purchase Class A shares in certain mutual funds without a front-end sales charge; and for failing to establish and maintain a supervisory system and procedures reasonably designed…

Janney Montgomery Scott, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvana, was censured by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for disadvantaging certain retirement plan and charitable organization customers that were eligible to purchase Class A shares in certain mutual funds without a front-end sales charge; and for failing to establish and maintain a supervisory system and procedures reasonably designed…

Stifel Nicolaus & Co., located in St. Louis, Missouri, was censured by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for disadvantaging certain retirement plan and charitable organization customers that were eligible to purchase Class A shares in certain mutual funds without a front-end sales charge; and for failing to establish and maintain a supervisory system and procedures…

Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P., located in St. Louis, Missouri, was censured by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for disadvantaging certain retirement plan and charitable organization customers that were eligible to purchase Class A shares in certain mutual funds without a front-end sales charge; and for failing to establish and maintain a supervisory system…

Ameritas Investment Corp., Cetera Advisors LLC, Comerica Securities, Inc., Fifth Third Securities, Inc., First Allied Securities, Inc., Park Avenue Securities, LLC, Securities America, Inc., Huntington Investment Company, Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, Commonwealth Financial Network, MetLife, and Infinex Investment, Inc., were all recently censured and fined by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for failing to apply…

Lombard Securities Incorporated was charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in a Complaint alleging that the firm failed to meet a myriad of supervisory responsibilities including written supervisory procedures designed to supervise the sale of leveraged, inverse, and inverse-leveraged exchange traded funds, prevent unsuitable mutual fund switching, and apply sales charge discounts to customers’…

Leonard Allen Goldberg, a former registered representative with both J.P. Turner & Company, LLC, as well as Newport Coast Securities, Inc., has been charged by FINRA’s Department of Enforcement in a Complaint alleging Goldberg engaged in multiple forms of securities fraud; unsuitable mutual fund switching/trading; exercising of discretion without written authorization; falsification of electronic records,…

Today the New York Attorney General Released the the False Claims Act case filed by Plaintiff-Relator David Danon against The Vanguard Group, Inc. (“VGI”), subsidiaries of VGI (collectively with VGI, “Vanguard”) and the Vanguard group of mutual funds (the “Funds”, and, collectively with Vanguard, the “Vanguard Group”). According to the unsealed complaint, Vanguard has operated…

NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE LLC NYSE HEARING BOARD DECISION 07-116 September 7, 2007 WACHOVIA CAPITAL MARKETS LLC MEMBER ORGANIZATION Violated NYSE Rule 1100(b) by failing to deliver product descriptions to customers that purchased Exchanged Traded Funds; violated NYSE Rule 342 by failing to provide for, establish, and maintain appropriate procedures of supervision and control, including…