Michael Scott Barrows, of Irvine, California, a stockbroker registered with Accelerated Capital Group, was the subject of a customer initiated investment related Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) securities arbitration claim in which the customer was awarded $1,035,360.46 in compensatory damages because Barrows was held liable on the customer’s claims which included violation of federal securities laws, violation of California securities laws, breach of contract, common law fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and negligence and gross negligence in connection with the sale of GWG Holdings, Inc. L Bonds when Barrows was associated with Accelerated Capital Group. FINRA Arbitration No. 22-01360 (October 30, 2023)(Explained Award).
This is not the first time that Barrows has been referenced in a customer initiated investment related dispute concerning Barrows’s conduct in the securities industry. FINRA Public Disclosure shows that on December 5, 2009, a customer filed an investment related complaint in which the customer requested $11,102.21 in damages based upon allegations that Barrows made unsuitable recommendations to the customer about a variable annuity. The complaint was denied.
Barrows is also referenced in a customer initiated investment related complaint filed on August 9, 2016, in which the customer requested $9,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Barrows engaged in unauthorized trading and made unsuitable recommendations in direct investments when Barrows was associated with National Planning Corporation.
Barrows has been associated with M Stevens Securities LLC in Irvine, California since June 9, 2023. HE has been associated with M Stevens Wealth Advisors LLC in Irvine, California since April 4, 2018.
Barrows was associated with Kingswood Capital Partners LLC in Irvine, California from July 24, 2018, to February 1, 2023. He was associated with Accelerated Capital Group in Costa Mesa, California from October 24, 2017, to October 2, 2018. FINRA expelled ACG on November 26, 2019.
