Investor Lawyers Blog

Utah Retirees File Six-Figure GBP Investor Claim Against Woodbury Financial Services

Published on: October 27, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Couple’s FINRA Arbitration Claim Seeks Up to $500K in Damages

A retired couple from Payson, Utah have filed a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claim against Woodbury Financial Services over losses they sustained while investing in GPB Capital Holdings LLC, CIM REIT, and other privately traded entities. Now, they are seeking up to $500K in damages.

Our investment fraud lawyers are representing these investors in their FINRA arbitration claim against Woodbury. This is one of many securities cases we have filed against the broker-dealers that enriched themselves in the alleged $1.7B Ponzi scheme. The hearing will take place in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Ex-Western International Securities Broker Megurditch Patatian Allegedly Unsuitably Recommended Non-Traded REITs to Investors

Published on: October 26, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

FINRA Claims Former Financial Advisor Also Cost Investors Over Variable Annuities

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has filed a complaint accusing ex-Western International Securities registered representative Megurditch Mike Patatian of unsuitably recommending to 59 customers that they purchase non-traded real estate investment trusts (non-traded REITs). According to the self-regulatory organization (SRO), Patatian lacked reasonable grounds to make 81 recommendations to these customers. Not only that, but for four of the non-traded REIT sales at issue, the ex-financial advisor recommended that they surrender their variable annuities (VAs), which caused them to have to pay surrender fees and incur taxes.

These purportedly unsuitable recommendations which caused investors to lose money, occurred while Patatian was with Western International Securities in Westlake Village, CA. (After leaving that brokerage firm in 2020, he became a Supreme Alliance broker for less than a year in Charlotte, North Carolina.)

Former Worden Capital Broker Allan Montalbano Faces $543K Unsuitability Case For Broker Negligence

Published on: October 25, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Ex-New York Financial Advisor Has 15 Customer Disputes on BrokerCheck

If you suffered investment losses while working with ex-Worden Capital Management stockbroker Allan Perry Montalbano, contact our New York financial advisor misconduct attorneys at Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm at investorlawyers.com). Montalbano, who is no longer a registered broker or investment advisor, has 16 disclosures on BrokerCheck. Out of these, 15 are customer disputes.

Call our New York broker misconduct attorneys at (716) 261-3529. Throughout the US call SSEK Law Firm at (800) 259-2010.

Former LPL Financial Broker James Couture Rejects Plea Deal Over Misappropriation Allegations

Published on: October 22, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Massachusetts Broker Accused of Defrauding Customers of $3M

James Kenneth Couture, an ex-LPL Financial registered representative, was arrested in July 2021 after turning down a plea deal related to criminal charges that accused him of stealing $3M from investors. Following his decision not to accept the deal, a grand jury added additional criminal counts to the charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, as well as an investment advisor fraud charge. Couture has pleaded not guilty to all criminal charges and was released without bond.

At the time, Couture was an LPL Financial broker until that broker-dealer fired him in June 2020. He was also a Massachusetts-based investment advisor who ran the Private Wealth Management Group and shell company Legacy Financial Group.

Florida Retirees File $2.5M FINRA Arbitration Case Against Henley & Co. Over Alleged Ponzi Scam Losses

Published on: October 21, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Deceased New York Broker Philip Incorvia May Have Defrauded Investors

A retired couple living in Florida has filed a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claim against broker-dealer Henley & Co. over losses they suffered while working with Philip Robert Incorvia as their registered financial advisor. Incorvia, who died in August 2021, was a registered representative with the firm for over 15 years until his passing. He also ran Jefferson Resources, Inc. in Shoreham, New York.

Our Ponzi fraud attorneys at Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm at investorlawyers.com) are speaking with investors who suffered losses while working with ex-Henley & Co. broker Philip Incorvia. He may have defrauded more than 15 East Coast investors in his alleged Ponzi scheme.

FINRA Probes Broker-Dealers’ Activities Related to SPACs

Published on: October 19, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Popular With Retail Investors, Shell Companies That Raise Capital Through Own IPOs Can Be Risky

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has started a thorough examination of the activities of brokerage firms in relation to special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs). These shell companies raise funds through their own IPOs and have up to two years to select and acquire a private company that will go public via merger. They are popular among retail investors seeking to make money from private companies whose shares they otherwise wouldn’t be able to buy because they don’t satisfy certain wealth or income thresholds.

However, SPACs have come under increasing scrutiny from FINRA in the wake of their growing popularity, because of the risks and potential harm they can pose for retail investors. Our skilled SPAC investment attorneys at Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm at investorlawyers.com) are investigating claims of losses by investors whose brokerage firm unsuitably recommended a special purpose acquisition vehicle or did not fully apprise them of the risks involved. Contact SSEK Law Firm at (800) 259-9010 today

Customers of Western International Securities Broker Peter Steege Allege Unsuitability

Published on: October 18, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Denver, Colorado Financial Advisor Has 21 Disclosures on BrokerCheck

If you suffered losses while working with Western International Securities registered investment advisor Peter Benedict Steege, our Denver, Colorado broker misconduct lawyers want to speak with you. Steege, who has been with this firm for 19 years, has 21 disclosures listed on BrokerCheck. Most of them are customer disputes. However, Steege was also named in a former criminal case (now dismissed) that alleged petty theft and a few regulatory disputes.

Our Denver broker negligence lawyers represent investors throughout the state and the rest of the US in their Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claims over losses they sustained due to the wrongful or careless actions of their financial advisors. In Colorado, call SSEK Law Firm at (720) 439-2827. You can also reach us nationwide at (800) 259-9010.

More Customers Say UBS Broker Brian Donaldson Unsuitably Recommended Yield Enhancement Strategy

Published on: October 15, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

YES Strategy Investors Suffer Losses, Say Risks Were Misrepresented

Another Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claim has been filed against UBS Financial for losses sustained in its Yield Enhancement Strategy. The claimants contend that their financial advisors at the broker-dealer unsuitably recommended this iron condor strategy that was misrepresented to them as low risk.

The investors say that they worked with UBS brokers Brian Jay Donaldson and Frank Frederick Baldwin. According to BrokerCheck, this is Baldwin’s first customer dispute and Donaldson’s second. The first one involving Donaldson is also over UBS YES losses with that claimant seeking $600K in damages.

GPB Capital Founder David Gentile Claims Firm Owes Him Millions of Dollars

Published on: October 14, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Alternative Asset Firm’s Former CEO Wants Money Despite Facing Criminal Fraud Charges

David Gentile, the founder of GPB Capital Holdings LLC, is requesting that a district court grant him supervised mediation as he attempts to secure millions of dollars that he claims the alternative asset firm owes him as owner and general partner.

Gentile, ex-managing partner Jeffrey Lash, and Ascendant Capital owner Jeffry Schneider are accused of operating an over $1.7B Ponzi scheme that defrauded more than 17,000 investors. The three men are also facing criminal charges.

Customer Say Ex-Merrill Lynch Broker Peter Eckerline Did Not Act In Their Best Interests

Published on: October 13, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Former Merrill Lynch Financial Advisor Has Been Named in Nine Customer Disputes

Peter Edward Eckerline, a longtime Merrill Lynch broker who spent his entire 37 years industry with the firm until August 2021, has been named in nine customer disputes by claimants. These claimants are seeking to recover damages for losses they sustained.

Eckerline, who worked out of Wayzata, Minnesota for Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, is no longer a registered broker or investment advisor.