Despite Her Involvement in Dozens of Securities Cases, Brokerage Firms Continue to Clear Trades of Newport Coast Securities Broker Bambi I. Holzer

Three years after Forbes magazine wrote an article exposing broker Bambi Holzer as someone whose investment advice to clients had resulted in more than $12M in securities settlements, brokerage firms continue to clear her trades. Over the years there have been dozens of complaints filed against her for improper broker activities-more than nearly anyone that we here at Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas, LTD, LLP have ever seen.

Holzer is currently a Newport Coast Securities broker, but her employment history with different broker-dealers within the industry has involved numerous financial firms. According to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, she was previously registered with Wedbush Morgan Securities Inc., Brookstreet Securities Corporation, and Sequoia Equities Securities. Holzer also worked with UBS (UBS), where she and the firm were compelled to pay at least $11.4 million to settle securities claims that she had allegedly misrepresented variable annuities by misrepresenting that they came with guaranteed returns. Following her time there, Holzer went to go work at AG Edwards (AGE), where she was fired in 2003 for engaging in business practices allegedly not in line with the policies of the firm.

Later, while at Brookstreet, Holzer allegedly made misrepresentations during a 2005 presentation in Beverly Hills about how trusts had allowed a fictional couple to defer $732,000 in taxes and make $9 million. She would later say on her website that 500 people watched her that day. However, a court document says that there were actually just 33 people in attendance.

Also while at Brookstreet, NASD, FINRA’s predecessor suspended Holzer for 21 days and ordered her to pay a $100,000 fine for negligent misrepresentations she allegedly made about certain product features related to variable annuities when she worked at PaineWebber. And an example of one complaint still pending against Holzer is the FINRA arbitration claim filed in early 2010 by a Wedbush Morgan Securities customer who is contending that account mishandling, breach of fiduciary duty, and breach of contract allegedly resulting in $824,000 in damages.

Holzer’s record on FINRA’s Central Registration Depository is 105 pages long, and the lawsuits and regulatory disciplinary actions against her span over 90 of these pages. Allegations include:

• Violations of the Illinois Securities Act • Negligent representations related to variable annuities
• Fraud • Misrepresentations of fees • Unsuitable investments
• Private placement-related fraud • Churning • Variable annuity-related fraud • Inadequate supervision • Elder abuse
• Negligent sale/recommendation of Provident Royalties, LLC • Negligent recommendation/sale of unsafe products, including the Behringer Harvard Security Trust

Many of the FINRA claims against Holzer involve private placement and variable annuity instruments. A lot of these arbitration cases have resulted in substantial settlements.

Beware of Your Broker, Forbes, March 25, 2009

FINRA Central Registration Depository

More Blog Posts:
Ernst &Young Auditor Suspended Over Part Played in Botched 2004 Audit of AA Investors Management LLC, Stockbroker Fraud Blog, January 7, 2013

SEC Roundup: Massachusetts Investment Adviser Gets $1.78M Judgment and Allianz to Pay $12.3M to Settle Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Lawsuit, Stockbroker Fraud Blog, January 7, 2013

Clearing House Association Wants Greater Protections for Clearing Members, Institutional Investor Securities Blog, December 31, 2012

 

At our securities fraud law firm, our variable annuities lawyers and private placement attorneys represent investors both in arbitration and in court. If you suspect you have been the victim of broker fraud, please contact us today.