FINRA Suspends Texas Broker For Three Months Kurt Jason Gunter, a Wells Fargo Clearing Services (WRET) registered representative in Bee Cave, Texas, was recently sanctioned by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). The self-regulatory organization (SRO) contends that he allegedly made unsuitable unit investment trust (UIT) sales to customers. In…
Articles Posted in Financial Firms
OCC Orders JPMorgan Chase Bank to Pay $250M For Inadequate Risk Management Practices
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Accuses Bank of Inadequate Internal Controls JPMorgan Chase Bank has been ordered to pay a $250M penalty. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) contends that the bank engaged in “unsafe and unsound practices” related to its internal controls and an…
Fired Morgan Stanley Brokers May Have Grounds for Wrongful Termination Claims
Morgan Stanley Fires Financial Advisors After Inherited Account Credits Investigation Morgan Stanley (MS) announced recently that it has terminated a number of financial advisors after a months-long investigation into payments being made to retired Morgan Stanley financial advisors under Morgan Stanley’s own Legacy Account Payments Program. Morgan Stanley’s “sunset plan”…
Hannes Financial Services’ Ronald Hannes Allegedly Defrauded Woodbury Financial Customers
Banned Woodbury Financial Broker Allegedly Sold Fake Investments, Converted Client Monies Ronald Walter Hannes, a Spokane, Washington-based investment advisor and former Woodbury Financial Services broker, is accused by the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions of defrauding 19 clients of over $2.9M. Hannes had operated out of Hannes Financial Services…
Sierra Income Investors are Losing Money
Risky, Illiquid Business Development Company Was Not Suitable for Many Investors If you are someone who invested in the Sierra Income Corporation, you may have lost money. This business development company (BDC) is a non-traded investment. Earlier this year, Sierra Income suffered losses after its announced merger with Medley Capital…
Widow Blames David Lerner Associates, Broker Gary Isler For Retirement Losses
Retiree Alleges Overconcentration in Spirit of America Energy Fund David Lerner Associates and its registered representative, Gary Walter Isler, are once again the subject of a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claim. The claimant, an elderly widow, is accusing them of causing her to suffer significant retirement losses by…
SEC Says Fired LPL Financial Broker Stole $300K From 73-Year Old Retiree
Former LPL Financial Investment Advisor Was Also Was Let Go By Integrated Wealth Concepts The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed civil charges accusing former LPL Financial (LPLA) registered representative, Matthew O. Clason, of defrauding an older investor of over $300K. In August, Clason, who worked out of Glastonbury,…
Barred Securities America Broker Jaime Westenbarger Faces Securities Fraud Allegations
Michigan Stockbroker Was Fired By Securities America Jaime Michael Westenbarger, a former Securities America registered representative in Michigan, is currently named in three pending customer complaints accusing him of negligence and stockbroker fraud. Westenbarger, who was fired by the broker-dealer last year, has been barred by the Financial Industry Regulatory…
Ex-Kalos Capital Broker Curtis Whipple Accused of Unsuitability & Misrepresentation Involving UDF IV
Latest FINRA Arbitration Claim Allege REIT Losses A number of investors recently filed a customer complaint against former Kalos Capital broker, Curtis Leroy Whipple, who was with the firm out of Plymouth, Michigan until this year. He faces allegations of unsuitability, misrepresentations, and lack of due diligence related to the…
FINRA Bars Ex-Newbridge Securities Broker Marshall Isaacson Following Unsuitability Claims
Stockbroker Marshall Owen Isaacson Named in Four Customer Complaints Since 2019 The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) recently barred Marshall Owen Isaacson, an ex- Newbridge Securities stockbroker based out of Boca Raton, Florida. Isaacson is accused by customers of making unsuitable investment recommendations and committing broker negligence. With 35 years…