The New York Times is reporting that on May 24, a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority panel of arbitrators granted Wells Fargo (WFC) broker Michele Kief ‘s request that it recommend that the securities complaint, in which the bank settled for $125,000 allegations of fraud and negligence related to her actions,…
LPL Securities has hired the Securities and Exchange Commission Division of Enforcement’s ex-acting deputy director David Bergers as LPL Financial Holdings Inc.’s (LPLA) general counsel and managing director for government and legal relations. Following news of the appointment, LPL CEO and Chairman Mark Casady was quick to point out that…
According to prosecutors, Michael Balboa, an ex-Millennium Global Investments Ltd. portfolio manager, took part in a 10-month financial scam that involved marking up the Nigerian sovereign debt in funds he oversaw. The federal government contends that Balboa and three unnamed co-conspirators engaged in a scheme in which he provided bogus…
According to former broker David Evansen, he is the reason that Mitchel C. Atkins, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc.’s District 7 region director, resigned. His claim differs from the SRO’s statement about how Atkins decided to step down “pursue other interests.” Aktins, as FINRA regional director, was in charge…
The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Risk, Strategy and Financial Innovation’s director Craig Lewis wants members of the public to be more proactive about offering information regarding investor-protection related benefits and costs during the rulemaking process. At the Pennsylvania Association of Public Employee Retirement Systems’s spring forum, Lewis said…
Dave Ramsey, a well-known radio host, recently got into a twitter war with fee-only financial advisers. The advisers had criticized the radio personality, who is also an author, for telling his readers to expect a 12% investment return and for promoting brokers who are commission-based. Ramsey hosts the popular “The…
Symetra Financial Corp. (SYA), an insurance company, is leaving the independent brokerage business after it sells its broker-dealer Symetra Investment Services Inc. to Manulife Financial Corp. (MFC) unit John Hancock Financial Services Inc. (JHF). Symetra chief executive Tom Mara said that considering the company’s products at this time, owning the…
The Chicago Board Options Exchange, which is the largest options exchange in the United States, has consented to pay $6 million penalty to settle Securities and Exchange Commission charges accusing it of not fulfilling its obligation to enforce trading rules and failing to stop one firm member from engaging in…
With many municipalities exhibiting better financial health and tax-free bonds touting pretty good returns, municipal bonds are attracting investors. However, this doesn’t mean that you, as a prospective investor, shouldn’t approach munis with caution. Investors don’t pay a commission when they purchase a municipal bond, but they do have to…
Gold, once a hot commodity in the markets, is, at least for now, considered incredibly passé. ETF Trends editor Tom Lydon says that over 600,000 pounds of gold have been disposed of this year. He says that gold is out of favor for at least a couple of reasons: Central…