The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and J.P. Turner & Co. have reached a settlement agreement over charges that the broker-dealer failed to put in place a proper supervisory system for making sure that its registered representatives charged clients reasonable and fair commissions on stock trades. By agreeing to settle, JP…
Investor Lawyers Blog
SEC Failed in Its Oversight of Bear Stearns, Says Inspector General
The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of the Inspector General says the agency failed to fulfill its mission in the oversight of Bear Stearns. Inspector General David Kotz says not only did the SEC neglect to order the company to cut back on risk taking, but it missed possible “red…
Former UBS AG Co-General Counsel David Aufhauser Agrees to Settle Insider Trading Charges for $6.5 Million
The New York Attorney General’s Office says it has reached a $6.5 million settlement agreement with former UBS AG co-general counsel David Aufhauser over insider trading charges. Aufhauser is also a former general counsel for the Treasury Department. In the complaint, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo accused Aufhauser of selling his…
NASAA and AARP Launch “Free Lunch Seminar Monitor Program” to Protect Seniors From Investment Fraud
The North American Securities Administrators Association and the AARP are inviting senior investors to take part in their “Free Lunch Seminar Monitor program.” Both organizations say the program will give investors a chance to report any unscrupulous promoters of inappropriate investments to security authorities in their state. According to statistics,…
SunTrust Investment Services to Pay $700,000 Fine to Settle FINRA Charges of Excessive Commission and Supervisory Violations Involving Fee-Based Brokerage Business
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority has announced that SunTrust Investment Services Inc. has agreed to pay a $700,000 fine to settle allegations that it engaged in supervisory violations involving its fee-based brokerage business and charged excessive commissions on low-priced stocks. By agreeing to settle, the investment firm is not admitting…
Banorte Securities International Agrees to $1.1 Million Fine Over Charges It Recommended Class B Mutual Fund Shares Instead of Class A
Banorte Securities International, Ltd. has agreed to a $1.1 million fine to settle charges that it recommended to customers that they buy Class B off-shore mutual fund shares even though they would have benefited more financially by buying Class A shares. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority announced the settlement agreement…
Securities Fraud Law Firm Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas LTD LLP Investigates Ray Londo, Londo Financial Group, and Linsco Private Ledger For Improper Lending/Borrowing of Client Funds
Securities fraud attorneys at the stockbroker fraud law firm of Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas LTD LLP are investigating claims for clients of Ray Londo, Londo Financial Group, and Linsco Private Ledger (LPL). The firm is asking any clients of Ray Londo that lent him or anyone else in his…
Securities and Exchange Commission Sues Five World Group Securities Brokers For Persuading Clients to Refinance Homes With Subprime Mortgages
This month, the US Securities and Exchange Commission filed a civil lawsuit against five World Group Securities brokers for allegedly pushing investors into refinancing their homes with subprime mortgages. The SEC is accusing the mortgage brokers of taking advantage of the clients’ lack of education, modest financial means, and poor…
Goldman Sachs Applies for New York Bank Charter
Goldman Sachs is applying for a New York bank charter. The application is one of the steps the New York-based investment bank is making in its move to become a commercial bank. Goldman’s competitors, Bank of America, Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, and JP Morgan Chase are banks that have a national…
FINRA Orders Charles Schwab to Pay $542,340 Over Short-Term Bond Fund Investor Claim
Earlier this month, a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority panel found Charles Schwab Corp. liable for $542,340 in an investor claim against the company over its YieldPlus short-term bond fund. This case is one of numerous individual arbitration and class action lawsuits against the San Francisco-based investment firm because of the…