Alternative Investments

Broker Unsuitability Attorney

Published on: June 19, 2023 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Did Your Broker Unsuitability Recommend Alternative Investments?

Our Skilled Broker-Dealer Negligence Lawyers Are Investigating Centaurus Financial Advisor Valentino Scott

Alternative investments can be high-risk and they are generally unsuitable for most retail customers and conservative retirees. They also aren’t always suitable even for high-net-worth investors or accredited investors. A lot depends on an investor’s age, risk-tolerance level, portfolio, financial goals, and investment time horizon.

Alternative Investment Fraud Lawyers

Published on: April 25, 2023 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Customers of Berthel Fisher Sought $32.1M in Damages From Brokerage-Dealer

Our Experienced Alternative Investment Fraud Lawyers Are Investigating Investor Losses

According to the yearly audited financial statement submitted by Berthel Fisher to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in March, the broker-dealer concluded 2022 with about $32.1M in pending investor loss claims. While it is unclear which investments were specifically involved, as InvestmentNews reported, Berthel Fisher has a long history of selling alternative investments to customers. On multiple occasions, these investment recommendations were investors for whom these were allegedly unsuitable given their financial goals.

Alternative Investment Loss Lawyers

Published on: February 15, 2023 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Did You Invest in Private Placements That Were Too Risky For You?

Our Alternative Investment Loss Lawyers Are Investigating Brokers That May Have Unsuitably Marketed Legion Capital Corp. To Customers

Private placements are typically risky, illiquid investments and ideally should only be recommended to accredited investors that meet certain income level thresholds and/or are financially sophisticated. That said, even experienced, wealthy investors fall victim to unsuitable recommendations by a broker.

Investor Losses Involving Complete Business Solutions Group (Par Funding)

Published on: November 22, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

$500M of This Risky Private Placement Investment May Have Been Sold By Brokerage Firms

More than two years after the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that it had filed an emergency action against Complete Business Solutions (d/b/a Par Funding), many of those who collectively invested up to $500M in its alternative investment offerings are still grappling with how to recover their investor losses.

The Broker Misconduct Lawyer teams of Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (investorlawyers.com) are speaking with these investors, many of whom may have been unsuitably sold these risky unregistered securities by brokers. If this is the case for you, then you may have grounds for filing a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) lawsuit against your broker-dealer for damages.

GWG Holdings Misses $13.6M in Payments to L Bond Investors

Published on: February 2, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Hundreds of Broker-Dealers May Have Sold Up to $2B of High-Yield Junk Bonds

InvestmentNews reports that according to an industry insider, GWG Holdings may have issued up to $2B of high-yield junk bonds in recent years. While Emerson Equity is the managing broker-dealer for the GWG Issuer, there may have been hundreds of other broker-dealers that also sold L-Bonds to investors.

In a January 15, 2022 filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), GWG disclosed that it hasn’t been able to issue $13.6M in principal payments and interest that it owes to L Bond investors. The Dallas-based alternative asset manager has a 30-day grace period to complete the payments or risk default.

Former GPB Capital Holdings CEO David Gentile Sues The Alternative Asset Firm

Published on: January 4, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Founder Faces Charges Over $1.8B Ponzi Scam and Wants GPB Capital to Pay His Legal Fees

Beleaguered private equity firm GPB Capital Holdings is back in the news. This time its founder and former CEO, David Gentile, is suing the company in Delaware Chancery Court.

Gentile, who is facing criminal, civil fraud, and conspiracy charges related to the over $1.8B Ponzi scam that GPB is accused of perpetuating, wants his legal defense fees paid for and not out of his own pocket.

Senior Customer of Ex-NYLIFE Securities Broker Felix Chu Seeks Over $5M in Ponzi Scam Losses

Published on: August 6, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Barred Stockbroker is Accused of Running Ponzi Scam That Defrauded Elderly Investors

Felix S. Chu, a former NYLIFE Securities registered representative, is currently facing at least two customer disputes in which the claimants are seeking $5,230,000 in damages. Chu was barred by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) last year. He has been accused of running a Ponzi scam involving promissory notes that defrauded investors, including seniors.

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm at investorlawyers.com) is investigating claims of losses by former investors of ex-NYLIFE Securities financial advisor, Felix Chu. If you are one of these investors, call (800) 259-9010 today.

Benefit Street Partners Realty Trust to Merge With Capstead Mortgage Corp.

Published on: August 3, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Benefit Street Partners Realty Trust Investors May Be Looking At More Losses

If you are an investor whose broker unsuitably recommended Benefit Street Partners Realty Trust, you may have grounds for a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claim to recover damages.

On July 26, this publicly registered non-traded real estate investment trust (non-traded REIT) announced its merger with Capstead Mortgage Corporation. The combined company will be named Franklin BSP Realty Trust and is set to become the fourth biggest commercial mortgage REIT with a common stock that will trade on the New York Stock Exchange.

Hospitality Investors Trust Files For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection

Published on: June 23, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Non-Traded REIT Seeks To Restructure $1.3B in Unsecured Debt

If you are an investor whose broker recommended that you invest in Hospitality Investors Trust (HIT), you may have grounds for a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claim to recover damages.

Hospitality Investors Trust used to be called American Realty Capital Hospitality Trust (ARC Hospitality Trust). In May 2021, the publicly registered non-traded real estate investment trust (non-traded REIT) filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection as it seeks to restructure its $1.3B in unsecured debt.

Customers of Ameriprise Financial Services Broker Kevin Houser Seek $1.6M in Alternative Investment Losses

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

Ameriprise Financial Services Investment Advisor Accused of Unsuitability, Misrepresentations

If you suffered investment losses while working with Ameriprise Financial Services stockbroker, Kevin Douglas Houser, please contact Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm at investorlawyers.com) right away.

The Center Valley, Pennsylvania financial advisor is already named in four substantial pending customer disputes over alternative investments.