Merrill Lynch Settles for $39M Class Action Lawsuit Alleging It Didn’t Pay Enough Interest to Clients With Cash in Retirement Accounts

Published on: November 2, 2026 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Our Broker Fraud Lawyers at Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Are Continuing To Investigate

Following a $39 million class action settlement where Merrill Lynch was accused of paying near-zero interest on retirement cash accounts, our Broker Fraud Lawyers at Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas are continuing to investigate affected investors. These securities attorneys help clients evaluate whether to remain part of a class action or pursue individual FINRA arbitration to maximize their recovery for mismanaged cash sweep programs.

In a class action settlement, Merrill Lynch agreed to pay $39M over allegations that it didn’t pay enough interest to brokerage clients holding cash. Instead, contend the plaintiffs, the brokerage firm paid close-to-zero interest rates rather than market rates on the cash in their retirement accounts.

Why Are CAI Investments Manufacturing Essential Asset DSTs Investors Exploring Their Legal Options

Published on: October 12, 2026 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Allegations of Financial Troubles, as Well as Unsuitable Investment Recommendations by Brokers, Raise Concerns

The law firm Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas is investigating brokers for potentially unsuitable recommendations and due diligence failures related to the $182M CAI Investments Manufacturing Essential Asset DST. The investigation follows reports that the real estate offering suspended monthly dividend payouts, requested additional capital from investors, and faces a foreclosure lawsuit on its primary Illinois facility.

If you are an investor who suffered losses in a CAI Investments Manufacturing Essential Asset Delaware Statutory Trust (DST), contact Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (investorlawyers.com) today. We are looking into allegations of unsuitability and due diligence failures by the brokers that recommended and sold this Regulation D offering to customers.

Elderly Investor Sues Charles Schwab For Up To $5,000,000 After Hackers Steal Her Money

Published on: October 1, 2026 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Is Representing This Claimant

A nonagenarian investor represented by Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas has filed a FINRA arbitration claim seeking up to $5 million from Charles Schwab after hackers stole her seven-figure retirement savings. Despite the firm’s written security guarantee, Schwab has refused to compensate her, blaming her for falling for the scam and prompting the lawsuit alleging negligence and breach of fiduciary duty.

A nonagenarian widow has filed a FINRA arbitration claim against Charles Schwab & Co. after her account at the brokerage firm was infiltrated by hackers. She is seeking up to $5M in damages now that the theft has left her almost penniless. Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (investorlawyers.com) is representing this elderly investor.

Why Should Velocis Fund III Investors Explore Their Legal Options?

Published on: September 27, 2026 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Our Broker Negligence Lawyers Are Here To Help

Velocis Fund III investors who suffered significant losses may have grounds for FINRA arbitration against brokerage firms that misrepresented the fund as a safe, liquid investment. The law firm Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas offers free case evaluations to help retail investors and retirees recover damages caused by potential broker negligence or overconcentration.

If you are someone whose broker-dealer recommended that you invest in the Velocis Fund III, you may want to explore your legal options. This vintage real estate value-added fund, which has commercial real estate assets in the US Southwest and Southeast, is a high-risk investment.

Why Should Alexander Capital Ventures Series Delta-2 and Delta-3 Investors Explore Their Legal Options?

Published on: September 10, 2026 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

You May Have a Claim Against This Broker-Dealer If You Suffered Serious Losses

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas is investigating potential legal claims on behalf of investors who suffered severe losses in Alexander Capital Ventures Series Delta-2 and Delta-3 funds. The high-risk private placements, which invested in foreign startup Tevva, were allegedly unsuitably recommended to retail clients and retirees despite steep upfront fees and significant conflict of interest.

Our broker fraud law firm is continuing to speak with investors who lost money in Alexander Capital Ventures Series Delta-2 or Delta-3. Managed by brokerage firm Alexander Capital, these are high-risk private Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) or series LLC funds that invested in foreign startup Tevva. There are concerns that they may have been unsuitably recommended to retail customers.

Priority Income Fund Investors May Be Looking At An 80% Loss

Published on: August 27, 2026 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Contact Our Closed-End Fund Loss Recovery Attorneys Today

Priority Income Fund has reportedly lost nearly 80% of its original value due to defaults and distressed exchanges in its high-risk collateralized loan obligation (CLO) holdings. In response to heavy investor losses, the law firm Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas is offering free case assessments to help retail investors pursue recovery claims against brokers who unsuitably recommended or misrepresented the fund.

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (investorlawyers.com) is offering free assessment to investors who suffered losses in Priority Income Fund. This closed-end fund is a risky private investment that should never have been sold to retail investors. Now, it has reportedly lost 79-80% of its original value. Its initial offering price was $15.00, with its current value as of July 31, 2026 at $3.15. A July 2026 tender led to heavy oversubscription. This offer prorated repurchases to around 15.23% of the shares requested.

Did Ex-Morgan Stanley Broker Theodore Byrer Ignore Your Best Interests When By Recommending an Unsuitable Trading Strategy?

Published on: August 22, 2026 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Our Stockbroker Fraud Lawyers Are Investigating Claims Of Losses By His Former Customers Involving Options Trading, Unauthorized Trading, and More

The law firm Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas broker misconduct lawyer group is investigating investor loss claims against former Morgan Stanley broker Theodore Byrer, who was suspended by FINRA for unauthorized trading and unsuitably recommending risky options trading strategies to unsophisticated clients. Affected investors who suffered financial losses due to Byrer’s alleged misconduct are encouraged to seek a free consultation to explore potential recovery options through legal action against his former brokerage firm.

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas broker misconduct lawyer team (investorlawyers.com) are speaking to investors who suffered losses while working with now suspended former financial advisor Theodore William Byrer. Morgan Stanley fired him in 2023 following allegations of unauthorized trading in customer accounts. Byrer went on to become an International Assets Advisory broker until 2024.

Brokers Under Scrutiny For Selling Phoenix American Hospitality REITs

Published on: August 10, 2026 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Questions of Stockbroker Misconduct After SEC Hotel Investment Fund Manager Raises $86M From 2000 Investors

Dallas-based Phoenix American Hospitality and president William Lee “Perch” Nelson were charged by the SEC with fraudulently raising $86M from 2,000 investors through misleading Regulation A REIT claims. Affected investors can work with a qualified Broker Fraud Attorney to pursue FINRA arbitration against financial advisors who unsuitably recommended or misrepresented these risky real estate investments.

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Broker Fraud Attorney teams (investorlawyers.com) are looking into claims of investor losses involving Phoenix American Hospitality. The Dallas-based hotel investment fund manager and its president William Lee “Perch” Nelson are accused of fraud by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) related to two Regulation A investment funds: American Hospitality Properties REIT I and REIT II.

Did DFPG Investments Broker Brian King Sell You EcoVest Capital Syndicated Conservation-Easements?

Published on: August 5, 2026 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Our Broker-Dealer Fraud Lawyers Are Investigating Investor Losses

Our Broker-Dealer Fraud Lawyers are investigating DFPG Investments advisor Brian Ashley King and other brokers for allegedly selling unsuitable EcoVest Capital Syndicated Conservation Easements to investors. These high-risk private placements, targeted by the DOJ and IRS as alleged tax scams, have left retail investors facing severe principal losses, back taxes, and penalties.

If you were an investor whose financial advisor marketed and sold you EcoVest Capital Syndicated Conservation Easement (SCE) that led to you sustaining serious losses, Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Broker-Dealer Fraud Lawyers (investorlawyers.com) want to talk to you. There are growing concerns that these private placements were unsuitably marketed by brokers to customers, including retail customers. The Internal Revenue Service has placed SCEs on its Dirty Dozen list of alleged tax scams.

For Velocis Fund III Investors, Suing Your Broker May Be The Way To Recoup Your Losses

Published on: July 21, 2026 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Our Investment Loss Recovery Law Firm Wants To Talk To You

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas is investigating brokerage firms, including RBC Capital, for unsuitably recommending Velocis Fund III—a speculative, illiquid commercial real estate private equity fund—to retail investors and retirees. Because market headwinds and high interest rates have heavily impacted the fund’s assets, affected investors are being encouraged to explore legal recovery options against the broker-dealers who failed to perform proper due diligence or adequately disclose risks.

Once again, Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Broker Negligence Attorneys (investorlawyers.com) are putting out a call to investors who suffered losses in Velocis Fund III. This is a speculative investment that should not have been sold to retail customers, inexperienced investors, and retirees. Unfortunately, there are brokers that have done exactly that, unsuitably recommending this high-risk real estate investment fund to clients.