Broker Misconduct

Securities Fraud In San Francisco: How You Can Protect Yourself

Published on: May 13, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Becoming the victim of securities fraud in San Francisco can lead to devastating financial losses and there are steps that you can take to prevent that from happening. Even if your broker is registered with a known brokerage firm, there are questions you should ask and due diligence you can do to protect yourself and your investments.

How To Protect Yourself Against Securities Fraud

Below, we discuss the steps you need to put in place to ensure that you are fully protected when dealing with a broker or brokerage firm based in San Francisco.

First Allied Securities Broker William Fox Accused of Making Unsuitable Alternative Investments Recommendations

Published on: April 29, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Texas Stockbroker Purportedly Earned High Commissions From Illiquid Alternative Investments

If you are an investor who was sold alternative investments by First Allied Securities broker William Fox, you may have grounds for an investor claim. Fox, an Austin, TX-based registered representative, has been accused by at least one customer, who already filed a Financial Industry Reguinveslatory Authority (FINRA) claim, of not performing the proper due diligence before recommending that the claimant invest over $2M in retirement funds in illiquid, poor quality alternative investments.

This included nontraded real estate investment trusts (nontraded REITs), annuities, private placements, equipment leasing, and oil and gas investments. The sale of these investments to the claimant resulted in Fox earning $140K in commissions and an investment advisory fee.

Market Volatility Caused by COVID-19 Negatively Impacts Leveraged ETNs & Inverse ETPs

Published on: April 13, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Inverse and Leveraged ETNs and ETFs Are Shuttering

As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to adversely affect the markets and cause crude oil prices to drop, the number of inverse and leveraged exchange-traded notes (ETNs), exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and exchange-traded products (ETPs) involving crude oil that have been forced to close, delist, or automatically accelerate continues to grow and this has caused more losses for investors.

Right now, our broker fraud lawyers at Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm) are working with leveraged and inverse ETF and ETP investors throughout the US to help them explore their legal options.

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Investigates Investor Claims Involving Ex-Stifel Nicolaus Broker Steven Rodemer

Published on: April 9, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

FINRA Bars Fired Stifel Broker

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) announced that it has permanently barred former Stifel Nicolaus (SF) stockbroker Steven Dale Rodemer. The brokerage firm fired Rodemer earlier this year following allegations that he took funds from one client’s account without authorization.

Even with COVID-19 disrupting every aspect of our lives, the self-regulatory organization (SRO) continues to issue disciplinary actions against brokers accused of misconduct. Here, at Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm), our broker fraud attorneys also remain hard at work going after the stockbrokers and their firms whose fraudulent or negligent actions contributed to unnecessary investor losses.

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Investigates Customer Claims Involving Former LPL Financial Broker Mark Lamkin

Published on: April 8, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Former LPL Financial Broker Borrowed $1.3M From Customer Without Notifying Firm

Mark Lamkin, an ex-LPL Financial representative, has been suspended by the FINRA for three months. Lamkin, who is now a Calton & Associates broker, is accused of borrowing $1.3M in total from an LPL Financial Services customer between 2011 and 2017 without getting written approval from or notifying the broker-dealer. This is not the first time he is accused of broker misconduct.

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm) is investigating claims involving Mark Lamkin, who has been a registered representative for 28 years. Contact our stockbroker fraud attorneys today.

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Investigates Investor Losses Involving VelocityShares 3x Long Crude Oil ETN (UWT)

Published on: April 2, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Energy Exchange Traded Products Including VelocityShare 3x Long Crude Oil ETN Tank

As market volatility continues to wreak havoc on different investments in the wake of COVID-19, our securities fraud lawyers at Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm) are fighting for investors needing to recover their losses.

Last month, a huge market-sell off caused Leveraged Energy Traded Products (ETPs), including the VelocityShares 3x Long Crude Oil ETN (UWT), to plunge in value.

Ex-Kestra Financial Broker Involved in Investor Fraud Claims and Accused of Unauthorized Trading

Published on: March 25, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Barred Kestra Investment Services Stockbroker Accused of Unauthorized Trading

Our investor fraud lawyers at Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm) are currently speaking with former customers of ex-Kestra Investment Services broker, James Blake Daughtry. He was recently barred by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).

The self-regulatory organization (SRO) issued the ban after Daughtry refused to testify during its investigation into allegations that he may have engaged in transactions that were potentially “fraudulent and unauthorized” in a number of customers’ accounts. Also, in the wake of FINRA’s order, Kestra fired him this month.

Broker Fraud and Investment Losses During The Time of The Coronavirus

Published on: March 20, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Investment Losses During Recent Market Crisis May Be Recoverable

Investors throughout the United States are grappling with financial investment losses as markets continue to remain volatile in the wake of Coronavirus (COVID-19). The recent oil price drops, the rise in unemployment as businesses are forced to shutter and lay off employees, and a flailing economy has done nothing to assuage growing concerns.

Already, Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm) has spoken to a number of these investors to see how we might help.

SSEK Investigates Stockbroker Misconduct Claims Involving Ex-Commonwealth Capital Broker Kimberly Springsteen-Abbott

Published on: February 26, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Ex-Commonwealth Capital Broker Was Accused Of Misusing Investors’ Money

If you or someone you know lost money while working with former Commonwealth Capital broker, Kimberly Springsteen-Abbott, please contact our stockbroker fraud lawyers at Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas so we can determine whether you have grounds for a claim.

In 2013, Springsteen-Abbott was accused by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) of misusing about $345K of investor funds to pay for her own expenses. These included home renovations, meals, travel, and other items.

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Investigates Claims Involving Ex-First Allied Securities Broker Masood Azad

Published on: February 25, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Ex-Broker and First Allied Securities Accused in $1M Investor Fraud Case

Masood Husain Azad, a former Texas-based broker, is now the subject of an over $1M investor fraud claim. Also known as Mike Azad, he was fired by First Allied Securities in 2017. Now, First Allied Securities is a respondent in this Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration case, which was brought by a customer.

At Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm), our broker fraud lawyers are offering a free, no obligation case assessment to former customers of Masood Azad who suffered investment losses that they suspect may be due to fraud or negligence. Contact SSEK Law Firm today.