Financial Firms

Cetera Advisors Broker Jeffrey Meyers Accused of Making Unsuitable REIT Investment Recommendations

Published on: November 10, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Hospitality Investors Trust Was One of the REITs Marketed

Cetera Advisors Network broker Jeffrey Gerard Meyers, an Overland Park, Kansas financial advisor, is named in two pending customer disputes.

The claimants are accusing him of making unsuitable investment recommendations involving non-liquid real estate investment trusts (REIT). One of the products was Hospitality Investors Trust (HIT REIT), which declared bankruptcy after the COVID-19 pandemic began.

FINRA Bars Ex-Wells Fargo Broker James Seijas Who Is Accused In More Than $33M Ponzi Scam

Published on: November 4, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Former New Jersey Financial Advisor Allegedly Targeted Florida Doctors

James Alan Seijas, an ex-Wells Fargo Clearing Services broker, was barred by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) beginning November 2, 2021. The former New Jersey investment advisor did not provide information in the self-regulatory organization’s (SRO’s) investigation into his alleged involvement in an over $33M Ponzi scam.

Seijas, ex-UBS broker Michael Ackerman, and general surgeon Quan Tran are accused of running a cryptocurrency scam that targeted mostly Florida doctors through the entity Q3 Trading Club from 2017 to 2019. This would have been during Seijas’ time as a Wells Fargo registered representative.

Ex-Worden Capital Management John Cangialosi Ordered to Pay $271,622 in Customer Restitution

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

FINRA Suspends New York-Based Financial Advisor for Nine Months

John Sebastion Cangialosi, currently an SW Financial broker, was suspended by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in September 2021 for nine months. The broker was ordered to pay $271,622 in restitution for allegedly engaging in unsuitable trading in three customer accounts during his time as a Worden Capital broker.

The New York-based financial advisor has consented to the sanctions but without denying or admitting to the findings. Cangialosi also must pay a civil/administrative fee of $7,500.

SEC Accuses Fired Wells Fargo Broker Kenneth Welsh of Stealing Nearly $3M From Customers

Published on: November 1, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Senior Citizens Were Among Former Fairfield, NJ Financial Advisor’s Alleged Victims

Kenneth Andrews Welsh, an ex-Wells Fargo Clearing Services broker, is now facing Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charges accusing him of misappropriating at least $2.86 million from brokerage firm customers and advisory clients.

Allegedly the financial advisor used victims’ money (including senior citizens) to pay credit card bills and buy precious metals, including gold coins.

Utah Retirees File Six-Figure GBP Investor Claim Against Woodbury Financial Services

Published on: October 27, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Couple’s FINRA Arbitration Claim Seeks Up to $500K in Damages

A retired couple from Payson, Utah have filed a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claim against Woodbury Financial Services over losses they sustained while investing in GPB Capital Holdings LLC, CIM REIT, and other privately traded entities. Now, they are seeking up to $500K in damages.

Our investment fraud lawyers are representing these investors in their FINRA arbitration claim against Woodbury. This is one of many securities cases we have filed against the broker-dealers that enriched themselves in the alleged $1.7B Ponzi scheme. The hearing will take place in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Former Worden Capital Broker Allan Montalbano Faces $543K Unsuitability Case For Broker Negligence

Published on: October 25, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Ex-New York Financial Advisor Has 15 Customer Disputes on BrokerCheck

If you suffered investment losses while working with ex-Worden Capital Management stockbroker Allan Perry Montalbano, contact our New York financial advisor misconduct attorneys at Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm at investorlawyers.com). Montalbano, who is no longer a registered broker or investment advisor, has 16 disclosures on BrokerCheck. Out of these, 15 are customer disputes.

Call our New York broker misconduct attorneys at (716) 261-3529. Throughout the US call SSEK Law Firm at (800) 259-2010.

Former LPL Financial Broker James Couture Rejects Plea Deal Over Misappropriation Allegations

Published on: October 22, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Massachusetts Broker Accused of Defrauding Customers of $3M

James Kenneth Couture, an ex-LPL Financial registered representative, was arrested in July 2021 after turning down a plea deal related to criminal charges that accused him of stealing $3M from investors. Following his decision not to accept the deal, a grand jury added additional criminal counts to the charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, as well as an investment advisor fraud charge. Couture has pleaded not guilty to all criminal charges and was released without bond.

At the time, Couture was an LPL Financial broker until that broker-dealer fired him in June 2020. He was also a Massachusetts-based investment advisor who ran the Private Wealth Management Group and shell company Legacy Financial Group.

UBS to Pay More Than $1.1M in Two Yield Enhancement Strategy Cases

Published on: October 4, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

FINRA Arbitration Panels Award Damages To UBS YES Claimants

Two Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) panels have ordered UBS Wealth Management (UBS) to pay investors over $1.1 million for losses they sustained from the firm’s Yield Enhancement Strategy (YES).

This complex options trading strategy that promised investors stable, incremental returns has cost wealthy UBS customers significant losses. Many of them are now contending that misrepresentations and omissions were made about the degree of risk involved. Additionally, these investments were unsuitable for their investment accounts.

Customer of Ex-Raymond James Broker Alberto Valdes Claims Northstar Global Advantage Select Losses

Published on: October 1, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Miami Financial Advisor Accused of Making Unsuitable Recommendation in Northstar Global Advantage Select Products

A customer of ex-Raymond James Financial Services stockbroker Alberto Valdes has filed a six-figure FINRA claim seeking damages for investment losses sustained in Northstar Financial Services (Bermuda), an off-shore entity that is now in liquidation.

Valdes, who is currently a Citigroup registered representative, was with Raymond James as both a broker and investment advisor from 2016 to 2018.

Mexico Investors File $500K Northstar Financial Services (Bermuda) Claim Against Wells Fargo Clearing Services

Published on: September 30, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Northstar Bermuda FINRA Arbitration Hearing to Take Place in Houston, Texas

A couple who live in Mexico has filed a FINRA arbitration claim against Wells Fargo Clearing Services for the six-figure loss they sustained from investing in Northstar Financial Services (Bermuda).

The claimants were longtime Wells Fargo Bank clients and they were referred to a financial advisor at the broker-dealer. They would go on to work with other Wells Fargo Securities brokers as time passed.