Investor Lawyers Blog

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Investigates NEXT Financial Group Over Non-Traded REIT Sales

Published on: January 6, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

NEXT Financial Group Sold Unsuitable REITs To Investors, Including Older Seniors

If you were an investor who suffered losses in Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) that were recommended and sold to you by a NEXT Financial Group broker, Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm) wants to talk to you.

The Houston-based independent brokerage firm was recently fined $150K by the Massachusetts Securities Division for selling REITs to investors even when these investments were not suitable for them.

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas investigates Martin David Batstone and Newbridge Securities Corp.

Published on: January 3, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

SSEK Currently Investigating Ex-National Securities Broker, Martin David Batstone

Shepherd, Smith, Edwards & Kantas (“SSEK Law Firm”), a law firm specializing in representing wronged investors, is looking into allegations against Martin David Batstone, formerly employed by Newbridge Securities Corp. out of San Diego, California. Prior to that, he worked at Crown Capital Securities and Independent Financial Group, LLC.

According to allegations, Batstone used his position as a financial advisor to solicit investments in outside business activity. It is unclear if this outside operation was approved by Newbridge Securities or his prior employers. It is further alleged Batstone utilized a portion of the funds for his own use.

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Investigates Investor Claims Involving SBLOC Losses

Published on: December 30, 2019 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Many SBLOC Investors Not Apprised of Risks

If you are an investor who suffered significant losses from securities-backed line of credits (SBLOCs) and your brokerage firm and their broker neglected to tell you about the risks involved, our investment fraud lawyers at Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm) would like to talk to you. SBLOCs are not for every investor and they are certainly not for those that are unable to handle too much risk.

What are SBLOCs?

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Investigates Ex-Triad Advisors Broker Michael Sievert For Selling GPB Private Placements

Published on: December 27, 2019 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Michael Sievert is Now an Arkadios Capital Broker

If you were an investor who suffered losses from GPB Capital Holdings investments that were sold to you by broker Michael Sievert, please contact Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas, LLP (SSEK Law Firm) today.

Sievert is currently an Arkadios Capital broker. Already, he is the subject of two customer disputes involving GPB private placements from his time when he was a Triad Advisors broker.

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Investigates Claims Involving Ex-Woodbury Financial Services Broker Robert Hayes Hoffman

Published on: December 26, 2019 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Barred Woodbury Financial Services Broker Accused of Misrepresentations and Fraud

If you are an investor who lost money while Robert Hayes Hoffman was your financial representative, our broker misconduct lawyers at Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm) would like to talk to you. Hoffman was barred by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in 2017 and the Indiana Securities Division in 2018. He was a Woodbury Financial Services broker from 2006 and 2017. After that, for less than a year, he was a Thurston, Springer, Miller, Herd & Titak broker until the FINRA bar.

Hoffman’s BrokerCheck record notes that he has already been the subject of at least three customer disputes. One claim, alleging unsuitability, misrepresentations, breach of fiduciary duty, and selling away, was settled for $250K. Another customer dispute, which made similar allegations, including churning, was settled for over $1M. A third dispute, which accused Hoffman of recommending a variable annuity that was not only unsuitable for the claimant but also resulted in tax consequences for her, was settled for nearly $48K.

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Investigates Investor Loses Involving Steepener Structured Notes

Published on: December 24, 2019 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Steepener Investments Not Suitable for All Investors

Throughout the US, our investment fraud lawyers at Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas, LLP (SSEK Law Firm) represent investors who sustained losses in Steepener investments after they were not fully apprised of the risks or because these structured notes were never suitable for them, to begin with.

Steepeners are complex investments and they are not for everyone. Some Steepener structured notes and investments have suffered catastrophic losses. Contact SSEK Law Firm to request your free, no-obligation case consultation.

Lek Securities Ex-CEO Samuel Lek Barred by FINRA and Major Exchanges

Published on: December 24, 2019 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Lek Securities Accused of Enabling Manipulative Trading

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and most major US securities exchanges have permanently barred broker Samuel Lek, who is also the former CEO of Lek Securities. Meanwhile, the broker-dealer was fined $900K.

The bars by the self-regulatory organization (FSRO), the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), the Nasdaq Stock Market, Cboe Global Markets, and their affiliate exchanges were part of 10 distinct settlements. They came in the wake of allegations that Lek Securities gave foreign traders market access and that some of these traders proceeded to engage in manipulative trading and fraud. Lek and Lek Securities settled the charges but without denying or admitting to them.

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Investigates Claims Involving Centaurus Financial Broker Katherine Nishnic

Published on: December 23, 2019 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Centaurus Financial Broker Named In Multiple Customer Disputes

If you suffered substantial investment losses while Centaurus Financial broker, Katherine Nishnic, was your registered representative, please contact Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas, LLP (SSEK Law Firm). We can help you determine whether you have grounds for a broker fraud case. According to her BrokerCheck record, Nishnic is already the subject of at least eight customer disputes.

She has been in the industry for 25 years and a Centaurus broker for four years. Previous to that, Nishnic was registered as a broker for JP Turner and before that with GunnAllen Financial, First Allied Securities, DE Frey & Co., Merrill Lynch and Pierce Fenner and Smith.

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Investigates Sagepoint Financial Over GPB Private Placement Sales

Published on: December 19, 2019 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Sagepoint Financial Customers Suffer Losses from GPB Private Placements and Funds

If you are an investor who suffered losses after a Sagepoint Financial broker sold you GPB private placements, our securities fraud lawyers at Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm) would like to talk to you. GPB Capital Holdings is accused of running a $1.8B Ponzi scam. Sagepoint Financial is one of more than 60 broker-dealers whose registered representatives sold these investments to their customers.

Sagepoint Financial is part of Advisor Group, a huge network of independent wealth management firms. In August, the broker-dealer and another Advisor Group firm, Royal Alliance, were prominently named by the lead plaintiffs in the first class action securities case against GPB Capital. The firms’ brokers had sold them their investments in the GPB Automotive Portfolio and the GPB Holdings II funds.

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Continues to Investigate Claims Involving Merrill Lynch Strategic Return Notes

Published on: December 18, 2019 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Merrill Lynch Sold Strategic Return Notes To Retail Investors

If you are an investor who lost money from Strategic Return Notes (SRNs) that were sold by Bank of America’s (BAC) Merrill Lynch, please contact our investment fraud lawyers at Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas, LLP (SSEK Law Firm) today.

The investment raised about $150M from their sales and caused substantial losses from many. SSEK Law Firm is committed to helping Strategic Return Notes investors to recoup their losses.