Investor Lawyers Blog

UBS YES Clients of Broker William Cerf Want $16.5M in Damages

Published on: January 18, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

UBS Financial Services is Also a Defendant in New Class Action Lawsuit

If you are a UBS Financial Services customer who invested in the firm’s Yield Enhancement Strategy (UBS YES) at the recommendation of New York financial advisor, William Montgomery Cerf, you are not alone.

According to BrokerCheck, William Cerf is named in six pending customer disputes. The claimants are collectively requesting $16.5M in damages. He is also one among many UBS brokers who marketed and sold UBS YES as a low-risk way to generate modest income. This options overlay strategy has ended up costing wealthy investors millions of dollars.

Customers of Morgan Stanley Broker Michael Wagner Seek Over $20M in Damages

Published on: January 13, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Atlanta Financial Advisor Accused of Using an Unsuitable Options Investment Strategy

Michael John Wagner, a longtime Morgan Stanley broker, is currently under scrutiny in the wake of recent customer disputes in which the claimants are requesting over $20M in damages.

Based out of Atlanta, Georgia, Wagner has worked in the industry for 20 years. He has been a Morgan Stanley broker since 2012. Before that, he was a Merrill Lynch stockbroker and investment advisor.

Triad Advisors To Pay $195K Fine and More Than $510K in Restitution For LJM Fund Sales

Published on: January 12, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

FINRA Said Triad Brokers Unsuitably Recommended LJM Preservation and Growth Fund

In December 2021, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) censured and fined Triad Advisors $195K for allegedly failing to supervise its registered representatives that unsuitably recommended the LJM Preservation and Growth Fund (LJM) to customers.

The self-regulatory organization (SRO) contends that the broker-dealer allowed the sales to go through without first conducting the proper due diligence into the LJM Fund – especially while not having enough understanding about the Fund’s features and the risks involved.

FINRA Fines Merrill Lynch $1.2M and $950K

Published on: January 11, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Two Merrill Lynch Brokers Stole More Than $6M from 13 Clients

In December 2021, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) fined Merrill Lynch in two separate matters.

One fine, of $950K, is because the firm allegedly failed to detect that two of its financial advisors had stolen more than $6M from 13 customers in schemes that occurred over several years. This purportedly involved the transmission of funds through automated clearing house (ACH) transfers that were “externally initiated.”

DOJ Sends Letter to GPB Ponzi Scheme Victims

Published on: January 10, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

US Government Reaches Out to GPB Capital Investors Who Were Harmed

On December 23, 2021, the US Department of Justice sent a letter to those who have been identified as victims or potential victims of GPB Capital Holdings, LLC‘s more than $1.8B Ponzi scheme.

The notice comes in the wake of the federal government’s criminal case against GPB founder and owner David Gentile, ex-GPB managing partner Jeffrey Lash, and Ascendant Capital CEO Jeffry Schneider. These individuals were are all charged with securities fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy related to the alleged Ponzi scheme.

Customers of UBS Broker Roderick Von Lipsey Report UBS YES Losses

Published on: January 7, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Claimants Are Seeking Over $4M in Damages Over UBS YES Strategy

If you suffered investment losses while working with UBS Financial Services broker and investment advisor Roderick K. Von Lipsey, you may have grounds for filing a FINRA arbitration claim to recover damages.

In the last 2.5 years, between September 2019 and January 2022, the Washington DC financial advisor has been named in four pending customer disputes over alleged losses sustained in the UBS Yield Enhancement Strategy (UBS YES).

McNally Financial Services Broker Mark Kemp Has Been Named in 11 Customer Disputes

Published on: January 6, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Corpus Christi Financial Advisor is Accused of Negligence, Misrepresentations

Our Texas broker misconduct lawyers are looking into claims of losses by customers of Mark Alan Kemp, who is currently a McNally Financial Services registered representative. Mark Kemp, who has been in the industry for 30 years, has been named in nearly a dozen customer disputes, three of which are still pending.

If you are one of these investors, please contact us at Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm at investorlawyers.com) today. We can determine whether you have grounds for a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claim to pursue damages.

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.

Ex-Worden Capital Markets Broker Mark Kolta Has Been Named in 26 Customer Disputes

Published on: January 3, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Investors Are Seeking Six- to Seven-Figures in Damages

If you suffered investment losses while working with former Worden Capital Markets broker Mark Sam Kolta, you may want to explore your legal options with a seasoned securities law firm.

Kolta, who worked for 13 years in the industry, has 27 disclosures in his BrokerCheck record, 26 of which are customer disputes. A number of these are still pending, with some claimants requesting damages in the six and seven figures.

RBC Capital Markets to Pay $1M Over Unsuitable High-Yield Bond Concentration in Customer Accounts

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

RBC Capital Markets Settlement With FINRA Includes a Fine and Restitution

RBC Capital Markets has reached an agreement with FINRA in which the broker-dealer will pay $1M to resolve allegations of overconcentration in customers’ accounts involving high-yield bonds. Without denying or admitting to the self-regulatory organization’s (SRO’s) findings, RBC consented to a censure, a $550K fine, and more than $456K in restitution.

According to FINRA, the brokerage firm did not identify over 100 client accounts with conservative profiles that should have been reviewed for a possible unsuitable concentration of high-yield bonds.