Investor Lawyers Blog

Retirees Seek Up to $500K in Northstar Financial Services (Bermuda) Claim Against J.P. Morgan Securities

Published on: April 26, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

FINRA Arbitration Claim Was Brought by Mexican Investors Who Trusted US Broker-Dealer To Keep Their Assets Safe

A retired couple from Mexico is requesting up to $500K plus interest and costs from J.P. Morgan Securities, LLC over losses they suffered from investing in a Northstar Financial Services (Bermuda) variable annuity.

Because the carrier, Northstar Bermuda, is located off-shore in Bermuda, the policy that the investors purchased was not protected in the same way as those sold by US-based carriers. Now, the claimants are alleging the following:

Purshe Kaplan Pays $1.6M Settlement To 50 Investors

Published on: April 23, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Boutique Broker-Dealer Pays Another 7-Figures to Resolve Customer Disputes

Independent brokerage firm Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, Inc. has agreed to settle another Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claim with investors. This time, 50 customers had pursued financial recovery from the firm.

According to the broker-dealer’s yearly audited financial statement that it recently submitted with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the settlement amount is $1.6M. Wentworth Management Services, which owns the firm, will pay $1.2M while its insurer will cover the rest.

UBS Ordered To Pay $371K Award to YES Strategy Customers

Published on: April 20, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

FINRA Panel’s Ruling is UBS Financial’s Third Loss Involving Yield Enhancement Strategy

In a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration ruling, UBS Financial Services (UBS) must pay an Ohio couple $371K for financial losses they sustained from the brokerage firm’s Yield Enhancement Strategy (YES).

This is the third UBS Yes Strategy arbitration claim that the broker-dealer has lost, including one award for $1M to two Denver investors this year. The first award against UBS over its Yield Enhancement Strategy, for $90K, was granted to an investor in December.

Merger Folds KMS Financial, Investacorp, and Securities Services Under Securities America Banner

Published on: April 19, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Integration Instigated After Advisor Group’s Acquisition of Ladenburg Thalman

Securities America, which is a broker-dealer of the Advisor Group network, has completed integrating brokerage firms Investacorp, KMS Financial Securities, and Securities Services Network into its fold. All four were Ladenburg Thalman broker-dealers until Advisor Group acquired Ladenburg and its firms last year for $1.3B.

Triad Advisors, another former Ladenburg Thalman broker-dealer, will stay a standalone firm. The other Advisor Group broker-dealers include Woodbury Financial Services, FSC Securities, SagePoint Financial, Royal Alliance Associates, and FSC Securities Corporation.

Former Customers of SagePoint Financial Broker Christopher Bice Seek More Than $2M in Damages

Published on: April 16, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Unsuitability Involving Private Placements Alleged

Our unsuitable investment fraud attorneys at Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm at investorlawyers.com) are looking into customer complaints involving SagePoint Financial stockbroker, Christopher R. Bice.

His BrokerCheck record shows a number of pending investment fraud claims including at least two customer disputes involving private placements. The claimants are collectively seeking over $2M in damages. Bice, a Greensboro, North Carolina broker, is also an investment advisor.

Northstar Financial Services (Bermuda) to Liquidate After Extension Request Denied

Published on: April 15, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Investors Can Still Pursue Damages from Bankoh, Truist, and Ocean Financial Services

The Bermuda Supreme Court has turned down a request by Northstar Financial Services (Bermuda) Ltd.’s management asking for more time to pursue restructuring. Northstar had filed for Chapter 15 bankruptcy last year.

The Court’s ruling means that the company will be liquidated, with the proceeds going to creditors. Specifically, what this means for Northstar Financial Services (Bermuda) investors is that the Bermuda Supreme Court must approve such payments before they can be issued to them.

Portland Investor Files $500K Private Placement Fraud Claim Against Western International Securities

Published on: April 14, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Claimant Alleges Overconcentration, Unsuitability, Failure to Supervise

A Portland, Oregon semi-retiree has filed a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claim against Western International Securities, Inc. and is seeking up to $500K in damages. The investor contends that a former financial advisor from the firm overconcentrated most of her retirement funds in illiquid private placements and caused her significant financial losses.

Our Portland investment fraud attorneys at Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm at investorlawyers.com) are representing this claimant in her private placement fraud case against Western International Securities.

SSEK Law Firm Investigates Bankoh Investment Services Brokers Over Northstar Financial Services (Bermuda) Sales

Published on: April 12, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Bankoh Investment Services Investors May Have Lost Up to $70M in Northstar Bermuda Products

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm at investorlawyers.com) is continuing to speak to investors who suffered losses in Northstar Financial Services (Bermuda) products that were sold to them by Bankoh Investment Services brokers. The broker-dealer is the securities arm of the Bank of Hawaii.

Our investment fraud attorneys are also investigating claims of losses in Northstar Bermuda products from investors who worked with brokers from Truist Investment Services (SunTrust Investment Services), Ocean Financial Services, and any other firms. Unfortunately, investors may have collectively lost up to $70M.

Former Principal Securities Broker John Krohn Involved in $39M in Investor Fraud Claims

Published on: April 7, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

FINRA Suspended Ex-Iowa Stockbroker in 2018 For Selling Away

John Michael Krohn, a former Iowa broker with Principal Securities, is named in three customer disputes in which the claimants are collectively pursuing over $39.2M in damages for losses they sustained while working with him.

The investors contend that Krohn engaged in selling away, which involves offering them investments that his then-brokerage firm of record never approved. They are pursuing damages against Principal Securities, where Krohn was a registered representative for 20 years.

Cambridge Investment Services, Securities America, and JW Cole Financial Fined Over LJM Preservation & Growth Fund Recommendations

Published on: April 6, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Broker-Dealers Collectively Will Pay $550K Fine and Over $3.3M in Restitution

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has fined and censured three brokerage firms after finding that they failed to supervise recommendations of the LJM Preservation and Growth Fund (LJMIX, LJMCX, LJMAX) and did not conduct the proper due diligence into the alternative mutual fund:

Cambridge Investment Services will pay a $400K fine plus more than $3M in restitution