Merrill Lynch Settles for $39M Class Action Lawsuit Alleging It Didn’t Pay Enough Interest to Clients With Cash in Retirement Accounts

Published on: November 2, 2026 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Our Broker Fraud Lawyers at Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Are Continuing To Investigate

Following a $39 million class action settlement where Merrill Lynch was accused of paying near-zero interest on retirement cash accounts, our Broker Fraud Lawyers at Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas are continuing to investigate affected investors. These securities attorneys help clients evaluate whether to remain part of a class action or pursue individual FINRA arbitration to maximize their recovery for mismanaged cash sweep programs.

In a class action settlement, Merrill Lynch agreed to pay $39M over allegations that it didn’t pay enough interest to brokerage clients holding cash. Instead, contend the plaintiffs, the brokerage firm paid close-to-zero interest rates rather than market rates on the cash in their retirement accounts.

Former Customers of Barred Broker James Walesa Report Significant Losses

Published on: October 27, 2026 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Our Trusted Broker Fraud Lawyers Are Here To Help

Former clients of barred broker James Walesa have recovered over $26M in settlements related to unsuitable private placement recommendations and undisclosed conflicts of interest involving Clearday (formerly AIU). Investors who suffered losses can still seek recovery by filing a FINRA arbitration claim against the brokerage firms that previously employed him.

Customers who suffered serious losses while working with ex-financial advisor James Thadeus Walesa already have received more than $26M in settlements. However, more investor lawsuits remain pending and even more claims could be filed. Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (investorlawyers.com) is here to help you explore your legal options.

Did You Suffer Easterly ROCMuni High Income Municipal Bond Fund Losses While Working With Janney Montgomery Scott Broker John Hardiman?

Published on: June 4, 2026 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Our Broker Fraud Lawyers Want To Talk To You

The Broker Fraud Lawyers of Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas is investigating Janney Montgomery Scott financial advisor John Thomas Hardiman following the filing of a six-figure FINRA lawsuit involving massive losses in the Easterly ROCMuni High Income Municipal Bond Fund. The claim, filed on behalf of an elderly widow, alleges that Hardiman unsuitably overconcentrated her portfolio in speculative “junk” bond funds despite her conservative investment goals.

If you are an Easterly ROCMuni High Income Municipal Bond Fund investor who worked with Janney Montgomery Scott financial advisor John Thomas Hardiman, contact Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (investorlawyers.com) today. We are continuing to investigate claims of losses against any financial advisor who sold the Easterly Fund to customers. Already, we have filed many FINRA lawsuits against brokerage firms.

Attn: Investors Who Suffered Serious Losses While Working With Rockefeller Financial Broker Shay Scruggs

Published on: May 18, 2026 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Want To Help You Explore Your Legal Options

The law firm of Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas is investigating Rockefeller Financial broker Shay Scruggs following a $1M FINRA lawsuit alleging unsuitable investment recommendations. Investors who suffered portfolio losses due to unsuitability or mismanagement are encouraged to contact the firm’s experienced Broker Fraud Lawyers to explore their options for financial recovery.

If you are an investor who suffered serious portfolio losses while working with Rockefeller Financial registered representative Shay W. Scruggs, our broker misconduct lawyers want to talk to you.

Our Broker Fraud Lawyers Are Investigating Former Alexander Capital Broker Roger

Published on: April 2, 2026 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Former Customers Sue For More than $8.9M

Broker fraud lawyers at Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas are investigating claims against barred advisor Roger Roemmich following allegations of unsuitable investment recommendations and over $8.9M in losses. Impacted investors may still seek financial recovery through FINRA arbitration by filing claims against the broker-dealers responsible for supervising his conduct.

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Broker Fraud Lawyers (investorlawyers.com) are investigating claims of investor losses by former customers of barred broker Roger Allan Roemmich. Most recently an Alexander Capital registered representative, and before that with Dempsey Lord Smith and others, Roemmich was permanently barred by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in March 2026.

UBS Group Ordered to Pay $5.5M To Investor For Alleged Stock Option Mismanagement

Published on: February 26, 2026 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

A FINRA arbitration panel ordered UBS Financial Services to pay $5.5M to a client for the improper handling of Compass Inc. shares and options during its 2021 IPO. The article highlights UBS’s history of high-value losses in litigation and invites affected investors to seek recovery through Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas.

Broker-Dealer Held Liable Over Handling of Investor’s Portfolio

A FINRA arbitration panel has ordered UBS Financial Services (UBS) to pay $5.5M to one client over its allegedly improper handling of his shares and options in real estate brokerage firm Compass Inc. around its 2021 initial public offering. The claimant happens to be a Compass real estate broker. He accused the brokerage firm of breach of fiduciary duties, deliberate and negligent misrepresentations, Regulation Best Interest violation, negligence, and other broker misconduct involving UBS’ recommendations and management of his portfolio.

Former Broker James Walesa Is Barred by FINRA

Published on: February 10, 2026 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Our Broker Fraud Lawyers Continue To Investigate Investor Losses

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) announced that it has barred former financial James Thaddeus Walesa. His former clients have filed at least 19 investor lawsuits accusing him of making unsuitable investment recommendations, including one case that was concluded with a $9.75M settlement.

Walesa is accused of making inappropriate investment recommendations in businesses that he owned, ran, or directed. So far, at least $18.3M in settlements have been paid by Triad Advisors (now Osaic) or Arkadios Capital. Both are accused of ignoring Walesa’s alleged broker misconduct when he worked with them. Many of the customer disputes involving him remain pending, including a case in which $34,000,000 is being sought.

Did You Suffer Investment Losses in Vintage DST, Which Was Sold To You By Your Financial Advisor?

Published on: February 2, 2026 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Our Broker Fraud Lawyers May Be Able To Help

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Broker Fraud Lawyers (investorlawyers.com) are speaking to investors who suffered losses in Vintage Delaware Statutory Trusts (Vintage DST). This private placement Regulation D offering was sponsored by the now-defunct Crew Enterprises (f/k/a Versity Investments). It appears to have been unsuitably recommended to retail investors, retirees, and other unaccredited investors by financial advisors. Vintage DST is a risky, illiquid alternative investment. We are investigating the following brokerage firms or investment advisers that sold this private placement offering:

Aurora Securities

Attention Atlas Funds Investors Who Suffered Losses in These Private Placement Funds

Published on: December 20, 2025 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Broker Fraud Lawyers are Investigating Spartan Capital Securities For Selling These Alternative Investments

If you are an investor who has sustained losses in any of the 346 private placement investments from one of 16 offerings from Atlas Management LLC, including those involving the following, Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Broker Fraud Lawyers (investorlawyers.com) wants to talk to you:

Atlas Fund III Ser B LLC (Klarna)

Selling Away Lawyers

Published on: July 15, 2025 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Former Customer of Ex-Merrill Lynch Broker Greg Whelan Alleged Selling Away Losses. Our Selling Away Lawyers Are Investigating

Selling away can lead to serious investor losses. At Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (investorlawyers.com), our Selling Away Lawyers are speaking to former customers of financial advisor Gregory DePaul Whelan who have experienced portfolio losses that they suspect may involve investments that were never approved by his then-brokerage firm Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith.

Greg Whelan, who is now a Kovack Securities registered representative, resigned from Merrill Lynch last year following allegations of selling away and conflicts of interest. His CRD notes that at least one customer dispute alleging selling away, unsuitability, and misrepresentations that was filed concluded with a $3.5M settlement. Whelan denies wrongdoing.