Colorado Family Sues KCD Financial and Broker Daniel Rust Over Closed-End Fund Losses

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

Claimants Are Pursuing Up to $500K in Damage Involving Priority Income Fund, Bluerock Private Real Estate Fund, and TrueLife Companies Elite Fund II

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas is representing a Colorado family in a FINRA arbitration claim seeking up to $500,000 against KCD Financial and broker Daniel Rust. The lawsuit alleges that the firm and broker unsuitably recommended speculative and highly illiquid alternative investments, resulting in significant six-figure losses for the investors’ retirement and family savings.

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Broker Misconduct Lawyers (investorlawyers.com) are representing a Colorado couple and their elderly father in their FINRA arbitration claim against KCD Financial and Broker Daniel Rust. The Claimants contend that the broker-dealer and its registered representative unsuitably recommended risky alternative investments, including Priority Income Fund and Bluerock Private Real Estate Fund (BPRE) , as well as private placement real estate fund TrueLife Companies Elite Fund II.

Tax Return Loss Investment Law Firm

Published on: March 12, 2023 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

When Broker Misconduct Leads To Tax Return Losses

Our Skilled Investor Loss Lawyers Work With CPAs and Investors in Pursuing Financial Recovery

Many people don’t realize that investing can impact them tax-wise. For example, if you receive income from your investments, you may have to pay an ordinary income tax rate or, in certain instances, a special tax treatment involving lower, long-term capital gains tax rates. If you made a profit from selling an investment, you will typically have to pay taxes for the money that you earned. Or, if you sustained a loss from the sale, you may be able to take a deduction depending on what assets were involved. A qualified CPA can help with such matters.

Centaurus Financial Broker Bill Burks Named in Several Customer Disputes

Published on: June 28, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Investors’ Allegations Against Centaurus Financial Broker Include Unsuitability, Misrepresentations, and Concentration

Our experienced Texas broker misconduct attorneys are looking into claims of losses involving current and former customers of William Charles Burks, also known as Bill Burks II, in Flower Mound. Bill Burks is a Centaurus Financial broker who has been named in several customer disputes, most of which are settled or still pending.

Customer Disputes Involving Centaurus Financial Broker Bill Burks II

Fired Berthel Fisher Broker Steve Cummings’ Customers Report Investment Losses

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

Ex-Alabama Financial Advisor Has Been Accused of Misrepresentations and Unsuitability

Our knowledgeable broker misconduct attorneys are investigating claims of losses by customers of ex-Berthel Fisher & Co. registered representative Steve Jeffrey Cummings. In July 2021, claimants filed a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claim for $250K in damages.

The customers contend that they were sold unsuitable investments between 2010 and 2015 and that Cummings allegedly made misrepresentations to them. They believe brokerage firm Berthel Fisher failed to supervise its Alabama broker and did not conduct proper due diligence. In 2017, Berthel Fisher fired Cummings over allegations that he did not disclose tax liens in a timely fashion.

Barred Ex-Wells Fargo Broker Jeremy Fortner is Named in Nine Customer Disputes

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

Ex-Wells Fargo Broker Jeremy Fortner Allegedly Borrowed Money From Clients

Our broker misconduct lawyers investigate claims of losses involving former customers of ex-Wells Fargo Advisors registered representative Jeremy Fortner. The broker-dealer fired him in August 2021 in the wake of allegations that he inappropriately borrowed funds.

In November 2021, with a starting date of March 3, 2022, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) permanently barred Fortner after he did not respond to requests for information into its investigation. Jeremy Fortner was a registered broker and investment adviser for 16 years.

Ex-Kestra Broker Chadwick Collins’ Customers Seek Over $3.3M in Damages

Published on: March 23, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Stone Beacon Capital CEO Faces Unsuitability and Negligence Allegations

If you suffered investment losses while working with financial advisor Chadwick Charles Collins, please contact our California broker misconduct attorneys at Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm at investorlawyers.com) today at (619) 550-4847.

Collins, who was a Kestra Investment Services stockbroker and Kestra Private Wealth investment advisor from January 2017 to February 2022, is now with Wedbush Securities. He is also the CEO of Stone Beacon Capital. According to Chadwick Collins’ BrokerCheck record, he is currently named in two pending customer disputes in which the claimants are collectively requesting more than $3.3M in damages.

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.

SEC Files Fraud Charges Against Barred Broker Michael Shillin Who Is Named In 37 Disputes

Published on: October 11, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Former Wisconsin Financial Advisor is Accused of Defrauding at Least 100 Advisory Clients

Michael Francis Shillin, who was barred by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and Wisconsin’s Officer of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) in January 2021, is now facing Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charges.

The regulator is accusing the previously registered broker and investment advisor of defrauding at least 100 investment advisory clients, including many elderly investors. The SEC brought its case in September 2021.

Investors Accuse Ex-Forta Financial Group Broker Gregory Williams of Broker Misconduct

Published on: October 5, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Pending Customer Disputes Seek Nearly $2.6M in Broker Misconduct Damages

If you suffered losses while working with ex-Forta Financial Group stockbroker Gregory Jon Williams, you may want to consider filing a FINRA arbitration claim to pursue damages.

Williams, who is named in several pending customer disputes, is no longer a registered representative. He appears to still be affiliated with Presidential Wealth Management in Colorado Springs.

Inappropriate COVID-19 Loan Applications Led To FINRA Sanctions for Brokers From Wells Fargo, J.P. Morgan Securities, and Merrill Lynch

Published on: August 9, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

COVID Relief Loans Involved Undisclosed Business Outside Their Brokerage Firms

According to InvestmentNews, ex-J.P. Morgan Securities broker Gloria Willis, former Merrill Lynch stockbroker Evelyn Batista, and ex-Wells Fargo financial advisor Kenric Sexton have either been barred or suspended from the securities industry.

These Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) sanctions were imposed after the self-regulatory organization (SRO) found that all three of them either inappropriately or incorrectly applied for federal COVID-relief loan programs geared towards small businesses in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.