Each month, the agency that regulates the financial industry, FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority), produces a detailed report that runs down all disciplinary actions recently taken against brokerage firms and brokers. We strongly encourage any investor who suspects their broker and/or broker-dealer of having lost them money on dubious terms to at least skim this report to see if you recognize any names, schemes, products, or securities.
Ponzi Schemer Paid for Prayers - SEC Probe
An investment advisor charged by the Securities and Exchange Commission with running a multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme spent close to a million dollars on prayers from Hindu priests in order to keep the feds at bay. In spite of her prayers, however, Dawn Bennett was convicted by the federal government of defrauding more than 200 investors of nearly $18 million over the past several years.
FINRA Considers Rolling Back Supervision of Selling Away
Following on the heels of a recent report by the NASAA, a group responsible for monitoring the securities industry, which showed that many broker-dealers are not doing enough to monitor “rogue brokers” with a history of multiple indiscretions on their permanent records, news broke recently that supervision of brokers may be further eroded if changes proposed by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) are passed into official regulation.
Ponzi-scheme Operator Sentenced to 30 years in Prison
According to the US Attorney’s office in Arizona, a group operating a Ponzi Scheme solicited millions of dollars in investments for various companies and projects, including real estate, recycling, and land development in Mexico. The solicitations were made through numerous seminars, magazines articles, radio broadcasts, and private offerings.
Small Investors More Vulnerable Than Ever to Wall Street Predators
In the aftermath of Enron, the Financial Crisis, and the Wolf of Wall Street, you might think that regulators who are charged with protecting small retail investors as much as the markets themselves would sharpen up the rules and regulations governing the financial industry. Unfortunately, a series of announcement recently opined about in the New York Times suggests that small investors are more, not less, vulnerable to Wall Street’s predations than they’ve ever been.
FINRA Disciplinary Action Report - September 2018
Each month, the agency that regulates the financial industry, FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority), produces a detailed report that runs down all disciplinary actions recently taken against brokerage firms and brokers. We strongly encourage any investor who suspects their broker and/or broker-dealer of having lost them money on dubious terms to at least skim this report to see if you recognize any names, schemes, products, or securities.
SEC Busts $350 Million Ponzi-like Scheme
The SEC (Securities Exchange Commission) announced today that it has obtained a court order to shut down a major investment operation worth approximately $345 million. According to the SEC complaint, the scheme involved more than 230 investors from the United States and was lead by Kevin B. Merrill and Cameron Jezierski.
Top 5 Tips for Good Financial Health
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, FINRA, has released some basic guidance for those of us who struggled to achieve financial wellness. Like the governmental guidelines for maintaining good health and ensuring longevity, the financial rules are as simple as they are hard to follow. Take a look.
Former Eagles Player and Goldman Sachs Banker Accused of Insider Trading
Phony Billionaire Connected to Ponzi Scheme
Financier Steve Stovanovich liked to play the big man. Over the past few years, he has pledged multimillionaire donations to the University of Chicago and institute named on his behalf. But as a recent investigation by the Chicago Maroon has revealed, Stovanovich may not possess the vast wealth he says he has.
PA Brokerage Ordered to Pay $1M in Damages
Five Salespeople Go Down in Woodbridge Ponzi Scheme
FINRA Disciplinary Action Report August 2018
Each month, the agency that regulates the financial industry, FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority), produces a detailed report that runs down all disciplinary actions recently taken against brokerage firms and brokers. We strongly encourage any investor who suspects their broker and/or broker-dealer of having lost them money on dubious terms to at least skim this report to see if you recognize any names, schemes, products, or securities.
Fiduciary Duty vs Suitability Standards
Partners Adam Green & Michael Schafle Named to Best Lawyers in America
Green & Schalfe is pleased to announce that partners Adam Green and Michael Schafle have once again been recognized by their peers for selection to the prestigious The Best Lawyers in America list. This honor is bestowed upon the top 5% of private practice attorneys nationwide, as judged by other attorneys.
Hybrid Reps Not Held to Highest Standard of Conduct - Yet.
According to a new study by securities industry watchdog, FINRA, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the number of so-called "hybrid" brokers has exploded in recent years, now comprising 45% of all brokers. In this, the first ever snapshot of the industry's professional growth conducted by FINRA, the number of total broker-dealers has risen steadily over the past decade. Growth in hybrid reps, however, has easily outstripped growth in both of the discrete categories of broker and investment advisor.
All About Non-Traditional Index Funds
Traditional index funds track a market index - hence the name. That may be the S&P 500 or NASDAQ or a smaller segment of the market. Non-traditional index funds, on the other hands, track customized index in order to achieve greater performance than their traditional counterparts. Non-traditional funds may also use leverage, such that they return a multiple of one of these customized indexes, thus ratcheting up potential returns (and potential losses) to an even greater extent.
FINRA Warns Investors about Advance-Fee Scam
FINRA Disciplinary Action Report July 2018
Each month, the agency that regulates the financial industry, FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority), produces a detailed report that runs down all disciplinary actions recently taken against brokerage firms and brokers. We strongly encourage any investor who suspects their broker and/or broker-dealer of having lost them money on dubious terms to at least skim this report to see if you recognize any names, schemes, products, or securities.
How Investors Recover Money Lost in Securities Fraud
Thousands of retail investors lose money every year due to broker misconduct or investment fraud. The amount they lose, if you consider the opportunity cost operating in many of these instances, easily runs into the several billions of dollars. In other words, the losses are staggering, and represent a huge drain on investor wealth and the smooth operating of our financial system. Incredibly, in spite of the enormous sums of money being lost by investors on an annual basis, very few of them know that they may be able to recover some of their losses from fraudsters.