Ronald Wayne Nichter, a former broker at Boston, Massachusetts based Cantella & Co., Inc., submitted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent in which he consented to the described sanction and to the entry of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority's (FINRA) findings that he misappropriated approximately $140,000 from customers. FINRA stated that in order to carry out the misappropriations, Mr. Nichter forged the clients' signatures on Letters of Authorization that instructed his member firm's clearing firm to issue checks made payable to the customers. Mr. Nichter then intercepted the checks, endorsed them, deposited them into his personal account, and utilized the funds for his personal use without the customers' knowledge and consent. Mr. Nichter, of Greenfield, Indiana, was barred from association with any FINRA member in any capacity.
Broker-dealers must establish and implement a reasonable supervisory system to protect customers from broker misconduct. If broker-dealers do not establish and enforce a reasonable supervisory system, they may be liable to investors for damages flowing from any misconduct. Therefore, investors who have suffered damages due to broker misappropriations such as those by Mr. Nichter can bring forth claims to recover losses against broker-dealers like Cantella & Co., which should oversee its brokers and prevent misappropriation and other misconduct.
Have you suffered losses in your Cantella & Co., Inc. account due to any misappropriation by your broker? If so, call Robert Pearce at the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. for a free consultation. Mr. Pearce is accepting clients with valid claims against Cantella & Co., Inc. stockbrokers who may have engaged in misconduct and caused investors losses.
The most important of investors' rights is the right to be informed! This Investors' Rights blog post is by the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A., located in Boca Raton, Florida. For over 30 years, Attorney Pearce has tried, arbitrated, and mediated hundreds of disputes involving complex securities, commodities and investment law issues. The lawyers at our law firm are devoted to protecting investors' rights throughout the United States and internationally! Please visit our website, www.secatty.com, post a comment, call (800) 732-2889, or email Mr. Pearce at pearce@rwpearce.com for answers to any of your questions about this blog post and/or any related matter.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Monday, December 2, 2013
WELLS FARGO ADVISORS SUBPOENAED BY MASSACHUSETTS REGULATORS OVER SALES OF ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS TO SENIORS
Wells Fargo Advisors was subpoenaed by Massachusetts in connection with a sweep investigation, which is looking into sales practices involving alternative investments sold to seniors. Wells Fargo Advisors' principal office is located in San Diego, California. On July 10, 2013, the state's securities division sent the subpoena to Wells Fargo Advisors asking for information on sales of the products to state residents who are 65 or over. Some of the non-traditional investments include oil and gas partnerships, private placements, structured products, hedge funds, and tenant-in-common offerings. The state demanded information from Wells Fargo Advisors on any such products that have been sold over the past year, the investors who purchased them, the commissions generated, how the sales were reviewed, and all relevant compliance, training and marketing materials - Wells Fargo Advisors has until July 24 to respond. The state added that being on the list of targeted firms does not indicate wrongdoing.
Although non-traded REITs were not part of the information request, Massachusetts has expressed its heightened concern "that the senior marketplace is being targeted for the sales of these high-risk, esoteric products," Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth William F. Galvin said in a statement. The state has already cracked down on a number of firms for alleged improper sales of non-traded REITs. In February 2013, the state reached a settlement with LPL Financial to pay at least $2 million in restitution and $500,000 in fines related to the sale of non-traded REITs. In May 2013, it settled REIT cases with Ameriprise Financial Services Inc., Commonwealth Financial Network, Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp., Royal Alliance Associates Inc. and Securities America Inc. The five firms agreed to pay a total of $6.1 million in restitution to investors and fines totaling $975,000.
Senior investors have become the targets of unscrupulous brokers, investment advisors and insurance agents. This is due in part to the fact that as we age, our ability to understand newer and complex investments diminishes every year. Therefore, senior retirement savings are ripe for picking and an epidemic of fraud is underway all across America. As a result many states, such as Massachusetts, have enacted laws with harsh penalties and are performing investigative sweeps to protect senior investors.
Broker-dealers have a duty to protect senior investors from broker misconduct by establishing and implementing an adequate supervisory system to oversee sales practices. If broker-dealers do not so, they may be liable to senior investors for damages flowing from an unreasonable recommendation and sale. Are you a senior investor suffering losses in your Wells Fargo Advisors account due to an unreasonable recommendation and sale by your broker? If so, call Robert Pearce at the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. for a free consultation. Mr. Pearce is accepting clients with valid claims against Wells Fargo Advisors stockbrokers who may have engaged in misconduct and caused investors losses.
The most important of investors' rights is the right to be informed! This Investors' Rights blog post is by the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A., located in Boca Raton, Florida. For over 30 years, Attorney Pearce has tried, arbitrated, and mediated hundreds of disputes involving complex securities, commodities and investment law issues. The lawyers at our law firm are devoted to protecting investors' rights throughout the United States and internationally! Please visit our website, www.secatty.com, post a comment, call (800) 732-2889, or email Mr. Pearce at pearce@rwpearce.com for answers to any of your questions about this blog post and/or any related matter.
Although non-traded REITs were not part of the information request, Massachusetts has expressed its heightened concern "that the senior marketplace is being targeted for the sales of these high-risk, esoteric products," Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth William F. Galvin said in a statement. The state has already cracked down on a number of firms for alleged improper sales of non-traded REITs. In February 2013, the state reached a settlement with LPL Financial to pay at least $2 million in restitution and $500,000 in fines related to the sale of non-traded REITs. In May 2013, it settled REIT cases with Ameriprise Financial Services Inc., Commonwealth Financial Network, Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp., Royal Alliance Associates Inc. and Securities America Inc. The five firms agreed to pay a total of $6.1 million in restitution to investors and fines totaling $975,000.
Senior investors have become the targets of unscrupulous brokers, investment advisors and insurance agents. This is due in part to the fact that as we age, our ability to understand newer and complex investments diminishes every year. Therefore, senior retirement savings are ripe for picking and an epidemic of fraud is underway all across America. As a result many states, such as Massachusetts, have enacted laws with harsh penalties and are performing investigative sweeps to protect senior investors.
Broker-dealers have a duty to protect senior investors from broker misconduct by establishing and implementing an adequate supervisory system to oversee sales practices. If broker-dealers do not so, they may be liable to senior investors for damages flowing from an unreasonable recommendation and sale. Are you a senior investor suffering losses in your Wells Fargo Advisors account due to an unreasonable recommendation and sale by your broker? If so, call Robert Pearce at the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. for a free consultation. Mr. Pearce is accepting clients with valid claims against Wells Fargo Advisors stockbrokers who may have engaged in misconduct and caused investors losses.
The most important of investors' rights is the right to be informed! This Investors' Rights blog post is by the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A., located in Boca Raton, Florida. For over 30 years, Attorney Pearce has tried, arbitrated, and mediated hundreds of disputes involving complex securities, commodities and investment law issues. The lawyers at our law firm are devoted to protecting investors' rights throughout the United States and internationally! Please visit our website, www.secatty.com, post a comment, call (800) 732-2889, or email Mr. Pearce at pearce@rwpearce.com for answers to any of your questions about this blog post and/or any related matter.
Sunday, December 1, 2013
ROBERT RONALD LIGGERO FINED AND SUSPENDED BY FINRA FOR SIGNING CUSTOMERS' NAMES ON IRA DOCUMENTS
Robert Ronald Liggero, a former broker at Jacksonville, Florida based Bull and Bear Brokerage Services, Inc., submitted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent in which he consented to the described sanctions and to the entry of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority's (FINRA) findings that he signed customers' names on documents related to the opening of IRA accounts without the customers' knowledge or consent. Mr. Liggero, of Atlantic Beach, Florida, was fined $5,000 and suspended from association with any FINRA member in any capacity for 20 business days. The suspension is in effect from May 20, 2013 through June 17, 2013.
Broker-dealers must establish and implement a reasonable supervisory system to protect customers from broker misconduct. If broker-dealers do not establish and implement a reasonable supervisory system, they may be liable to investors for damages flowing from the misconduct. Therefore, investors who have suffered damages due to prohibited activity such as unauthorized and/or fraudulent signatures can bring forth claims to recover losses against broker-dealers like Bull and Bear Brokerage Services.
Have you suffered losses in your Bull and Bear Brokerage Services, Inc. account due to unauthorized activities or other misconduct by your broker? If so, call Robert Pearce at the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. for a free consultation. Mr. Pearce is accepting clients with valid claims against Bull and Bear Brokerage Services, Inc. stockbrokers who may have engaged in misconduct and caused investors losses.
The most important of investors' rights is the right to be informed! This Investors' Rights blog post is by the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A., located in Boca Raton, Florida. For over 30 years, Attorney Pearce has tried, arbitrated, and mediated hundreds of disputes involving complex securities, commodities and investment law issues. The lawyers at our law firm are devoted to protecting investors' rights throughout the United States and internationally! Please visit our website, www.secatty.com, post a comment, call (800) 732-2889, or email Mr. Pearce at pearce@rwpearce.com for answers to any of your questions about this blog post and/or any related matter.
Broker-dealers must establish and implement a reasonable supervisory system to protect customers from broker misconduct. If broker-dealers do not establish and implement a reasonable supervisory system, they may be liable to investors for damages flowing from the misconduct. Therefore, investors who have suffered damages due to prohibited activity such as unauthorized and/or fraudulent signatures can bring forth claims to recover losses against broker-dealers like Bull and Bear Brokerage Services.
Have you suffered losses in your Bull and Bear Brokerage Services, Inc. account due to unauthorized activities or other misconduct by your broker? If so, call Robert Pearce at the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. for a free consultation. Mr. Pearce is accepting clients with valid claims against Bull and Bear Brokerage Services, Inc. stockbrokers who may have engaged in misconduct and caused investors losses.
The most important of investors' rights is the right to be informed! This Investors' Rights blog post is by the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A., located in Boca Raton, Florida. For over 30 years, Attorney Pearce has tried, arbitrated, and mediated hundreds of disputes involving complex securities, commodities and investment law issues. The lawyers at our law firm are devoted to protecting investors' rights throughout the United States and internationally! Please visit our website, www.secatty.com, post a comment, call (800) 732-2889, or email Mr. Pearce at pearce@rwpearce.com for answers to any of your questions about this blog post and/or any related matter.
Saturday, November 30, 2013
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION FREEZES ONYX PHARMACEUTICALS INSIDER TRADERS' ASSETS
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has obtained an emergency court order to freeze assets of traders using foreign accounts to realize approximately $4.6 million in potentially illegal profits by trading in advance of the June 30, 2013 announcement that Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. had received but rejected an acquisition offer from Amgen, Inc. The SEC alleges that unknown traders took risky bets that Onyx's stock price would increase by purchasing call options on June 26, 27 and 28 - the three trading days before the announcement. The emergency court order obtained on July 3, 2013 freezes the traders' assets related to the Onyx call options transactions and prohibits the traders from destroying any evidence. The SEC is seeking a final judgment ordering the traders to disgorge their profits with interest, pay monetary penalties, and permanently bar them from future violations.
According to the SEC complaint, certain unknown traders were in possession of material nonpublic information about the offer to acquire Onyx at a substantial premium over the stock price at the time they purchased Onyx call options, many of which were out-of-the-money, in the three trading days before the announcement. The complaint further stated that the timing and size of the trades were highly suspicious because they constituted large increases over the historical volume for those call options purchased. The SEC's complaint charges the unknown traders with violating Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Exchange Act Rule 10b-5.
Generally, illegal insider trading is the act of buying or selling a security, in breach of a fiduciary duty or other relationship of trust and confidence, while in possession of material, nonpublic information about a company. Insider trading violations may also include "tipping" such information, trading by the person tipped - the "tippee," and trading by those who misappropriate such information. Section 10(b) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 makes it unlawful for any person to "use or employ, in connection with the purchase or sale of any security registered on a national securities exchange or any security not so registered, any manipulative or deceptive device or contrivance in contravention of such rules and regulations as the [SEC] may prescribe." To implement Section 10(b), the SEC adopted Rule 10b-5, which makes it unlawful to engage in fraud or misrepresentation in connection with the purchase or sale of a security.
Robert Wayne Pearce, a former SEC Enforcement Attorney, has litigated SEC actions for over 33 years, including, but not limited to, insider trading, stock market manipulation, and other alleged violations of the Federal securities laws. If you have been contacted by the SEC or believe that you may be subject of an investigation, call Mr. Pearce at the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. for a free consultation. Mr. Pearce defends companies and individuals who may be the subject of an SEC investigation or enforcement action regarding their alleged involvement in securities laws violations.
This Investors' Rights blog post is by the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A., located in Boca Raton, Florida. For over 33 years, Attorney Pearce has tried, arbitrated, and mediated hundreds of disputes involving complex securities, commodities and investment law issues. The lawyers at our law firm are devoted to representing investors and financial industry professionals throughout the United States and internationally! Please visit our website, www.secatty.com, post a comment, call (800) 732-2889, or email Mr. Pearce at pearce@rwpearce.com for answers to any of your questions about this blog post and/or any related matter.
According to the SEC complaint, certain unknown traders were in possession of material nonpublic information about the offer to acquire Onyx at a substantial premium over the stock price at the time they purchased Onyx call options, many of which were out-of-the-money, in the three trading days before the announcement. The complaint further stated that the timing and size of the trades were highly suspicious because they constituted large increases over the historical volume for those call options purchased. The SEC's complaint charges the unknown traders with violating Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Exchange Act Rule 10b-5.
Generally, illegal insider trading is the act of buying or selling a security, in breach of a fiduciary duty or other relationship of trust and confidence, while in possession of material, nonpublic information about a company. Insider trading violations may also include "tipping" such information, trading by the person tipped - the "tippee," and trading by those who misappropriate such information. Section 10(b) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 makes it unlawful for any person to "use or employ, in connection with the purchase or sale of any security registered on a national securities exchange or any security not so registered, any manipulative or deceptive device or contrivance in contravention of such rules and regulations as the [SEC] may prescribe." To implement Section 10(b), the SEC adopted Rule 10b-5, which makes it unlawful to engage in fraud or misrepresentation in connection with the purchase or sale of a security.
Robert Wayne Pearce, a former SEC Enforcement Attorney, has litigated SEC actions for over 33 years, including, but not limited to, insider trading, stock market manipulation, and other alleged violations of the Federal securities laws. If you have been contacted by the SEC or believe that you may be subject of an investigation, call Mr. Pearce at the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. for a free consultation. Mr. Pearce defends companies and individuals who may be the subject of an SEC investigation or enforcement action regarding their alleged involvement in securities laws violations.
This Investors' Rights blog post is by the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A., located in Boca Raton, Florida. For over 33 years, Attorney Pearce has tried, arbitrated, and mediated hundreds of disputes involving complex securities, commodities and investment law issues. The lawyers at our law firm are devoted to representing investors and financial industry professionals throughout the United States and internationally! Please visit our website, www.secatty.com, post a comment, call (800) 732-2889, or email Mr. Pearce at pearce@rwpearce.com for answers to any of your questions about this blog post and/or any related matter.
Friday, November 29, 2013
SEC SWEEPS THE MARKET FOR RULE 105 REGULATION M VIOLATIONS
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has a task force that is sweeping the market for Rule 105 Regulation M (Rule 105) violations. Rule 105 makes it unlawful for a person to purchase equity securities from an underwriter, broker, or dealer participating in a public offering if that person sold short the security that is the subject of the offering during the restricted period defined in the rule, absent an exception. Rule 105 defines the restricted period as the shorter of the period: (1) beginning five business days prior to the pricing of the offered securities and ending with such pricing; or (2) beginning with the initial filing of such registration statement or notification on Form 1-A or Form 1-E and ending with the pricing. The SEC adopted Rule 105 to prevent potentially manipulative activity. Also, Rule 105 is a prophylactic. Therefore, its provisions apply regardless of the short seller's intent.
The latest victim to be sanctioned in the SEC sweep is Chicago, Illinois based UBS O'Connor, LLC. UBS O'Connor allegedly violated Rule 105 sixteen times between January 2009 and March 2011 in connection with short sales it executed within the Rule 105 restricted period and subsequent purchase of the securities in firm commitment public offerings. UBS O'Connor consented to the entry of the Order in anticipation of the institution of proceedings by submitting an Offer of Settlement, which the Commission has determined to accept. UBS O'Connor was ordered to cease-and-desist, pay disgorgement in the amount of $3,787,590, prejudgment interest totaling $369,766, and a civil penalty of $1,140,000 to the United States Treasury.
Robert Wayne Pearce, a former SEC Enforcement Attorney, has litigated SEC actions for over 33 years, including, but not limited to, Regulation M, section 16(b) short-swing profits, insider trading, stock market manipulation, and other alleged violations of the Federal securities laws. If you have been contacted by the SEC and believe that you may be subject to an investigation involving a Rule 105 Regulation M violation or any other SEC rule, call Mr. Pearce at the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. for a free consultation. Mr. Pearce defends companies and individuals who may be the subject of an SEC investigation or enforcement action regarding their alleged involvement in securities laws violations.
This Investors' Rights blog post is by the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A., located in Boca Raton, Florida. For over 33 years, Attorney Pearce has tried, arbitrated, and mediated hundreds of disputes involving complex securities, commodities and investment law issues. The lawyers at our law firm are devoted to representing investors and financial industry professionals throughout the United States and internationally! Please visit our website, www.secatty.com post a comment, call (800) 732-2889, or email Mr. Pearce at pearce@rwpearce.com for answers to any of your questions about this blog post and/or any related matter.
The latest victim to be sanctioned in the SEC sweep is Chicago, Illinois based UBS O'Connor, LLC. UBS O'Connor allegedly violated Rule 105 sixteen times between January 2009 and March 2011 in connection with short sales it executed within the Rule 105 restricted period and subsequent purchase of the securities in firm commitment public offerings. UBS O'Connor consented to the entry of the Order in anticipation of the institution of proceedings by submitting an Offer of Settlement, which the Commission has determined to accept. UBS O'Connor was ordered to cease-and-desist, pay disgorgement in the amount of $3,787,590, prejudgment interest totaling $369,766, and a civil penalty of $1,140,000 to the United States Treasury.
Robert Wayne Pearce, a former SEC Enforcement Attorney, has litigated SEC actions for over 33 years, including, but not limited to, Regulation M, section 16(b) short-swing profits, insider trading, stock market manipulation, and other alleged violations of the Federal securities laws. If you have been contacted by the SEC and believe that you may be subject to an investigation involving a Rule 105 Regulation M violation or any other SEC rule, call Mr. Pearce at the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. for a free consultation. Mr. Pearce defends companies and individuals who may be the subject of an SEC investigation or enforcement action regarding their alleged involvement in securities laws violations.
This Investors' Rights blog post is by the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A., located in Boca Raton, Florida. For over 33 years, Attorney Pearce has tried, arbitrated, and mediated hundreds of disputes involving complex securities, commodities and investment law issues. The lawyers at our law firm are devoted to representing investors and financial industry professionals throughout the United States and internationally! Please visit our website, www.secatty.com post a comment, call (800) 732-2889, or email Mr. Pearce at pearce@rwpearce.com for answers to any of your questions about this blog post and/or any related matter.
Thursday, November 28, 2013
JONATHAN GORDON SORENSEN PERMANENTLY BARRED BY FINRA FOR ALLEGED CONVERSION AND MISUSE OF INVESTOR FUNDS
Jonathan Gordon Sorensen, a former broker at Jackson, Mississippi based Coker & Palmer, Inc., submitted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent in which he consented to the described sanction and to the entry of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority's (FINRA) findings that he failed to appear for a FINRA on-the-record interview and, subsequently through his attorney, informed FINRA that he would not appear for an on-the-record interview. The findings stated that Mr. Sorensen's appearance was requested as part of an investigation into his management of a limited partnership investment fund while associated with his member firm and whether he had converted and/or misused investor funds and falsified documents in connection with his management of the fund. Mr. Sorensen, of Maitland, Florida, was barred from association with any FINRA member in any capacity.
Broker-dealers must establish and implement a reasonable supervisory system to protect customers from broker misconduct. If broker-dealers do not establish and implement a reasonable supervisory system, they may be liable to investors for damages flowing from the misconduct. Therefore, investors who may have suffered damages due to Mr. Sorensen's alleged conversion and misuse of funds may bring forth claims to recover losses against Coker & Palmer.
Have you suffered losses in your Coker & Palmer, Inc. account due to broker misconduct? If so, call Robert Pearce at the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. for a free consultation. Mr. Pearce is accepting clients with valid claims against Mr. Sorensen and Coker & Palmer, Inc. whose stockbrokers may have engaged in misconduct and caused investors losses.
The most important of investors' rights is the right to be informed! This Investors' Rights blog post is by the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A., located in Boca Raton, Florida. For over 30 years, Attorney Pearce has tried, arbitrated, and mediated hundreds of disputes involving complex securities, commodities and investment law issues. The lawyers at our law firm are devoted to protecting investors' rights throughout the United States and internationally! Please visit our website, www.secatty.com, post a comment, call (800) 732-2889, or email Mr. Pearce at pearce@rwpearce.com for answers to any of your questions about this blog post and/or any related matter.
Broker-dealers must establish and implement a reasonable supervisory system to protect customers from broker misconduct. If broker-dealers do not establish and implement a reasonable supervisory system, they may be liable to investors for damages flowing from the misconduct. Therefore, investors who may have suffered damages due to Mr. Sorensen's alleged conversion and misuse of funds may bring forth claims to recover losses against Coker & Palmer.
Have you suffered losses in your Coker & Palmer, Inc. account due to broker misconduct? If so, call Robert Pearce at the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. for a free consultation. Mr. Pearce is accepting clients with valid claims against Mr. Sorensen and Coker & Palmer, Inc. whose stockbrokers may have engaged in misconduct and caused investors losses.
The most important of investors' rights is the right to be informed! This Investors' Rights blog post is by the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A., located in Boca Raton, Florida. For over 30 years, Attorney Pearce has tried, arbitrated, and mediated hundreds of disputes involving complex securities, commodities and investment law issues. The lawyers at our law firm are devoted to protecting investors' rights throughout the United States and internationally! Please visit our website, www.secatty.com, post a comment, call (800) 732-2889, or email Mr. Pearce at pearce@rwpearce.com for answers to any of your questions about this blog post and/or any related matter.
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
WOODBURY FINANCIAL SERVICES INVESTOR ALERT - WATCH OUT FOR CHURNING AND UNSUITABLE INVESTMENTS!
Woodbury Financial Services, a subsidiary of the AIG Insurance Company, is an independent broker-dealer headquartered in Oakdale, Minnesota and reportedly has over 2300 registered representatives across the United States operating in one or two person offices. Its branch offices are largely comprised of small producers earning commissions at higher pay out rates than the major full-service brokerage firms, a recipe for disaster when it comes to protecting investors from churning and unsuitable investments and unsuitable investment strategies!
Churning is a violation of Federal and state securities statutes, industry rules and regulations and a breach of fiduciary duty to investors under common law. Churning can occur if a Woodbury Financial Services broker exercises control over the investment decisions in your account and purchases stocks or recommends that you purchase and sell stocks for his benefit, i.e., commissions not yours! These trades rarely, if ever, make the investor any money. In fact, the additional commissions raise the break-even point for the investor to the level where the stock must perform at an extremely high level in order for the investor to make any money.
In every broker-investor relationship, the broker must assess what the investor's goals are as well as his or her risk tolerance. This assessment is based on a number of key factors, including the investor's stated objectives, risk tolerance, financial condition and tax status. It is the broker's responsibility to only pursue investments suitable for that investor based on these factors. A stockbroker is obligated to only recommend suitable investments and investment strategies. If a Woodbury Financial Services broker recommends unsuitable investments and unsuitable investment strategies, it can leave you vulnerable to unnecessary risk and losses.
Independent broker-dealers are notorious for their lax supervisory practices and procedures. The business model of these operations is to open many offices nationwide for steady growth of fixed monthly revenues without the costs attendant to a full-service branch office with on-site manager, compliance officer and operation personnel. The registered representatives of these independent broker-dealers generally operate as separately incorporated businesses. They are not employees of the broker-dealer and therefore not controlled in the same manner as full-service brokerage firm representatives. The registered representatives control their structure and costs to maximize profits and often leave the protection of investors' rights and interests as their lowest priority.
The typical supervisory organization of independent broker-dealer operations is to have other independent contractors operate Offices of Supervisory Jurisdiction (OSJs) to monitor the registered representatives from geographically remote offices and then report to the main franchisor's compliance office at national headquarters. The supervisors at the OSJs are not employees of the franchisor and often run their own brokerage, insurance and other businesses. They are not devoted full-time supervisors of the smaller branch offices. Consequently, OSJ managers cannot and do not supervise the day-to-day operations of the registered representatives of these independent broker-dealers.
There is no immediate review of new accounts opened, securities transactions, business records, cash or securities receipts and deliveries, correspondence and business activities unrelated to the securities brokerage operation at these independent brokerage firms. The lax supervision leaves investors who have transferred their accounts to the smaller independent broker-dealer vulnerable to excessive purchases and sales of securities and securities that have not been reviewed or authorized by anyone other than the sales representative earning a commission. Generally, no manager is onsite to detect the placement of inaccurate information about a client's investment objectives and financial condition to document the suitability of a particular investment recommendation. There is no daily review of sales literature and client correspondence to protect against misrepresentations and misleading statements being made to investors. In fact, there may be only one compliance audit visit per year at many of these offices. These independent brokerage business operations are worrisome to the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA), which has documented more instances of sales abuse and consequently investor losses at these firms.
Have you suffered losses in your Woodbury Financial Services brokerage account? If so, call Robert Pearce at the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. for a free consultation. Mr. Pearce is accepting clients with valid claims against Woodbury Financial Services stockbrokers who engaged in churning, recommended unsuitable investments and unsuitable investment strategies that caused investors losses.
The most important of investors' rights is the right to be informed! This Investors' Rights blog post is by the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A., located in Boca Raton, Florida. For over 30 years, Attorney Pearce has tried, arbitrated, and mediated hundreds of disputes involving complex securities, commodities and investment law issues. The lawyers at our law firm are devoted to protecting investors' rights throughout the United States and internationally! Please visit our website, www.secatty.com, post a comment, call (800) 732-2889, or email Mr. Pearce at pearce@rwpearce.com for answers to any of your questions about this blog post and/or any related matter.
Churning is a violation of Federal and state securities statutes, industry rules and regulations and a breach of fiduciary duty to investors under common law. Churning can occur if a Woodbury Financial Services broker exercises control over the investment decisions in your account and purchases stocks or recommends that you purchase and sell stocks for his benefit, i.e., commissions not yours! These trades rarely, if ever, make the investor any money. In fact, the additional commissions raise the break-even point for the investor to the level where the stock must perform at an extremely high level in order for the investor to make any money.
In every broker-investor relationship, the broker must assess what the investor's goals are as well as his or her risk tolerance. This assessment is based on a number of key factors, including the investor's stated objectives, risk tolerance, financial condition and tax status. It is the broker's responsibility to only pursue investments suitable for that investor based on these factors. A stockbroker is obligated to only recommend suitable investments and investment strategies. If a Woodbury Financial Services broker recommends unsuitable investments and unsuitable investment strategies, it can leave you vulnerable to unnecessary risk and losses.
Independent broker-dealers are notorious for their lax supervisory practices and procedures. The business model of these operations is to open many offices nationwide for steady growth of fixed monthly revenues without the costs attendant to a full-service branch office with on-site manager, compliance officer and operation personnel. The registered representatives of these independent broker-dealers generally operate as separately incorporated businesses. They are not employees of the broker-dealer and therefore not controlled in the same manner as full-service brokerage firm representatives. The registered representatives control their structure and costs to maximize profits and often leave the protection of investors' rights and interests as their lowest priority.
The typical supervisory organization of independent broker-dealer operations is to have other independent contractors operate Offices of Supervisory Jurisdiction (OSJs) to monitor the registered representatives from geographically remote offices and then report to the main franchisor's compliance office at national headquarters. The supervisors at the OSJs are not employees of the franchisor and often run their own brokerage, insurance and other businesses. They are not devoted full-time supervisors of the smaller branch offices. Consequently, OSJ managers cannot and do not supervise the day-to-day operations of the registered representatives of these independent broker-dealers.
There is no immediate review of new accounts opened, securities transactions, business records, cash or securities receipts and deliveries, correspondence and business activities unrelated to the securities brokerage operation at these independent brokerage firms. The lax supervision leaves investors who have transferred their accounts to the smaller independent broker-dealer vulnerable to excessive purchases and sales of securities and securities that have not been reviewed or authorized by anyone other than the sales representative earning a commission. Generally, no manager is onsite to detect the placement of inaccurate information about a client's investment objectives and financial condition to document the suitability of a particular investment recommendation. There is no daily review of sales literature and client correspondence to protect against misrepresentations and misleading statements being made to investors. In fact, there may be only one compliance audit visit per year at many of these offices. These independent brokerage business operations are worrisome to the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA), which has documented more instances of sales abuse and consequently investor losses at these firms.
Have you suffered losses in your Woodbury Financial Services brokerage account? If so, call Robert Pearce at the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. for a free consultation. Mr. Pearce is accepting clients with valid claims against Woodbury Financial Services stockbrokers who engaged in churning, recommended unsuitable investments and unsuitable investment strategies that caused investors losses.
The most important of investors' rights is the right to be informed! This Investors' Rights blog post is by the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A., located in Boca Raton, Florida. For over 30 years, Attorney Pearce has tried, arbitrated, and mediated hundreds of disputes involving complex securities, commodities and investment law issues. The lawyers at our law firm are devoted to protecting investors' rights throughout the United States and internationally! Please visit our website, www.secatty.com, post a comment, call (800) 732-2889, or email Mr. Pearce at pearce@rwpearce.com for answers to any of your questions about this blog post and/or any related matter.
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