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  • Videos
    • Jonathan Evans Introduction
    • Is the FINRA forum fair to investors
    • What legal duties do financial advisers owe their customers regarding investment recommendations
    • What tips do you have for investors to avoid becoming a victim of investment abuse
    • What tips do you have for investors who need help
    • Where are most investment disputes solved
    • Why don't most investors come forward and bring claims to recover investment losses
    • Why do you enjoy representing investors in FINTRA arbitrations
    • Why is it important to hire an attorney that specializes in securities arbitration
    • What Experience Do You Have Representing Investors In Disputes?
    • Why Do You Enjoy Representing Investors In Disputes?
    • Why Are Disputes With Brokerage Firms Resolved in FINRA Arbitration?
    • What Legal Duties Do Financial Advisors Owe Their Customers Regarding Investment Recommendations
    • What Is The Most Egregious Example of Investment Abuse That You've Seen?
    • What Are Some Good Practices to Avoid Investment Disputes?
    • What Are Some Types of Structured Products, and Why Are They Unsuitable For Certain Investors?
    • What Questions Should Investors Ask Before They Select a Financial Professional?
    • Why Is PIABA an Important Organization to Help Protect Investors?
• Securities Fraud Blog
  • 2024
    • November
      • FINRA Disciplines Marc Barton for Reusing Customer Signatures on New Documents
      • Luis Nin of UBS' Unauthorized Trades in Dead Client's Account Result in Fines, Suspension
    • October
      • Morgan Stanley Broker Robert Daly Barred During Private Securities Transaction Investigation
      • FBL Marketing's Richard Connally Fined for Forgery
      • Merrill Lynch Ordered by SEC to Pay $3.8 Million for Complex Trading Strategy's Excessive Fees & Risks
    • September
      • IFG VP Richard Mireles, Stewart Paxton Ginn Sanctioned in $2.2 Million Churning Scheme
      • Nationwide Planning Associates Cited for Trying to Prevent Customers from Complaining About Firm to SEC
      • Stewart Ginn Agrees to Settle Charges of Churning $2.2 Million from IFG Customers
      • Morgan Stanley Fined $2 Million Over Improper First Republic Trades
    • August
      • Drive Planning CEO Russell Burkhalter Accused of $300 Million Ponzi Scheme
      • SEC Fines Ameriprise, LPL Financial, Raymond James & Others $394 Million for Improper Texting, Off-Channel Communications
      • Janney Montgomery Scott Fined for Failing to Report Trades, Supervisory Failures
      • PFS Investments Fined for Failing to Enforce Outside Business Activities Rule
      • Western International Securities Fined for REIT Supervisory Failures, Causing $2.5 Million in Excessive Trading Costs
    • July
      • FINRA Fines UBS $850,000 for Unapproved Annuities Supervision Failure Totalling $7.2 Million
      • FINRA Cites FNBB Capital Markets for Supervisory and Disclosure Failures
      • Colorado Bars James McGehee Wealth Management for High-Risk Options Recommendations
      • Raymond James' Bryan Noonan & Thomas Reyes Barred After Unapproved Sales
    • June
      • Fraudster Greg Lindberg, Owner of Northstar (Bermuda) and Colorado Bankers Life, Guilty of Bribery
    • May
      • Jeffries Broker Cited for Using WhatsApp To Conduct Securities Business
      • After $13 Million in Penalties for 'Widespread Failure,' Oppenheimer Fined $500,000 for Supervisory and Suitability Gaps
      • FINRA barred former Independent Financial Group (IFG) broker Brett Arthur Hartvigson of San Diego, California for refusing to co
    • April
      • Stifel Nicolaus Failed to Detect Unsuitable Recommendations Despite Risk Policy, Says FINRA
      • The Risk of Rising Autocollable Structured Products: The Case of the Worthless Bank
    • March
      • Stifel Financial Agrees to Pay for Failing to Supervise Brokers Who Allegedly Stole Client Funds, Made Unsuitable Trades
      • Osaic aka SagePoint Financial's David Tall Barred for Unauthorized Promissory Notes
    • February
      • Morgan Stanley Broker Stole $3.5 Million from Clients, According to SEC, Arrested for Elder Exploitation
      • Anaheim's Centaurus Financial Tops SLCG List of Riskiest Brokerage Firms for 2024
      • Investor Loses $300,000 in Unapproved Securities-Based Loan Strategy
      • JWE Investigating Peakstone Realty Trust fka Griffin Capital REIT Investment Losses
      • KBS REIT in Newport Beach Teeters on Brink of Failure
    • January
      • JP Morgan's Darren Ting Sanctioned for Unauthorized Discretionary Trading
      • Benchmark Investments Ex-Broker Todd Anderson Barred After Disputed Signature, Unsuitable Recommendations
      • Louis Goff Charged with Fraud for Forex Scheme Resulting in Losses of $2.1 Million
      • WestPark Capital Broker Mitchell Morrison Sanctioned for Unauthorized Private Securities Transactions; WestPark Fined Too
      • Austin Dutton's Unsuitable REIT Recommendations Harmed Customers, Says FINRA
      • LPL Financial to Pay $6 Million for Supervisory, Sales Practice, and Review Failures
  • 2023
    • December
      • Pursuing Claims Against Theresa Allen of RBC Capital for Unsuitable First Republic Sales
      • Christopher Kennedy of Western International Securities Barred for Excessive Churning Resulting in $2.3 Million in Losses
      • Beverly Hills Broker Sara Qazi Sanctioned for Unapproved Private Investment
      • Stifel Nicolaus Broker Chuck Roberts Accused of Securities Fraud Resulting in Multi-Million Dollar Damages
    • November
      • Wedbush Fined $350k for Approving Fraudulent Wire Transfers Totaling $6.6 Million
      • Stephen Takeda Barred During Customer Loans Investigation
      • Jilena Mok of Edward Jones Sanctioned for Unauthorized Discretionary Trades
      • High-Risk Real Estate Firm iCap Enterprises Declares Bankruptcy, Putting $245 of Investor Funds at Risk
      • Credit Suisse Ends 9 ETNs, Including Delisted VelocityShares Products That Lost 90% of Value
    • October
      • Daniel King Cited for Unsuitable Recommendations on Margin Resulting in Damages
      • IFG Broker Stewart Ginn Accused of Churning Elderly Clients, Resulting in $4.5 Million in Losses
      • Christopher Kennedy Churned and Excessively Traded Western International Securities Accounts Resulting in Multi-Million Dollar L
      • Western International's Megurditch Patatian Loses Unsuitable REIT Recommendations Appeal
    • September
      • Best Interest Rule Violation Cited in Unsuitable REIT Recommendation and Overconcentration
      • Stifel Nicolaus Facing Massive Controversy, $24.5 Million Damages Claims, Over Unsuitable Structured Product Sales
      • Failed Bank First Republic Accused of Issuing Shares Shortly Before Going Bankrupt, Resulting in Multi-Million Dollar Losses
    • August
      • LPL Financial's Gregory Collins Cited for Failing to Disclose Side Gigs, Including Hedge Fund Role
    • July
      • Westpark Capital's Nicholas Tocco Sanctioned for AML Compliance, Supervisory Failures
      • Alleged Ponzi Scheme Broker at Western International Barred Amidst Alleged Fraud, Unauthorized GWG Holdings Sales
      • Wedbush's Jonathan Way Barred During Investigation, Allegations of Unauthorized and Unsuitable Trading
    • June
      • Can I File a Claim for Northstar Financial Services Bankruptcy Losses? From Global Advantage to Met Universal Life, a List of No
      • LPL Financial Ex-Broker Patrick Thayer Charged with Misappropriating $1.3 Million from Client
      • LPL & CUSO Financial Broker Kale KH Young Sanctioned for Falsifying Customer Signatures
    • May
      • Ameriprise Broker Cathie Joughin Barred During Elder Abuse, Misappropriation Investigation
      • Wells Fargo SoCal Broker Mark Brewer Sanctioned for Trying to Skirt Beneficiary Rule
      • Centaurus Financial's Donnie Ingram Sanctioned for Unsuitable UIT and REIT Recommendations
      • Wells Fargo's Tyler Rigsbee Sentenced to Prison for Stealing Money from Elderly Clients
    • April
      • Todd Anderson Cited for Unsuitable Recommendation That Senior Purchase $1 Million of Mutual Funds
      • Securities America Broker Michael Raineri Barred for Transfering $135k from Customer's Account
      • RBC Ordered to Pay $1.1 Million Over Supervision Failures
    • March
      • As Credit Suisse Shareholders Suffer Losses, AT1 Bond Holders Lose Everything
    • February
      • Beverly Hills Broker Antoine Souma Barred After Failing to Cooperate with FINRA Investigation
      • Centaurus Financial Penalized $1 Million for Unsuitable Structured Product Sales
      • SEC Accuses Steve Susoeff, Meritage Financial Group, of Fraudulent Scheme
    • January
      • SoCal Broker Jay Eng Cited for Impersonating Customer in Call with Annuity Company
      • Western International Securities' Efrain Trujillo Suspended by FINRA for Unauthorized Loans
      • Kimberly Nuessmann Sanctioned for Impersonating Deceased Customer in IRA Transfer
  • 2022
    • December
      • FINRA Bars PFS Vice President Desiderio Torrez After Customer Complaint
      • Transamerica Broker Guatam Arora Arrested in Southern California on Fraud Charges
      • LPL Financial Fined $150k, Admonished for Failing to Supervise Broker Involved in Ponzi Scheme
    • November
      • Morgan Stanley Broker David Lau Sanctioned for Unauthorized Discretionary Trades
      • Edward Turley Barred After Settling Suitability and Fraud Claims Worth $47 Million
      • Pasadena-Based Western International Securities Fined $400k for Deficient REIT Supervision
      • Stephen Romney Swensen, Crew Capital Group Named in $30 Million Ponzi Scheme Complaint
      • FINRA Slams Anaheim's Centaurus Financial for Supervisory Failure, Allowing Broker Donnie Ingram to Hire His Own Supervisor
    • October
      • FINRA's First Regulation Best Interest AWC
      • Previously Sanctioned for Excessive & Unsuitable ETP Trading, Efrain Trujillo Barred for Borrowing Money From Customers
      • As Credit Suisse Nears Financial Jeopardy, Potential Customer Losses Loom for its Structured Products
    • September
      • ProMedica Health System Downgraded, $2+ Billion Debt Spurring Review for Junk Status and Possible Default
      • Advisor Mark Frankel Charged with Fraud
      • SagePoint Financial Sanctioned for Supervisory Failures, Excessive Margin for Elderly Client
    • August
      • Kovack Securities Cited for Failing to Supervise Short-Term Mutual Fund Trades, Suitability Issues
      • GWG Holdings Financing Package Approved, Further Highlighting Importance of Pursuing Arbitration with Firms That Sold L Bonds
      • Merrill Lynch's Conrad Branson Disciplined for Series of Unauthorized Transactions, Discretion in Customer Accounts
      • Broker Zachary Hansen Suspended After Selling Away From UBS Financial Services
      • Patrick English Barred During Unauthorized Use of Discretion Investigation
      • Fired from Raymond James, Wedbush Hires Michael Paul Massey & William Romans, Brokers Accused in Pending Case of Drug Charges
      • Philip Smith Suspended by FINRA After Series of Complaints, Unsuitable Variable Annuity Recommendation
      • Camille Cordova Sanctioned for Unsuitable Variable Annuity Recommendations
    • July
      • David Hixon Sanctioned Over Improper Money Borrowing, Loans
      • Steven Kiyoto Hirata Barred After Investigation into Private Securities Transactions
      • Roselaine Securities Disciplined for Failing to Supervise or Identify Staff Engaged in Outside Business Activities, Failing to A
      • McDermott Investment Advisors Loses to SEC in Court, Held Liable for Fraud Against UIT Clients
      • Gregory Andrews Sanctioned for Undisclosed Outside Business Activities
    • June
      • Emerson Equity Predicts Further Adversity as Wholesalers Leave and GWG Holdings L Bond Losses Grow
      • Western International Securities Charged with Violating Regulation Best Interest by Recommending and Selling Unsuitable and Risk
      • Megurditch Patatian Barred for $8 Million of Unsuitable REIT & Variable Annuity Recommendations
      • Brokerage Firm IFP Securities that Sold Doomed GWG Holdings Products Deliberately Sought Risky Products
    • May
      • Tarik Nehmatullah Barred After Allegedly Accepting Loan from Customer
      • Ex-Morgan Stanley Broker Nikolay Zotenko Cited for Improperly Marketing Private Placements
      • LPL Financial Broker Bruce Amman Cited for Transacting $3.5 Million Private Placement Without LPL Approval
      • TCFG Broker Janie Garza-Clark Barred After Fraud Complaint, Investigation
    • April
      • Berthel Fisher Fined $100,000 for Options Trading Compliance Failures in Elderly Client's Account
      • After Causing Investor Losses, Bankrupt GWG Holdings Blames SEC Investigation For GWGH Failures
      • Troubled GWG Holdings Finally Files for Bankruptcy, Sealing Many Investors' Losing Fates
      • Edward Jones Broker John Winslow (Gig Harbor, WA) Barred After Client's $893,000 Theft Accusation
      • GWG Holdings Unit Seeks Waiver of Default
      • GWG Sanctioned by NASDAQ As More Brokerage Sellers Appear
      • GWG Holdings Losses Grow in California with Centaurus, Kingswood's Mark John Williams
      • GWG to File for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy - GWG L Bond Investors May Be Entitled To Damages
      • TCFG Wealth Broker David McDonnell Barred in Outside Business Activity Investigation
    • March
      • FINRA Fines Dempsey Lord Smith & BD4RIA for Private Placement Sales of "Ponzi-like" GPB Capital
      • Geneos Wealth Management to Pay $400,000 for Improper Alt Investment Sales
      • Michael Knittel Suspended for Undisclosed Private Securities Transaction
      • Former Wells Fargo & LPL Financial Broker Mario Rivero Arrested for Stealing $680,000 From Clients
      • Gregory Scott Hanshew Accused of Disclosure, Sales Violations with Elder Investors
      • Investors Advised to "Avoid GWGH" as GWG Holdings Deemed Problematic in 2015
      • KIRN Radio Personality Tony Barouti (Barouti Financial) Under Investigation Over Possible GWG Holdings L Bond Sales
    • February
      • L Bond Losses: Defining GWG Holdings' Unsuitably Risky Product
      • Backed into a Collapsing Corner, GWG Holdings Goes Silent, Leaving Investors On the Hook
      • Unsuitably Recommended and Sold to Investors, GWG Holdings L Bonds Lose Value, Paving Way for Arbitration
      • Purshe Kaplan Sterling Charged Over Unsuitable Leveraged ETF Sales Causing $2.3 Million in Losses
      • Emerson Equity-Pushed GWG L Bonds Face Imminent Default After Failing to Pay Investors
      • Morgan Stanley Broker Darryl Cohen, Broker to Pro Athletes, Barred After Millions in Claims
      • Raymond James Under Investigation for Northstar Financial Services (Bermuda) Sales
      • GWG Holdings Pauses L Bond Sales As Large Losses Loom
    • January
      • GWG Holdings Fails to Make $13.6 Million in Payments to Investors as Investigations Ramp Up
      • Four United Development Funding Execs Guilty of Real Estate Fraud Scheme
      • Ivan Acevedo, Guilty of Fraud in Woodbridge Ponzi Scheme, Barred by SEC
      • Triad Advisors Disciplined for Failing to Supervise LJM Mutual Fund Recommendations, Which Lost 80% In Value Before Liquidating
      • Royal Alliance Associates, Sagepoint Financial & FSC Securities Sanctioned for Supervisory Failures; SagePoint Cited for Failing
      • RBC Capital's Unsuitable Concentration in High-Yield Bonds Nets $1 Million Settlement
  • 2021
    • December
      • Fraudulent Offerings, Unsuitable Recommendations Linked to Northstar Financial Service (Bermuda)
      • Wedbush Securities to Pay $1.2 Million Over Unregistered Microcap Sales
      • American Portfolios Financial Services Cited After Assistant Kimberly Sredich's Theft from Clients & Rep Mark Hopkins' Misapprop
    • November
      • WestPark Capital Sanctioned for Misrepresentations in $3.9 Million Promissory Note Sales
      • JP Morgan Advisors' Antoine Souma Suspended for Incorrect and Misleading Reports to Customer
      • Non-Traded Real Estate Investment Trusts: Recovering Damages when a Broker Unsuitably Recommends a REIT
      • Investors Who Lost Money in Northstar Financial Services (Bermuda) & Beechwood Bermuda May Be Entitled to Damages From Firms Tha
    • October
      • Morgan Stanley of Pasadena's Henry Chang Accused of Soliciting Outside Investments
      • Morgan Stanley's Barry Garapedian Accused of Unsuitable Recommendations Causing Millions in Damages
      • Raymond James' Mark Boucher Criminally Charged in $2 Million Fraud
      • Ex-Vorpahl Wing & LPL Financial Broker Lee Victor Nordstrom Barred After Allegedly Placing IRA Trades 4 Days After Client's Deat
    • September
      • Ex-LPL Financial, APW Capital's Paul Furusho Barred After Loan Investigation
      • SEC Cites 9 Brokerage Firms Over 12b-1 Fee Violations That Harmed Customers
      • SEC Complaint Cites Former Oppenheimer Rep John Woods for Massive $110 Million Horizon Private Equity Ponzi Scheme Targeting Eld
    • August
      • Pruco Securities' Alon Zak Accused of Creating Fake Life Insurance Policy Applications by Forging Signatures
      • Jason Seale Cited for Discretionary Trading Without Permission
      • Raymond James May Have Sold Unsuitable Northstar Financial Services (Bermuda) Products, Resulting in Losses Due to Northstar's D
      • Suntrust Investment Services Rep Stephen Berrocal Accused of Unsuitable Recommendations as Northstar Financial Services (Bermuda
    • July
      • SEC Finds Fiduciary Duty and Suitability Failures in Wrap-Fee Program Recommendations
      • Regulators Crack Down on Record Keeping and Broker Communications via E-mail, Text Message, WhatsApp, and Social Media
      • UBS Ordered to Pay $8 Million for Unsuitable Complex ETP Sales of VXX
      • Merrill Lynch to Pay $11.7 Million Over Unit Investment Trust (UIT) Supervisory Failures
    • June
      • SEC Orders Crown Capital Securities to Pay $1.6 Million Over Mutual Fund Share Class Violations
      • Farmers Financial Solutions Fined for Failing to Supervise Variable Universal Life, Mutual Funds Business
      • Corey White Barred Over Supervisory & Red Flag ETP Failures at Financial West Group Because "There Were Too Many to Review"
    • May
      • Calton & Associates Sanctioned Over Volatile Exchange-Traded Product (ETP) Supervision Failures
      • Hung Sam Cited for Borrowing From Wells Fargo Customer Without Authorization
      • Wells Fargo's Gary Wells Sanctioned for Accepting Prohibited Bequests from Elderly Customer's Estate
      • IRS Warns of Conservation Easement Tax Scams as Brokers Raise Billions
      • UnionBanc Investment Services Fined $100k for Variable Annuity Supervision Woes
      • A Truly International Operation: Northstar Financial Services (Bermuda)'s Liquidation Will Result in Significant Losses
    • April
      • Antoine Nabih Souma Under Investigation After JP Morgan Pays $14 Million to Settle Dispute
      • Sun Hyung Kim Barred for Unauthorized Trading, False & Misleading Statements
      • FINRA Bars John Lee Scott of LPL Financial (Phoenix) During Outside Business Activity nad Private Securities Transaction Investi
      • SPAC Buying Slows as Regulators Propose Rule Change, Reviews of Prior SPACs
      • Steven Schisler Accused of Recommending Elderly Clients Invest in Promissory Note Issued by Partner Previously Barred for Defrau
      • Independent Financial Group Disciplined Over Concentrated Illiquid REIT Sales, Supervisory Failures
      • James Hedges Cited for Misrepresenting, Failing to Disclose $6 Million of Financial Events on Questionnaire
      • Adviser Who Instructed Elderly Customers to Sign Blank Documents and Lied on Forms to Effect Investments in High-Risk, High-Fee
    • March
      • Broker-Dealer's Due Diligence Duties for Private Placements Require Research and Supervision
      • While Stating "We Routinely Have Legal Issues," Calton & Associates Adds $500,000 to ETF Legal Budget, Seeking to Pay Customers
      • The Logan Group Securities Cited for Multi-Share Class Variable Annuity Violations
      • JP Morgan Broker Trevor Rahn Disciplined for Unauthorized Trading, Improper Discretion, and Mismarking Solicited Orders
      • Growth Capital Services Fined $35,000 for Distributing Misleading Description of Risky Private Placements and Disclosure Failure
      • Whitehall-Parker Securities, Robert James Yuloo Cited for Failing to Supervise Broker Who Sold Fraudulent Woodbridge Ponzi Schem
      • Advisor Group Firms, including Royal Alliance Increase Budgets for Legal and Regulatory Issues
      • FINRA Cites Jeffrey Stanga for Failing to Fully Disclose Outside Business Activity, and Engaging Private Securities Transactions
      • Unsuitably Risky SPACs, "A License to Rip Investors Off," Rile SEC and FINRA Regulators
      • Cetera Financial Group & Cetera Advisors Paid $4.2 Million Over Mutual Fund Misconduct
      • LPL Broker Rhett Douglas Bedwell Barred During Investigation of Ponzi Scheme
      • Megurditch Patatian Accused of Unsuitable REIT Recommendations Funded Through VA Surrenders
    • February
      • Scott Hansen Sanctioned for Unapproved Will and Trust for Elderly Customer, Threatening Family After Client's Death
      • VALIC Financial Advisors Fined $350,000 for Variable Annuities Failures After Prior $1.75 Million Fine
      • Wells Fargo's Scott Reed Barred After Selling $3.5 Million of Web/Software Investments Away from Firm
      • Andrew Perona Sanctioned for Taking Clients' Personal Information to New Firm Without Consent
      • FINRA Fines Triad Advisors $150,000 Over Poor Mutual Fund & Variable Annuity Switches That Resulted in Customer Losses
      • My Financial Girlfriend CEO Lisa Brumm Sanctioned for Unsuitable Variable Annuity Recommendations
      • SEC Charges GPB Capital Holdings, Ascendant Capital, with $1.7 Billion Ponzi Scheme Defrauding 17,000 Retail Investors
    • January
      • Broker San Nicolas Barred Over Recommendation to Purchase Las Vegas Raiders Seats
      • George Magladry Suspended for Failing to Disclose Felony Charges
      • Cetera Firms Fined $1 Million for Supervisory Failures in Third-Party Securities Transactions
      • Merrill Lynch Broker Ryan Raskin Barred After Inappropriate Investment Recommendations, Firing
      • Transamerica Financial Advisors to Pay $8.8 Million Over Unsuitable Recommendations Charges
      • LPL Financial's Arthur Obermeier Cited for Unauthorized Discretionary Trading
      • LPL Financial Fined $6.5 Million for Supervisory Deficiencies in Wake of $1+ Million Ponzi Scheme
      • Worden Capital Management Ordered to Pay $1.5 Million Over Systemic Excessive Trading and Unsuitable Recommendations That Caused
  • 2020
    • December
      • FINRA Charges Nicholas Baecker with Forging Customer Signatures on Forms
      • California's Infinity Financial Services Fined $35k Over Inadequate Background Checks of Brokers, Failing to Obtain Industry App
      • FINRA Charges Gregory McCloskey aka Gregory Meier with Covering Up Improper Private Securities Transaction (PST) with a Second I
    • November
      • FINRA Cracks Down on Unit Investment Trust (UIT) Short-Term Trading Abuse at Stifel, Nicolaus & Company
      • FINRA Finds Variable Annuities, Life Insurance Liquidation Strategy Unsuitable, Cites ON Equity Sales Broker
      • American Portfolios Financial Services Fined for Unsuitable VXX Recommendations That Caused Customer Losses
      • SEC Issues Securities America Advisors Cease-and-Desist Order Over XIV, VIXY ETF Trades Resulting in Losses in Over 150 Client A
      • SEC Fines Royal Alliance Associates Over Volatility Linked ETP Failures, Including iPath S&P 500 VIX ETN 'VXX'
      • Vonna Kay Husby Barred During Investigation into Undisclosed Bank Account Co-Owned With Elderly Customer
      • LPL Financial's Timothy Engelmann Sanctioned for Unauthorized Loan Through LLC
    • October
      • David Walters Cited for Outside Business, Private Securities Transactions
      • Stephen Whittaker Cited for Undisclosed Outside Business Activity
      • Kathleen Bott Barred After Investigation Into Theft Charges
      • SEC Fines Morgan Stanley $5 Million Over Short Sale Violations in Swaps Business
    • September
      • Voya Broker James Flynn Racks Up Suitability Complaints, Reportedly Flees to Caribbean
      • JP Morgan's Lauren Wing Cited for $314,000 of Unauthorized Trading in Senior's Account
      • Stifel Nicolaus Broker Steven Rodemer to Pay $385,536 to Settle SEC Claims He Scammed Elderly Widow
      • Chih-Ming Huang Suspended After Failing to Disclose Felony Charge
      • Wells Fargo Variable Annuity Supervision Violations Net $2 Million in Fines and Restitution
      • Raymond James Broker Mark Boucher Accused of $2.2 Million Fraud, Stealing From Dead Client
      • LPL Financial's James Rapisarda Cited for Private Securities Transaction
    • August
      • SEC Fines Firm $1 Million Over High-Fee Mutual Fund Recommendations
      • FINRA Bars Terminated Brokers Lau, Winters, for Failing to Provide Information
      • Wedbush's David Hirons Accused of Unauthorized Trading
      • Ex-First Allied Broker Kimberly Barensten Cited for Charging Undisclosed VA Fees
      • Oppenheimer, Already Sanctioned $3.8 Million, Sees Broker Penalized for Premature & Unsuitable UIT Sales & Trades
    • July
      • Fired Morgan Stanley Broker Stephen Sloane Under Investigation for Unsuitable Recommendations in Quickly Trading Long-Term Inves
      • James Daughtry Barred in 'Potentially Fraudulent and Unauthorized Transactions' Investigation
      • Merrill Lynch, Charles Kenahan Under NH Investigation for $100+ Million Churning & Unauthorized Trading
      • JP Morgan's Adrienne Mak Barred Over Claims She Used Personal Email, Cell Phone to Communicate With Customers
      • Elizabeth Morrell Barred Over Fraudulent Woodbridge Group Ponzi Scheme
    • June
      • Barry Hartwyk Disciplined for Unauthorized Use of Discretion
      • Micah Patterson Disciplined for Future Income Payments (FIP) Solicitation
      • E-mail Communication Failures - What a Terminated CEO, WhatsApp Broker, Woodbridge & FIP Have in Common
      • Quinn Campbell Disciplined for Removing MetLife Customers' Private Info
      • Raymond James Broker Frederick Stow Charged with Fraud After $943,500 IRA Theft
      • Dee Dee Brooks Barred Over Fraudulent Woodbridge Ponzi Scheme, Future Income Payments Solicitations
      • CFP Board Disciplines California's Joel Davidman for Unauthorized Discretion, Alaska's Michael Shamburger and Rob Wedel for Mult
      • LPL's Donald Padilla Suspended for Circumventing Firm Supervision, Unapproved Email Accounts
      • Stifel Nicolaus to Pay $3.65 Million for Unsuitable Unit Investment Trust (UIT) Rollovers & Poor Supervision
    • May
      • SunTrust Investment Services to Pay $634,000 Over Unsuitable ETF Sales
      • Brokerage Warning Issued for Oil-Linked ETPs, Including US Oil Fund
      • Ameriprise Broker Arthur Hoffman Barred Following Fraud Complaint, Investigation
      • FINRA: LPL Financial Unsuitably Sold Elderly Clients Risky REITs After Broker Lied About Customers' Net Worth
      • Western International Securities Failed to Disclose Brokers' Financial Events Totaling $5.6 Million, Says FINRA
      • Wells Fargo's Bryan Benson Barred After Investigation Into DPP Customer Complaint
    • April
      • Lost Money in Risky Oil & Gas Investments During COVID-19? We're Investigating Claims
      • Brokerages Stop Risk-Laden REIT Sales After Massive Coronavirus Losses
      • Integrity Brokerage Services CEO Joshua Helmle Accused of Deliberately Defying FINRA, Allowing Disqualified Broker Marc Jaffe to
      • Wedbush Broker James Richards Cited for Supervision Failure Over Multi-Million Dollar Margin Deficits
      • CFP Board Suspends California's Michael Altobell & Richard LaBare
      • JP Morgan's Steven Lu Barred for Pretending to Befriend, Taking Advantage of Elderly Alzheimer's Client
      • Clare Cail Suspended for Altering Signed Account Documents, Submitting Falsified Form
      • Accurate Record Keeping & Supervision Vital as FINRA Temporarily Lifts Rules, SEC Suspends In-Person Exams During Pandemic
      • The Securities-Based Loan Margin Call Is "Exactly The Risk We Are Focused On," Says FINRA
      • Caution Urged as UBS, HSBC Recommending Asian Structured Products to Top Clients
      • Corona Virus Plagues Risky Structured Products, Reverse Convertibles
    • March
      • Exchange-Traded Notes At Heightened Risk Due to COVID-19's Market Volatility
      • Corona Virus Claims UBS ETRACS ETN Structured Products as Risky Debt Notes Free-Fall
      • Excess Concentration Can Prove Disastrous During Economic Downturn
      • Margin Trading and Complex Leveraged Products Could Amplify Losses During Coronavirus Commotione
      • Coronavirus Losses, Stock Market Decline Expose Fraudulent Schemes
      • FINRA Sanctions Scott Kozak for Soliciting $1.2 Million Away from Firm Cetera, False Statements
      • COVID-19 Update
      • AXA Advisors' Billy Zhang Cited After Settling Misuse-of-Funds Complaint Away From Firm
      • Ronald Hannes Barred During Conversion Investigation
    • February
      • Citing 'Widespread Failures,' SEC Fines Wells Fargo $35 Million for Unsuitable Inverse ETF Recommendations, Inadequate Supervisi
      • IFG Broker Martin David Batstone Barred for Fraud After Converting Client Funds
      • Commonwealth Income and Growth Fund at Heart of FINRA Bar for Misuse of Funds
      • Wells Fargo Fined for Failing to Supervise Rep's Excessive Trading; Matthew Maczko Barred
      • SoCal Ameriprise Broker Li Lin Hsu Sentenced for $8.2 Million Fraud
      • FINRA's Saction of Mason Gann Highlights Risks of Naked Puts Strategy
      • Royal Alliance Fined $400,000 Over $3.8 Million Theft from Customers
    • January
      • Kerry Wills Sanctioned for Borrowing $150k, Accepting Luxury "Travel Gifts" From Elderly Customer
      • FINRA Bars NYLife's Kari Bracy Over $300 Million Ponzi Scheme Future Income Payments Misrepresentation
      • Shlomo Strugano, Former First Allied Broker, Barred During Forgery Investigation
      • Citigroup, YieldStreet Plans Risky Hedge Fund Product for Retail Customers
      • NEXT Financial Group Fined for Unsuitable Non-Traded REIT Sales
      • Barred Broker John Chrysadakis' Alleged Conversion at Mason's Lodge Illustrates Affinity Fraud Risk
      • FINRA Penalizes Oppenheimer & Co $3.8 Million After UIT Supervisory Failures
      • First Financial Equity Corporation Sanctioned for Failing to Timely Disclose Financial Events, Supervisory Deficiencies
  • 2019
    • December
      • Hicks Latest Broker Accused of Unsuitable High-Risk REIT and BDC Sales to Senior Citizen Investors
      • Francisco Valenzuela Cited for Failing to Disclose Lien
      • CUSO Financial Services' Gerald Coyne Latest Firm Rep Sanctioned After VA Investigation
      • Eugene Gordon Cited for Allowing Wife's Unauthorized Withdrawals From Morgan Stanley Client's Account
      • SEC Bars Securities America Broker Ronald J Roach over $1 Billion DC Solar Fraud and Ponzi Scheme
    • November
      • FINRA Bars Julie Ann Mineard for Unauthorized Transfer of Funds into Her Own Personal Bank Accounts
      • FINRA Bars Jun 'Justine' Zhou Over Private Real Estate Transactions
      • Cetera's Christopher Kozak Suspended for Undisclosed Outside Business Activity with Nutrition Bar Investments
      • SEC Bars James Booth (Ex-LPL Financial) Over $5 Million Ponzi Scheme Victimizing Elderly Clients
    • October
      • Ami Forte & Charles Lawrence Barred for Churning Dementia-Laden Elderly Client's Account
      • Environmental Lawyers' Warning of Conservation Easement Investments, Penalties for Abuse of Federal Tax Code
      • JP Morgan Fined $1.1 Million for Failing to Tell FINRA About 89 Broker Misconduct Allegations
      • Financial West Group (LA) Broker Daniel Maughan Barred for ETF Churning & Excessive Trading
      • Broker John Charles Wyshak Ordered to Pay Nearly $1 Million Over Churning Allegations at Raymond James
      • Newbridge Fined $225,000 for Complex Securities, ETF Supervision Failures
      • IFG Broker Martin Batstone Accused of Fraud, Converting Customers' Private Securities Funds for Personal Use
      • James Lamont Sanctioned for Selling $1.5 Million of Notes in Fraudulent Woodbridge Ponzi Scheme
    • September
      • Margareta Childs Barred Following Fraud Complaint, Failure to Cooperate with Investigation
      • Clay G Erickson Sanctioned in $5 Million-Worth of Unauthorized VA Transactions
      • JP Morgan Fined $1.1 Million for Failing to Timely Disclose Broker Misconduct, Harming FINRA & The Public
      • FINRA Cites First Financial Equity's Compliance Officer, Melissa Strouse, for Failing to Disclose 67 Broker Liens, Judgments & F
      • UBS' Yield Enhancement Strategy Harming Low-Risk Investors Who Say No to YES
    • August
      • Ex-Cetera Broker Merhoff Racking Up Complaints After FINRA Bar
      • FINRA Sanctions SoCal Brokers for Failing to Cooperate with Investigations
      • Crown Capital Cited for Mutual Fund Supervision Deficiencies
      • Cetera's Mengxuan 'Sharon' Zhang Sanctioned for Falsifying Customer Signature Pages
      • Karen Paek Barred Over Fake Variable Annuity Applications & Forgery
    • July
      • Eric Nichols Suspended for Settling Customer Complaint Away from Morgan Stanley
      • NBC Securities' Brian DiJulio Cited for Unauthorized Short-Term Discretionary Trades
      • GPB Capital Sued for Alleged Serious Financial Misconduct
      • Trading in a Dead Client's Account Nets Former Wells Fargo Broker Michael Garris a Fine and Suspension
      • FINRA Disciplines LPL Financial's Eric Savell Over Undisclosed Outside Business Activity
      • Convicted Fraudster Daniel Vazquez Gets Prison for Swindling Seniors Out of $2.6 Million
      • Signator's Jeffrey Lundstrom Cited for Failing to Disclose $100,000 in Liens
      • Raymond James Compliance Officer Barred for Falsifying Data
      • After Customers Suffer Losses, FINRA Cites Cetera's Summit Brokerage Services for Failing to Review Excessive Trade Alerts
      • SEC Complaint Names LPL Financial Ex-Broker Kerry Lee Hoffman Alongside Fraudster Thomas Conwell
      • Dunkerley Named in $43 Million Dollar Fraud Scheme Tied to LAFC Soccer Team Owner
    • June
      • Cetera's George Merhoff Barred on 35th Broker Disclosure After $3.8 Million in Settlements
      • Profits Before People - GPB Capital Paid High Commissions to Sell Troubled Products
      • FINRA Fines Edward Jones for Underreporting Complaints, Damages
      • Wedbush's Latest Penalty is an $8.1 Million SEC Fine for Improper Handling of ADRs
      • Patrick Foley Barred After Investigation into Accepting Loans from Elderly Client
      • Barred San Diego Broker Harry Couglar Suspended by CFP Board
      • Cryptocurrency Business Places Kyung Soo Kim in Hot Water
      • Nina Jessee Latest Cetera Advisors Broker Barred by FINRA
      • Ron Ray Willoughby Cited for Unsuitable Short-Term UIT Trading
    • May
      • Wedbush/Hilltop Securities Broker Mark Augusta Accused of Fraud, Financial Elder Abuse
      • Jonathan W. Evans & Associates Announces Filing of FINRA Arbitration Claim Against Western International Securities & Dennis Alb
      • Michael ("Mikey") Tanha Cited for Outside Business Activities, Private Securities Transactions
      • Kajo Movsesian Barred After Review into Conduct Inconsistent with Merrill Lynch Standards
      • Jamie Bennett Sanctioned for Failing to Review E-mails, Use of Outside E-mail Address
    • April
      • Voya Financial Cited for Mutual Fund Sales Charge & Supervisory Failures
      • Sarah Banon Barred for Failing to Cooperate with Investigation
      • John Ernst Sanctioned for Ponzi-Laden Woodbridge Note Sales
      • Frederick Holloway Barred for Improper Variable Annuity Exchange Recommendations & Dishonest Conduct
      • FINRA Identifies 5 High-Price Issues in Unsuitable Variable Annuity Recommendations
      • Glendale Securities (Sherman Oaks) Brokers Sanctioned in Penny Stock Misconduct
      • Ed Matthes Barred After Misappropriation, Forged Account Statement Allegations
    • March
      • Ranking the 20 Large-Cap Mutual Funds and ETFs with the Worst One-Year Returns
      • JWE Investigating Brokers Who Sold Future Income Payments (FIP) in $300 Million Ponzi Scheme
      • Investors Seeking to Recover Losses from Unsuitable UBS' Yield Enhancement Strategy (YES)
      • Broker Bonuses and Forgivable Loans - When Brokers Place Personal Profits Above Client Interests, a William Mark Heiden Case Stu
      • Law Offices of Jonathan W. Evans & Associates Investigating Dennis Albert Mehringer for Suitability, Overconcentration into Risk
      • Laguna Niguel's Craig Arsenault Barred for $5.7 Million Fraud of Atlas Capital Clients
      • NAC Affirms Amerprise Broker Jim Jinkook Seol's EB-5 Private Securities Transactions and Outside Business Activities Bar
      • Wedbush Pays $250k to Settle Supervision Failure Charge for SoCal Rep Timary Delorme's Pump-and-Dump Fraud
      • Sigma Financial Sanctioned for Deficient Non-Traditional ETF Supervisory System
      • SEC Joins FINRA in Barring Arrested WF Broker John Schmidt over Elder Fraud
    • February
      • John Spach Barred for Trying to Settle Complaint Away from Firm
      • Disgraced Merrill Lynch Broker Thomas Buck Sentenced to 40 Months in Prison for Securities Fraud
      • Michael Rappa Barred for $2.7 Million-worth of Woodbridge Ponzi Transactions
      • 20 Worst Bond Fund Returns of 2018 Feature Debt & Emerging Market Funds
      • Thomas E Burns Sanctioned for Alt Investment Mistakes at Crown Capital
      • Broker-Dealers Still May Be Held Liable for Selling Away Losses: A Woodbridge Case Study
      • FINRA Charges Raymond James Compliance Officer with Falsifying Reports to Prevent OBA Audit Follow-Up
    • January
      • Unauthorized Trading, Suitability, and Customer Abuse Complaints Catch Up to Wedbush's William Mark Heiden of Southern Californi
      • LPL Financial Sues Barred Ex-Broker Christopher Lossing over $292,000 Theft it Inadvertently Aided
      • FINRA's 2019 Exam Priorities Feature Senior Protections, Suitability, Outside Business Activities
      • FINRA's Bar of NMS Capital's Mansourian, Saliba, Tabizon, Younger Becomes Final
      • Nicholas Maddox Barred for Failing to Answer FINRA Questions
      • Donald Logan Fined $25k for Unauthorized Discretionary Trades, Having Customers Sign Blank Documents
      • Paul Wishingrad Sanctioned for Unauthorized Use of Discretion in UBS Client Accounts
      • Gary Pevey Barred Over Unauthorized Note Sales in Woodbridge Ponzi Scheme
      • John Gregory Schmidt Arrested, Accused of Elder Abuse, $1.1 Million Fraud
      • 2019 SEC Exam Priorities Zero In on High Fees, Conflicts of Interest, and Mutual Fund & ETF Risks
  • 2018
    • December
      • Cetera Advisor Networks Fined $1.4 Million for Broker Koehler's Unsuitable Churning and Excessive Mutual Fund Trading
      • FINRA and SEC Launch Investigation of GPB Capital Holdings
      • Annemarie Thomas Suspended for Facilitating Wire Without Proper Authorization
      • Emerging Markets, Resources Top Worst-Performing Mutual Funds and ETFs of 2018
      • FINRA Reports Problems with Overconcentration in REITs, Unsuitable Variable Annuity Recommendations
      • Nicholas Radke Barred During Investigation into Unapproved Private Securities Transaction, Elder Abuse Fraud Lawsuit
      • Sean J. Waters Barred for Churning Senior Citizen's Retirement Accounts, Racking Up Fees and Losses
    • November
      • Frank Dietrich Cited for Selling $10.8 Million in Investments in Woodbridge Group of Companies Ponzi Scheme
      • Terminated JP Morgan Broker Hector Villalta Sanctioned for Unapproved Outside Business Activity
      • San Diego "Financial Whiz of Local Airwaves" Kyle Harrington Barred After Conversion, Undisclosed Private Securities Transaction
      • Robert Basile Arrested, Barred For Stealing $130,000 from Elderly Client-His Mother
      • Michael Scott Livermore Sanctioned for Failing to Report Felonies
      • Morningstar's List of 20 Worst Performing Active Mutual Funds
      • Michael Heath Sanctioned for Personal E-mails, Communications in Violation of First Allied Securities Policies
      • LPL Ex-Broker Sonya Camarco Sentenced to 20 Years for Stealing Client Funds, Fraud
      • David Ferwerda Barred in Woodbridge Ponzi Scheme, 1 Global Capital Fraud Investigation
    • October
      • Intrepid Investment Bankers President W Michael Rosenberg Sanctioned for Undisclosed Accounts Away from Firm
      • John Simoncic Barred for Churning Retirement Accounts with VIX ETF
      • SEC Charges Barred First Allied Broker Paul Rampoldi, Convicted of Fraud in Ardea Scheme
      • Andrew Mandell Barred for Refusing to Appear During Investigation
      • Joshua R. Jones fomerly of JP Morgan Sanctioned for Check Kiting
      • Charla Kabana Barred During Investigation into Variable Annuity Business at LPL Financial
      • Former Morgan Stanley Broker John-Aaron Lenhert Cited for Borrowing Funds from Customers
      • Daniel Kittner Suspended for 700 Unauthorized Discretionary Trades
      • IFG's Jon Pariser Barred During Investigation into Unsuitable Investments, Referral to Unlicensed Agent
    • September
      • Robert Torcivia Disciplined Over Beneficiary Designations, Inheriting Money from Clients
      • FINRA Sanctions Ryan Logan for Commission Sharing After Unregistered Assistant Sold Variable Annuities Without a License
      • UNG Leads Worst Performing Passive Funds Since 2008's Financial Crisis
      • Uncooperative Juergen Weber (Unsuitable, Unauthorized Trades) and Benjamin S. Johnson (Failure to Report Liens) Barred
      • Stephen T Hurtuk Barred During Unsuitable Recommendations Investigation
      • HD Vest Investment's Jerry Raines & Donna Barnard Barred in Ongoing Woodbridge Ponzi Scheme Investigation
      • Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Chairman Phillip Frost Charged with Fraud in Pump-and-Dump Penny Stock Scheme
      • Richard Hughes Suspended for Coaxing Elderly Client to Lie About Excessive Commissions for Unsuitable UIT and Mutual Fund Recomm
      • Lincoln Investment Planning Sanctioned for Failing to Apply Sales Charge Discounts to Eligible Retirement Customers
    • August
      • Ex-Wells Fargo Broker Joseph Eschleman Sanctioned for Unauthorized Use of Discretion
      • Massive Woodbridge Fraud Grows as 5 Charged With Selling $243 Million of Ponzi Product to 1,600 Investors
      • Merrill Lynch to Pay $8.9 Million to SEC for Failing to Disclose Conflict of Interest
      • SEC Bars BKS Advisors' Roger Denha for Fraudulent Cherry-Picking Trade Allocation Scheme
      • SEC Issues Ameriprise Financial Cease-and-Desist Order over Failure to Detect Misappropriation and Fraud
      • StockCross Financial Services, LA Broker Peter Cunningham Accused of Fraudulent, Unethical UIT Trading Practices
      • Former Transamerica Broker Roy Gaytan Sanctioned for Discretionary Trading Violations
      • Compliance Officer Claims Retaliation in Firing from Purshe Kaplan Sterling After Reporting Alt Investment Red Flags to FINRA
      • Kenny Mezher Sanctioned for Unapproved Crescent Ridge Volatility Fund Transactions
    • July
      • National Planning Corp, Investment Centers of America, SII Investments and IFC Holdings Fined $1.7 Million, Ordered to Pay $6 Mi
      • FINRA Fines Royal Alliance, FSC, SagePoint Financial, and Woodbury $1 Million for Variable Annuity Supervision Violations
      • Midtown Partners' Kevin Gillespie Charged by SEC in $10 Million Microcap Fraud Scheme
      • Financial, Energy Sectors Feature in 10 Funds with Largest Losses in First Half of 2018
      • Michael Gilhooly Barred for Refusal to Appear during Investigation
      • FINRA Bars Paul Soll Over Investigation into Elder Abuse, Churning, and Unsuitable Penny Stock Recommendations
      • Cetera Financial Fined $200,000 for Failing to Supervise Broker Who Misused Elderly Client's Funds
      • IFG's Dennis Contrestano Cited for Unauthorized Transactions at Prior Firm RBC
      • After SEC Fraud Charge, FINRA Bars Robert Tweed for Making False Statements to Obtain $1.6 Million in Athenian Fund LP
      • Bradley Tennison Barred After Recommending $300k Wire Investment Away from Firm
      • Massachusetts to Investigate Private Placement Sales & Related Practices at 10 Firms
    • June
      • Brian Sung Hyun Sanctioned for Undisclosed Marijuana Consulting Outside Business Activities
      • Kyusun Kim Barred for Unsuitable Recommendations of REITs and Alt Investments in Elderly Investors' Retirement Accounts
      • Wells Fargo Advisors Pays $5 Million to Settle SEC's MLI Short-Term Trading Charges
      • Online Investment Firm Betterment Fined $400,000 for Violating Customer Protection Rule
      • LPL Financial's Bradley Gardner Barred for Conversion from Elderly Client
      • Complaint Cites Atiq Khan for Failing to Appear in Unauthorized Solicitation, Beneficiary Investigation
      • Stacy Cheney-Jamison Barred Over Alleged $330,000 Theft from Retired Clients
      • $1.2 Billion Ponzi at Woodbridge Group of Companies More Widespread Than Thought
      • John Douglas Wade Barred for Converting $100k from Bancorp Customers
      • Losses in LJM Partners' Funds Spotlight Suitability, Risk Management in Complex Mutual Funds
      • FINRA Bars Harold Couglar for 20-Years of Unauthorized Outside Account Trading Activity
      • Arizona Indicts Howard Price, III for Stealing $475,000 from IRA Accounts
      • Sanjeev Sreetharan Barred following Deutsche Bank's "Loss of Confidence" & Fraud Review
      • Leona Parsons Barred After Investigation into Improper Withdrawals, Withholding Money from Client
    • May
      • James Edward Knee Barred, Arrested for Theft from Elderly Client
      • FINRA Awards Clients $800,000 for Oppenheimer's Negligence in Energy Stock Recommendations
      • DOJ Charges Gary Basralian with Fraud, Suit Claims He & Preyed on Elderly Women, Royal Alliance Customers
      • SEC Bars Lauramarie Colangelo for Helping Tarek Bahgat Misappropriate Client Funds Under Guise of Paying Senior Citizens' Intern
      • Gross Margin Debt Climbing at an Unsustainable Rate, Placing Investors at Greater Risk
      • Banks and Brokers Recommending Risky Reverse Convertibles to Combat Volatility Despite Prior Discipline
      • Credit Suisse CEO Warned Unsophisticated Investors Not to Invest in XIV as Lawsuit Alleges Fraud
      • SEC Warned of Volatility-Linked Exchange-Traded Notes' Complexity Before XIV Crash
      • Wells Fargo Survey Finds Two-Thirds of Financial Crimes Against Elderly Are Committed By Trusted Individuals
      • 'Volatility Virus' XIV Devastated Wall Street and Ravaged Private Investors as Uninformed Brokers Took on Too Much Risk
      • Revised FINRA Sanction Guidelines Increase Penalties for Brokers with More Complaints
      • Fifth Third Securities to Pay $6 Million for Variable Annuity Suitability and Disclosure Failures
      • Troubled LPL Financial to Pay $26 Million for Selling Unregistered, Non-Exempt Securities
      • Joseph Pratte Barred After Outside Business Activities Investigation
      • James and Lorraine Conaway Sanctioned for Real Estate Outside Business Activity Violations, Disclose Failures
    • April
      • Ex-Morgan Stanley Rep Arthur Robert Meunier-Breitman Sanctioned for Tezos Crypto-Blockchain Violations, Illicit Solicitations, a
      • Wells Fargo Filing Admits Investigation into 401(k)-to-IRA Rollover Recommendations
      • OHO Decision Barring Richard Tabizon For Altered Compliance Forms, Lying to FINRA, Personal E-mail Use Becomes Final
      • FBI Arrests Ex-Ameriprise Broker Li Lin Hsu for Fraud, Stealing from Clients
      • Merrill Lynch Broker Jonathan Belden Fined & Suspended for Unauthorized Use of Discretion, Trading Restricted Security
      • Dallas York Barred for Refusing to Cooperate with Investigation into Unauthorized Withdrawal of Customer Funds
      • Kevin J Lee Barred Following Investigation into Undisclosed Business Activity
      • Park Avenue Securities Fined $300,000 in Variable Annuities Supervision Investigation
      • Brent Lott Fined & Suspended for False Documentation Scheme in Connection with Heinz VA Ponzi
      • Wells Fargo Wealth Management Investigated for Unsuitable Investments, Self-Dealing
      • Laura Ortega Shean Barred for Converting $124,000 in Client Funds to Pay Personal Tax Bills
      • In Wake of Unsuitable Recommendations Action, FINRA Bars Lawrence John Fawcett for Failing to Cooperate with Outside Business Ac
    • March
      • SEC Charges Wedbush Securities with Failing to Supervise Timary Delorme in Penny Stock Market Manipulation Scheme
      • Lisa Piazza Fined & Suspended for Failure to Disclose Criminal Conviction
      • Phillip Tibbetts Fined & Suspended for Accepting Unauthorized Loan from Customer
      • SEC Fines LA-Based Electronic Transaction Clearing $80,000, Issues Cease-And-Desist Order for Margin Securities Failures
      • Michael Hurtgen Sanctioned for Soliciting Raymond James Customers to Invest Away from Firm
      • David Barber's Unauthorized Trades Prompts FINRA Bar, $2 Million Churning Award
      • Saddled with Settlements, Kevin Yang Sanctioned for Unauthorized Discretion at Morgan Stanley
      • Omer Ozeren Sanctioned for Unauthorized Use of Discretion and Faulty ETF Recommendations
      • Study: Fidelity Increased Risk for 6 Million Retirement Savers
      • DOJ Orders Review of Wells Fargo Advisors' Sales Practices and Recommendations
      • Merrill Lynch Fires Christopher Hibbard after Investigation Uncovers Alleged Theft
    • February
      • SEC Charges Joseph Bronson's Strong Investment Management with Cherry Picking Fraud, Misrepresentation
      • Darrell Rideaux Barred During Investigation into Selling Away Allegations
      • Credit Suisse Execs Had Secretaries Complete Training for Them, Records Show
      • Volatility Funds Take a Dive - VelocityShares, ProShares VIX Round Out Worst Performing Volatility ETPs
      • Regulator Charges Scottrade with Fiduciary Duty Rule Violation in Retirement Sales Contest Controversy
      • Newbridge Could Face Philadelphia Public Employee Suits Alleging Millions in Damages
      • SEC Fines Deutsche Bank Securities $4.45 Million for Misleading Mortgage-Backed Securities Sales
      • Guilty of Fraudulent Scheming to Overcharge Clients, SEC Bars Ex-Merrill Lynch Rep Thomas J. Buck
      • Wedbush Fined $1.5 Million Over Customer Protection and Supervisory Failures
      • Suitability and Firms' Duty to Disclose Comes into Focus as VelocityShares Daily Inverse VIX Exchange Traded Notes (XIV) Falls
      • FINRA Warned of Volatility-Linked ETNs Before February Stock Market Plunge
      • Car Dealership Alt Investments in Turmoil as GPB Capital Holdings Alleges Business Partner Fraudulently Converted Funds
      • SEC Adds Misappropriation to Sports Advisor Ash Narayan's Fraud Charge in Amended Complaint
    • January
      • FINRA to Flag Brokers as High-Risk Due to Association with Recidivist Reps, Fraudulent Firms
      • JP Morgan's Farid Morim Barred After Conversion Investigation
      • SEC Charges Woodbridge Group of Companies in 'Massive' $1.2 Billion Ponzi Scheme Targeting 8,400 Investors
      • Joseph Farah Barred for Unsuitable and Excessive Trading, Undisclosed Outside Business Activity, and Misrepresentations
      • Ameriprise's Lorene Fairbanks Sanctioned for Unauthorized Loan from Customer, Violative Text Messages
      • Charles Dixon Barred After Termination from Morgan Stanley for Unauthorized Trading
      • Sandeep Varma Cited for Misleading Estate Planning Seminar Communications
      • Richard Foster Sanctioned for Unsuitable IRA Liquidation Recommendation, Risky ETF Trading Strategy
      • FINRA Bars Matthew Kerby After Allegations He Converted Elderly Client's Funds for Personal Use
      • Linked to Dawn Bennett $20 Million Fraud Investigation, FINRA Bars Bradley Mascho for Failing to Cooperate
      • Punished by California Bureau of Real Estate, Guillermo Valladolid Barred for Undisclosed Outside Business Activity
      • FINRA's 2018 Priorities Include Suitability, Cryptocurrency, High-Risk Brokers & Firms, Microcap/Penny Stocks, and Margin
      • Ameriprise's Larry Boggs Barred for Churning Elderly Client Accounts, Improperly Changing Customer Objectives
      • Citigroup Sanctioned $11.5 Million for Displaying Inaccurate Equity Research Ratings, Such as "Buy" When the Firm Meant "Sell"
      • John William Bernard Sanctioned for Unauthorized Exercise of Discretion at LPL Financial
      • Raymond James Fined $2 Million for Failing to Supervise E-mail Communications
      • JP Morgan Fined $2.8 Million for Customer Protection Deficiencies, Flawed Systems, and Supervisory Failures
      • Goldman Sachs Structured Products, Reverse Convertibles, Suitability, and the Fiduciary Rule
      • Merrill Lynch Continues Choice-of-Law Provisions Despite of Industry Discipline and Admonishment
  • 2017
    • December
      • Ranking the 20 Worst Performing Mutual Funds by Lowest Return
      • NASAA Identifies Notes, Real Estate, Ponzi, Oil and Gas, Affinity Fraud, and Variable Annuities as Biggest Investor Threats
      • Ex-LPL Broker Leslie Koonce Barred After Falsely Denying Participation in Unauthorized Private Securities Transactions
      • Ex-Wells Fargo Reps Charles Frieda and Charles Lynch Barred for Energy Sector Overconcentration and Millions in Losses
      • Investors Capital Corporation Censured After 8 Years of Overcharging Customers for Mutual Fund Transactions
      • FINRA Cites Ladenburg Thalmann's Investacorp for Failing to Apply Sales Charge Waivers
      • Woodbridge Group of Companies, LLC, Under SEC Investigation for $1 Billion Fraud as Fund Misses Notes Payment
      • NEXT Financial to Pay $750,000 in Latest Disciplinary Action Concerning Habitual Deficiencies and Systematic VA Failures
      • Spencer Edwards' Steven Quoy Suspended for Issuing Misleading Sales Materials for Advertising Sign Investments
      • Anthony Sica Sanctioned for Recommending Unsuitable High-Risk Securities to Elderly Customer and Unauthorized Trading in Dead Cl
    • November
      • Modesto's David Lee Reynolds Barred During Misappropriations Investigation
      • Brietburn Energy Partners (BBEPQ) Drops 99% In Value After Risks Become Reality
      • Seadrill Limited (NYSE: SDRL) Runs Aground with Debt Restructuring Fiasco
      • Ex-Morgan Stanley Rep Timothy T Gibbons Suspended, to Pay $737,000 for Unsuitable Oil & Gas Over-Concentration in Elderly Accoun
      • Linn Energy MLP (NASDAQ Symbol: LINE) Was Risky and Costly
      • FINRA Files Complaint Against Farid Morim from its 2016 Investigation into Alleged Conversion and Undisclosed Business Activity
      • Jerry Guttman Barred for 10 Years of Unauthorized Private Securities Transactions
      • Stockbroker and Blue Line Brewery Owner Mark Gillis Pleads Guilty to Securities Fraud
      • Patricia Peterson Sanctioned for Unauthorized Discretionary Trades in WFG Accounts
      • Accused of Elder Fraud in Trying to Generate Commissions, FINRA Bars Hank Werner for Churning and Excessive Trading
      • Lisa J. Lowi Barred During Investigation into Unsuitable Trading, Unauthorized Transactions Complaints
      • FINRA Bars Victor Michel for Failing to Cooperate with Investigation
      • Questar to Pay $800,000 for Overcharging Retirement Plan & Charitable Organization Customers
      • First Allied Securities' Masood Azad Barred After Investigation into Unapproved Private Securities Transactions
      • Former LPL Broker Thomas Breslin Sanctioned for Undisclosed Private Securities Transactions in Biopharma Penny Stock
    • October
      • SLCG Study Finds Aegis Capital, Newbridge Securities Employ Most Brokers with History of Complaints
      • Bae Keun Yu Suspended for Undisclosed Outside Securities Business
      • Ex-Newport Coast Securities Broker George Dahl Barred in 15th Disclosure
      • Beware Buffer Annuities - Misrepresentations and Omissions Highlight Complaints of New Risky Product
      • Wells Fargo Ordered to Pay Restitution of $3.4 Million for Unsuitable Volatility-Linked Exchange-Traded Products
      • Ex-NFP Advisor Services Rep Robert J Regan Suspended for Improper Private Securities Transactions
      • Ex-Ameriprise Brokers Jack McBride and Stuart Pearl Cited by FINRA for Improper Margin Trades
      • Ex-Western International Securities Brokers Brittney J Sias, Clement Chichester Barred by FINRA
      • SEC Charges Tweed Investment Services and Owner Robert Tweed with Fraud in Athenian Fund Scheme
      • Mike Crowe Sanctioned for Soliciting Investments in Undisclosed Real Estate Security with Unpaid Returns
      • Sandlapper Securities Accused of Charging $8 Million in Fraudulent Markups for Saltwater Disposal Well Private Placements
    • September
      • Ex-LPL Rep Sonya D Camarco Charged with Securities Fraud and Theft in Colorado
      • Ex-Royal Alliance, Next Financial, and Dominion Investment Rep Roger Hudspeth Pleads Guilty to $6 Million Fraud
      • Morgan Stanley Ordered to Pay Over $13 Million for Unit Investment Trust (UIT) Supervisory Failures
      • Arbitration Panel Orders Barred Broker Li-Lin Hsu, Ameriprise Financial to Pay $675,000 for Alleged Misrepresentation and Misapp
      • SII Investments Charged with REIT Supervisory Failures in Liquid Net Worth Overvaluations
      • Former LPL Financial San Diego Broker Marc Ravenscroft Barred for Conversion, Use of Phony Expense Reports
      • Mehran 'Ron' Tazhibi Sanctioned for Unsuitable Speculative Bond Recommendation to Retired Clients
      • With 33rd Disclosure Since 2002, Broker Tiffany Ann De Ruosi (Rigali), Criminal Record in Hand, is Suspended
      • "Massive Energy" Broker John Kai Barred After Undisclosed Private Securities Transactions, Outside Business & Discretion Investi
      • Ex-JP Morgan Securities Rep Todd Jason Jones Sanctioned for Unauthorized Trading in Complex ETN
      • SEC Bars JL Capital Management's Jeremy Licht for Fraudulent Cherry-Picking Trade Scheme That Harmed Clients
      • Joseph Yanofsky Fined $10k for Unauthorized Use of Discretion, Directing Unlicensed Subordinate to Enter Trades
      • Nancy Johnson Sanctioned for Repeated False Statements to Morgan Stanley in Fraudulent Wire Transfer to Imposter
      • William Glaser Barred, Under Federal Investigation Related to Fraud Indictment, After 76-Year-Old Navy Vet Suffers $400,000 Priv
      • Colorado Broker Bruce Page Barber Barred in Outside Business Activity Investigation
      • Jeffrey Alan Smith is the Latest Ex-Accelerated Capital Group Broker Cited for Pre-Signed, Altered Forms
      • FINRA Sanctions Elaine LaCerte for Unsuitable UIT Sales, Causing Unnecessary Sales Charges
    • August
      • Facing Allegations of Fraud and Churning, Frederick Houck Suspended for Unauthorized Use of Discretion
      • John Kostic Sanctioned, Disgorgement Ordered for Unauthorized Private Securities Transactions
      • SEC Freezes Ex-LPL Broker Sonya D Camarco's Assets in Alleged $2.8 Million Fraud and Misappropriation Scheme
      • OHO Issues Decision Barring Jim Jinkook Seol over Undisclosed EB-5 Business
      • Jay Dee Jordan Barred for Unsuitable ETF Trading Resulting in $8 Million Loss, Settling Away
      • FSC Securities Corporation Fined for Non-Traditional ETF Failures, Unsuitable Recommendations
      • Buyer Beware - Worst Performing Mutual Funds & ETFs From 2012-2017
      • Howard Hull Fined & Suspended for Firm's Supervisory Failures
      • Ex-LPL Financial Broker Stanley Scott Garrison Cited for Undisclosed Business, False Compliance Questionnaires
      • Stephen Salm Sanctioned for Sharing Customers' Personal Info with 3rd Parties
      • LPL's Cooke, Hood, Laws & Long Charged in Variable Annuity Fraud Scheme Targeting Federal Employees
    • July
      • Fictitious Letters to Elderly VA Customer Earns Jason Belajack a Permanent Bar in Latest Discipline of Ex-ACG Broker
      • FINRA Bars Kim Dee Isaacson for Defrauding Elderly Customer
      • PA Fines Austin Dutton $200,000 & Newbridge $499,000 for Dishonest, Unethical Practices in Unsuitable REIT Sale
      • FINRA Bars Timothy Ballard for Failing to Cooperate with Investigation
      • FINRA NAC Affirms OHO Bar of David Escarcega for Fraudulent Misrepresentations to Elderly Clients in Arizona, California and Was
      • AXA Advisors' Chad Hornaday Barred for Selling Away and Borrowing Money from Client
      • Larry Wolfe Fined & Suspended for Unauthorized Discretionary Trading in Accounts of 39 Customers
      • After $2.4 Million Suit Alleging Elder Abuse, FINRA Bars James Schaedler Following $200k Gift Investigation
      • David Gott Sanctioned by FINRA for Selling Interests in "Gott Ice Cream, LLC"
      • Robert Tweed Named in False & Misleading Private Placement Memorandum Complaint, Fraud Investigation
      • Stephen S. Eubanks Sentenced to Prison, Ordered to Pay Restitution for Wire Fraud Scheme
      • Jaime Aguilar Suspended for Unauthorized Loans from Customers
      • Murray Monroe Sanctioned for Failing to Disclose Appointment as Executor of Customer's Estate
      • Poorly Performing Mutual Funds Place Money Managers in Jeopardy
      • Richard Botkin Fined & Suspended for $245k of Unauthorized Movie-Related Investments
    • June
      • American Realty Capital Properties Ex-CFO Brian Block Guilty of Securities Fraud in Schorsch REIT Empire Crackdown; 50+ Firms Co
      • Mitchell Behm Sanctioned for Unauthorized $180,000 Loan, Failure to Disclose Prior Bankruptcy
      • Sammy Legaspi Sanctioned for Using, Photocopying Pre-Signed Signed Blank Forms
      • Former LPL Financial (Fresno) Broker Todd Pilosi Punished for Borrowing Money From Client
      • Complaint Charges Kyle Harrington, Linda Milberger with Deception, Conversion, Concealment, Selling Away
      • FINRA Fines Scottsdale Capital Advisors $1.5 Million, Bars John Hurry, Suspends Timothy DiBlasi & D Michael Cruz in Illegal $1.7
      • Jose J. Perez Sanctioned for Impersonating Client's Brother to Request Retirement Funds Transfer; Requests Transfer from Wrong A
      • Ex-IFG and Centaurus Broker Calvin Moores Barred After FINRA Investigation, OTC Dispute Alleging Fraud, Complaint Alleging Elder
      • Christopher M. Hawn Fined & Suspended for Unauthorized Private Securities Transactions & Undisclosed Outside Business Activities
      • Kim Dee Isaacson Charged with Fraudulent Misrepresentations, Unauthorized Transactions in Elderly Client's Account
      • FINRA Sanctions James Cox for Unsuitable VA Recommendations, Outside Business Activity, Misrepresentation, Mutual Funds
      • Ameriprise (Irvine)'s Jim Seol Barred for 'Egregious' Selling Away of $100 Million Private Placements for Immigration's EB-5 Pro
      • Ex-Ameriprise Broker Mark Francis Speakman Pleads Guilty to REIT Wire Fraud, Money Laundering
      • Ex-Red Ridge Securities CEO Brent Hurt Sanctioned for Failing to Supervise Broker in $1 Million Misappropriation Scheme
      • Ex-Morgan Stanley Rep John Bocchino Barred for Concealing $190 Million in Venezuelan Bond Trades
    • May
      • FINRA Investigating Joseph Farah for Churning, Suitability, Undisclosed Outside Business Activities, Misrepresentations
      • Michael Mahabir Barred After Conversion Investigation
      • Wells Fargo to Restrict Structured Products, Municipal Bonds in IRA Accounts
      • Andrew Logullo Sanctioned for Selling Away, Undisclosed Outside Business, and Improper Use of Discretion Trading Penny Stocks
      • Curian Clearing Fined for Failing to Deliver Prospectus Materials to Customers
      • Inglewood's Jose Jimenez Sanctioned for Allowing Unlicensed Son to Conduct Securities Business
      • Walter Marino Charged with Collecting $60k Commissions as Clients Lost Money Over Unsuitable Variable Annuity Replacements
      • FINRA Fines Summit Equities $325,000 for Variable Annuity-related Supervisory Failures, IME Fund Collapse
      • LPL Settles Over Non-Traded REIT Misconduct, Possible $8 Million Payout for Latest LPL Snafu
      • Ex-LPL Rep Thomas Andrews Charged with Defrauding 23 Investors in Liquidation Scheme
      • Ex-Raymond James Broker Scott Sibley Barred for 900 Unauthorized Transactions, Unsuitable Recommendations to 10+ Seniors
    • April
      • Demitrios Hallas Charged in Unsuitable ETF Investment, Fraudulent $170k Misappropriation Scheme
      • Ex-Merrill Lynch Broker Alec Rivera Pleads Guilty to $1 Million Theft from Clients
      • John Olinghouse Sanctioned for Falsifying Documents, Settling Elder Diminished Capacity Customer's Complaint Away from Firm
      • Hossein Amirraiahei Barred Over Unauthorized Discretionary Trading Investigation
      • Stockcross Financial Services of Beverly Hills Fined for Supervisory Violations, Failing to Timely Publish OTC Bids
      • Ex-LPL Broker Robert Tricarico Convicted, Sentenced for Stealing $1.2 Million from Elderly Clients, Wire Fraud
      • Tracy Turner Barred Over False and Misleading Oil-and-Gas Communications Probe
      • Iain Reilly Fined & Suspended for Impersonating Customers in Phone Calls to Insurance Company
    • March
      • CUSO Financial Services to Pay $172.5k in Fines and Restitution for Mathew Hartshorn's Unsuitable UIT Sales
      • First Financial Equity CCO Melissa Strouse Punished for Suitability, ETF, Heightened Supervision Failures
      • Ex-MLB Pitcher & Morgan Stanley Rep Patrick Combs Suspended for Selling Away
      • Craig Dima Barred for $15 Million of Unauthorized & Unsuitable Trades in Elderly Client's Retirement Account
    • February
      • Vincent Payne Suspended for Forgery, Falsifying Customer Signatures
      • Excessive REIT, BDC Sales Charges Caused by Conflict-of-Interest Fraud Nets Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments $3.4 Million Rest
      • Red River Securities Expelled, CEO Brian Hardwick Barred, Ordered to Pay $24.6 Million in Restitution for Fraud
      • LPL Financial Fined $900,000 for Failing to Send Required Account Notices, Supervisory Failures
      • Morgan Stanley to Pay $8 Million Penalty in Unsuitable Single Inverse ETF Sales, Customer Losses
      • Ex-Financial West Group Broker Kelly Clayton Althar Barred for Unsuitably Risky and Excessive Trading in Elder Client's Account
      • Matthew Maczko Barred for Churning in 93-Year-Old Client's Account, Resulting in Loss; Misleading Testimony
      • Dion Padilla Sanctioned for Unauthorized, Misrepresented, and Concealed Variable Annuity Purchase
      • James Calder Sanctioned for Unauthorized Outside Business Activity
      • After Separation from JP Morgan, Robert Stewart Says He Just Followed Firm's Longstanding Practice
      • Ex-Oppenheimer, Marquis Financial Broker Stephen Wilshinsky, Gregory Goldstein, Others Sentenced for Roles in de Maison's $39 Mi
      • Lawson Financial, CEO Robert Lawson Barred for Fraudulent Municipal Bond Sales
    • January
      • Citigroup to Pay $18 Million for Overbilling Clients, Misplacing Decades-Worth of Client Contracts
      • New Complex Buffer Annuity Drawing Regulator's Interest: "Does the firm understand it? Does the rep?"
      • Citizens Securities Fined $300,000 for Failing to Disclose Customer Complaints
      • Tommy Mai Sanctioned for Forging Customer Signatures, Running a Misleading Los Angeles-area TV Show That Discussed Securities
      • Complaint Alleges Kelly Althar's Unsuitable and Excessive Trading Caused $187,000 Loss in Elderly Client's Accounts
      • 2017 FINRA Priorities: High-Risk and Repeat-Offender Brokers, Suitability & Sales Practices, Cybersecurity
  • 2016
    • December
      • Former ACAP AML Compliance Officer Gary Hume Barred for Improper Unregistered Penny Stock Liquidation
      • Wells Fargo, LPL Financial Among 12 Firms Fined $14.4 Million for Cybersecurity, Data Protection Failures
      • FINRA Bars Ken Balser After Investigation into Private Securities Transactions
      • Kai Chen Fined & Suspended for Unauthorized Use of Discretion at Credit Suisse
      • FINRA Sanctions Davood Kohan for Improperly Settling Complaint Away from Firm
      • Christopher Ariola Barred, Ordered to Pay $138k in Restitution for Unsuitable Gold & Energy Recommendations
      • Credit Suisse Securities Fined $16.5 Million for Significant Supervisory Deficiencies in Detecting Suspicious Microcap Trades
      • FINRA's Recent Sanctions Underscore Compensation and Conflict of Interest Priorities
      • MA Charges LPL Financial for Adviser Roger Zullo's Alleged Variable Annuity Fraud, Elder Abuse
      • Merrill Lynch to Pay $7 Million in Fines & Restitution for Inadequate Supervision of Leverage Use in Customer Accounts
    • November
      • VALIC Financial Advisors Fined $1.75 Million for Conflict of Interest, Supervisory Failures Related to Variable Annuities
      • Jason Vanclef, VFG Securities Sanctioned for Making False Claims in Book Promoting REITs and DPP Investments
      • Oppenheimer & Co Ordered to Pay $3.4 Million in Fines & in Restitution for Supervisory, Discovery & Reporting Failures and Viola
      • John Hudnall Barred for Selling Away a REIT Investment to Elderly BancWest Customer
      • FINRA Bars Ex-LPL Broker Dominic DeBruin over Undisclosed Private Securities Transactions, Depositing Client Money into Controll
      • Gerald Cocuzzo Pleads Guilty to Securities Fraud in $131 Million Market Manipulation Scheme of ForceField Energy
      • Stanley Niekras Accused of Misrepresentation, Billing Elderly Clients for $70,000-worth in Fabricated Fees
      • Tracy Turner's 35th Disclosure is Complaint Alleging $4.1 Million Private Securities Misconduct
      • Eight Firms Fined $6.2 Million for Variable Annuity L-Share Supervisory Failures
      • Unsuitable and Risky Oil and Gas Sales and Plummeting Energy Investments Cost Elderly Clients Millions of Dollars in Losses
    • October
      • FINRA Cracks Down on Cross-Selling Programs in Wake of Wells Fargo Fiasco
      • Stuart Dickinson Barred, Restitution Ordered for Recommending Customers Purchase the ATM Alliance Ponzi Scheme
      • Anthony Lombardi Fined and Suspended for Failing to Disclose Outside Insurance Business Activity
      • Ex-LPL Broker Mark Tauzin Suspended, Ordered to Pay $225,000 for Unsuitable UIT Short-Term Trading
      • JWE Investigating Ponzi-Like Scheme Involving UDF IV REITs as SEC Issues Wells Notice
      • Gregory Bauer Barred After Forgery Leads to $400,000 in Unauthorized Withdrawals
      • Jeffrey Howell Barred for Inflating Values, Sending False Account Statements to Customer
      • Donald Toomer Barred, Indicted for $30 Million Pump-And-Dump Penny Stock Fraud
      • Cetera Financial Group's Investors Capital Corp to Pay $1.1 Million Over Unit Investment Trust, Steepener Note Sales
      • Betty Lai Johnson Disciplined for Impersonating Customer, Liquidating Account
    • September
      • Alejandra Valenzuela Barred for Improper Conversion at Morgan Stanley
      • UBS to Pay $15 Million over Unsuitable Reverse Convertible Note Sales to Conservative and Retired Investors
      • Avenir Financial Group Sanctioned, CEO Michael Todd Clements Barred, Rep Karim Ibrahim Suspended for Fraud
      • George Zedan Barred for Elder Abuse and Conversion of 87-Year-Old Customer's Funds, Escapes Prosecution when Victim Dies
      • John Randall Gladden Disciplined for $2.1 Million in Unauthorized Private Securities Transactions Away from the Firm
      • Linda Dowd Disciplined over Pre-Signed Blank Distribution Request Forms, Personal E-mails
      • FINRA Fines Ameriprise Financial $850k over Rep & Manager Weseloh's Conversion of $370,000 from Customers
      • Ex-LPL Broker Cheryl Kerber Fined & Suspended for False Statements About a Loan
      • Jonathan W. Evans & Associates is Investigating Claims Against William Mark Heiden & Wedbush Securities over Energy Stock Overco
      • Jerry McCutchen Barred in Connection with Over 20 Customer Complaints Alleging REIT & Alt Investment Unsuitability, Misrepresent
      • Ameriprise Financial Failed to Supervise Michael Halla's Unsuitable Closed End Fund Short-Term Trading, Fined $100,000
    • August
      • Christopher Ariola Charged with Unsuitable Energy Recommendations to Elderly Clients, Undisclosed Trading
      • SEC Fines 13 Firm $2.2 Million for Repeating False ETF Claims by F-Squared Investments
      • Ex-LPL Financial & Crown Capital Broker Eric Kuchel Barred After Failing to Cooperate with Mutual Fund Investigation
      • $150 Million Lawsuit Against Morgan Stanley Alleges Excessive 401(k) Retirement Plan Fees, Self-Dealing
      • Morgan Stanley to Pay $4.7 Million for Failure to Supervise Broker's Unauthorized Trading, Settlement to Include Dimes-on-the-Do
      • Newport Coast Securities Hit with $100k Arbitration Award, Including $57k in Damages for Elder Abuse; Firm Opts to Quit the Indu
      • Non-Traded REITs Failing in Face of Industry, Regulatory Challenges, High Commissions
      • Ciro "Nick" Cavazos Fined, Suspended for Unauthorized, Undisclosed Loan; Accused of Fraud & Financial Elder Abuse
      • Hank Werner Charged with Fraudulent Churning, Excessive Trading, Unsuitable VA Recommendation Against Elderly, Blind Widow
      • SoCal Broker Brian Egan Barred for Failing to Disclose 87 Brokerage Accounts at an Outside Firm
      • Ex-California Broker Daniel McKelvey Pleads Guilty in Fraudulent Shell Corporation Penny Stock Scheme
    • July
      • Victor Michel Sanctioned for Using Personal E-Mail, Failure to Retain Correspondence, Settling Complaint Without Notifying Firm
      • James Earl Mahan Barred after Failing to Cooperate with Investigation into Unapproved Investment
      • FINRA Bars Retirement Income Planner Nathan Silva for Failing to Cooperate with Misconduct Investigation
      • Ex-Wells Fargo Advisor Bradley Smegal Charged with Securities Fraud for Defrauding Clients Out of $5 Million, Making Ponzi Payme
      • FINRA Considering New Fund for Unpaid Arbitration Awards
      • Bernard McGee Barred for Fraudulent Annuity Sales, Lying About Surrendering Elderly Client's VA for Charitable Gift Annuity
      • Prudential Annuities Fined $950k for Failing to Prevent Theft of $1.3 Million From Elderly Client's VA
      • Wedbush Drops Appeal of $1 Million Fine for "Egregious" and "Willful" Blue Sheet Failures
      • Complaint Against First Financial Equity Corp Alleges Supervisory Failures, Excessive Commissions
      • Nickolus Finley (Waddell & Reed/San Diego) Cited for Copying & Pasting Customer's Signature
      • Former HSBC & MKM Partners Rep Luis F Gil Sanctioned for Brokering Without a License
      • Update: Winston Turner Barred for Variable Annuity Fraud and/or Deception
      • Ex-Merrill Lynch Broker John Arnold Sanctioned After His False Statements, Procedural Failures Allow Fraudster to Steal $127,200
      • Deutsche Bank Securities Fined $6 Million for Inaccurate and Late Blue Sheet Data
    • June
      • WFG Advisors Fined, Censured $100k for Overcharging Customers in Alt Investment, REIT Sales
      • Anthony Diaz, a Repeat Offending Rogue Broker Under Federal Indictment for REIT Fraud, is Poster Child for Worrying Trend
      • Merrill Lynch to Pay $415 Million in SEC Order for Misusing Customer Cash, in Addition to $5 Million FINRA order for Materially
      • Merrill Lynch Fined $5 Million for Failure to Disclose Material Facts, Costs in Structured Note Sales
      • SEC Charges Ash Narayan, The Ticket Reserve with Fraud in Ponzi-Like Sports Ticketing Scheme
      • Kory Keath Named in Complaint Over Elderly Client's Trust Oddities, Unreported Gift
      • Robert Myers Fined $20k, Suspended for Disputed VA Fees Classified as Unapproved Outside Business Compensation
      • Former CCO Allen Holeman the Latest Oppenheimer & Co. Broker in Trouble with FINRA
      • FINRA Fines Morgan Stanley $80,000 for Supervisory Failures, Deletion of 21k OTC Options Positions
      • Shannon Rowland Barred for Converting Funds for Personal Use
      • Oppenheimer & Co Sanctioned $2.9 Million for Unsuitable Complex ETF Trades Amongst Elderly Customers
      • Daniel Miller Fined, Suspended for Undisclosed Outside Real Estate, Private Securities Transactions
      • Yahoo! Finance Message Board Posting re: IFAN
      • E*Trade Securities Censured, Fined $900k for Trade Review & Supervisory Failures, Failure to Ensure Protection of Confidential I
      • FINRA Charges Jim Seol with Unauthorized WRCI, EB-5 Immigration Outside Business Activity
    • May
      • FOG Equities Fined $60k, Brokers David Spack & Scott Epstein Fined and Suspended for AML, Due Diligence Failures in Penny Stock
      • Raymond James Fined $17 Million for Systematic Anti-Money Laundering Failures
      • Thrivent's Miguel Hernandez Barred for Defrauding Elderly Church-Going Client
      • Crowdfunding Fraud is Possible, Cautions FINRA in News Release for New Startup Investment Opportunities
      • Robert Kerrigan Investigated for Undisclosed USA Barcelona Outside Business Facing Fraud Charge, Barred for Refusal to Cooperate
      • FINRA Announces MetLife VA Information for Harmed Investors: Acceptance of Compensation Does Not Prevent Pursuit of Claims Again
      • Robert Turpin Barred for Failing to Cooperate with Selling Away Investigation
      • FINRA Opens Investigation into John Hudnall for Alleged Improper REIT Sale to Senior, Annuity Violations & Selling Away
      • David Miller Barred, Ordered to Pay $800k in Restitution for Unsuitable UIT Recommendations
      • MetLife Securities Ordered to Pay Record-High $25 Million for Negligent Variable Annuity Replacement App Misrepresentations and
    • April
      • Paul Valencia Fined & Suspended for Discretionary Trading Without Customer or Firm Authorization
      • Securities America Fined $250k, Broker Stuart Horowitz $100k, for Inadequate Due Diligence, Unsuitable Trading of Preferred Note
      • Customers Accuse LPL Financial and its Ex-Broker Karl Romero of Misrepresentation, Unsuitable Recommendations
      • Ryan Logan Fined & Suspended for Improperly Changing Client Contact Information, Causing Inaccurate Database
      • Equinox Securities, Stephen Oliveira & Chris Palkowitsh Barred for Excessive Trading & Churning in Customer Accounts, IRAs
      • Greg Taylor Accused of Unethical Conduct Involving 75-Year-Old Widow with Dementia, False Statement to Firm
      • Former Wedbush Associate Shiva Naby Fined $25k & Suspended for Falsifying MSRB Documents
      • Leonard Goldberg Barred for Fraudulent Use of Mutual Fund and ETF Discretion, Causing Over $123,600 in Customer Losses
      • Daniel Liang Fined & Suspended for Falsifying HSBC Documents, Requesting Customers Sign Blank/Incomplete Mutual Fund Forms
      • FINRA Files Complaint Against BrokerBank, Alleging Misleading Press Releases & Recommendations
    • March
      • Alfred Chan Fined & Suspended for Unauthorized Indexed Annuities Sales, REIT Risk Disclosure Failures
      • Coburn & Meredith Fined $75k, Ordered to Pay $203k in Restitution for Failing to Apply UIT Sales Charge Discounts
      • Facing Possible Discipline, Scottsdale Capital Advisors Sues FINRA Over Enforcement Authority
      • Wedbush Securities Fined $675,000 for Supervisory Violations in 'Chronic' ETF Delivery Failures, Short Sales
      • Risky, Unsuitable Investments in Poorly Performing Energy, Oil and Gas Ventures May Lead to FINRA Claims
      • UBS Preparing Sales of High-Yield CoCo Bonds, A Risky Debt That Can Bail Out Banks At Expense of Investors
      • William Brown Fined & Suspended for Improper Discretionary Trading Without Authorization
      • Charged with Fraud, Ex-JPMorgan's Michael Oppenheim Sentenced to Five Years for Stealing $20 Million from Clients
      • FINRA Fines RBC Capital $300k for Failing to Disclose Reps' Unsatisfied Liens and Judgments
      • Bahram Mirhashemi Barred for Churning, Excessive Trading & Unsuitable Sales to Elderly Clients Resulting in Losses
      • David Escarcega Barred for Fraudulent Statements, Unsuitable Debenture Sales to Elderly Clients
      • Quest Capital Strategies Fined for Mutual Fund Supervisory Failures, Including Monitoring for Double-Charging Customers
      • 7% of Financial Advisers Industry-Wide Cited for Misconduct, Including 20% of Oppenheimer's Advisers
      • Former MetLife & Prudential Broker Winston Turner Accused of Variable Annuity Fraud and/or Deception
      • Goldman Sachs Places Luke Thornburn on Leave for Unapproved Outside Business Activity
    • February
      • Firms That Sold 'Ponzi' UDF REITs May Be On the Hook in Wake of FBI Raid, SEC Investigation
      • Aequitas Capital Note Disaster Serves as Reminder of Importance of Advisors Performing Due Diligence
      • Finance 500 Fined & Censured for Inadequate Supervision, Misleading Ads
      • George Johnson Barred, Christopher Wynne Suspended for Market Manipulation Scheme
      • FBI Raids United Development Funding in Investigation; UDF Shares Plummet
      • SoCal Broker Angelo Talebi Fined & Suspended for Improper Trading in Customer's Account
      • FINRA bars brokers Timothy Stephen Dembski and Walter Francis Grenda for fraud related to sales of Prestige Wealth Management Fu
      • FINRA Issues Investment Alert for Bait-and-Switch Marketing Ploy Involving High-Yield CD Offers
      • Next Financial Group, Key Investment Services & Stephens, Inc. to Pay $1.2 Million in Fines and Restitution for Discount Failure
      • Oil, Gas & Emerging Market Funds Among Those with Worst Total Losses Over Past Three Years
    • January
      • Sales Practices Related to Credit Suisse, Velocity Shares, JPMorgan Notes, and Other Structured Products Remain Area of Concern
      • Robert Richards Fined and Suspended Over Penny Stock Price Manipulation
      • 10 High-Yield Bond Funds Posting Largest Negative Returns Over Past Year
      • Former LPL Broker Timothy Richard Yee Fined & Suspended for Unapproved Outside Transactions
      • Irvine's Finance 500 Fined $400k, Multiple Brokers Banned over Penny Stock Sales
      • FINRA Senior Hotline Warns: Fraud is Alive and Well and Takes Many Forms
      • Michael Nahass Fined & Suspended for Undisclosed Outside Business, False Representations
      • 2016 FINRA Priorities Letter Includes Brokerage Firm Culture and Ethics, Suitability, Seniors, Complex Products
      • LPL Financial Ordered to Pay $750k for Improper REIT Sales to Elderly Client
  • 2015
    • December
      • CFP Board Suspends David Gabai After FINRA Bar for Alleged Deceptive and Fraudulent Scheme
      • Barclays Capital Ordered to Pay $13.75 Million for Mutual Fund Suitability Violations
      • Merrill Lynch Settles 23 Complaints Against Barred Broker Thomas J. Buck for $4.1 Million
      • Cantor Fitzgerald Sanctioned $7.3 Million for Billions of Unregistered Microcap Sales, Supervisory & AML Failures
      • Fidelity Brokerage Services Ordered to Pay $1 Million for Supervisory Failures Related to Lisa Lewis' Elder Theft
      • J.P. Morgan Ordered to Pay Over $300 Million for Conflict of Interest Disclosure Failures
      • William Watson Fined & Suspended for Misleading, Unfair and Unbalanced Marketing
      • SEC Bars of Ralph Calabro, Jason Konner, and Dimitrios Koutsoubos for Churning
    • November
      • Joseph Holzhause Barred for False and Misleading Letter, Undisclosed Business Activity
      • Scottrade Fined $2.6 Million for Failing to Keep E-mails and Records, Poor Supervision
      • MetLife: FINRA to Seek Significant Fine for Variable Annuities Violations
      • Anthony Kerrigone Fined $10k & Suspended for Selling Short Securities He Failed to Locate
    • October
      • FINRA Orders 5 Firms to Pay $18 Million in Restitution for Overcharged Mutual Funds
      • New FINRA Investor Alert Warns of All-or-Nothing or Binary Options Trading Fraud Risk
      • James Christianson Fined, Suspended for Unauthorized Use of Discretion
      • Voya, Transamerica, Investacorp, JP Turner, National Planning & Cetera Fined for Excess REIT Sales Charges
      • UBS Managed High Yield Plus Fund Board Approves Liquidation Plan
      • FINRA Files Complaint Against John Joseph Arnold, Alleging His False Statements Allowed Imposter to Steal $127,200
      • Emily S Pao Barred for Failure to Cooperate with Conversion Investigation
      • FINRA Expels Halcyon Cabot Partners and Bars CEO Michael Morris, CCO Ronald Heineman for Fraud, Fee Kickback Scheme
      • FINRA Fines, Suspends Todd Shanholtzer for Mishandling, Misusing $58k of Customer Funds in Variable Annuity Product
    • September
      • Heidi Diana Carter Barred After Investigation into Alleged Theft from Customer
      • FINRA Bars Willard Lee Golightly for Supervisory Failures over Excess Concentration in Illiquid Securities, REITs
      • FINRA Bars or Suspends 10 Cockroach Brokers at Global Arena Capital Corp. for Misleading Pitches, Churning, and Other Misconduct
      • Dean Michael Yurica Fined, Suspended for Falsifying Customer Documents, Re-Using Signatures
      • FINRA Fines, Suspends Tyler Boone Powell for Improper Use of Discretion
      • Marisa Nicole Pickar Suspended for Falsifying Documents, Reusing Customer Signatures
      • Darlene Kay Bandy Barred for Failure to Cooperate with Investigation into Conversion of Funds
      • La Mesa's Robert Earl Holaday Accused of Forging Customer Signatures
      • Investor Alert Warns of Pump-And-Dump Scams Delivered Through WhatsApp, Other Messaging Apps
      • Former B.B. Graham Broker Russell P. Macke Suspended After 16th FINRA Disclosure
    • August
      • CFP Board Suspends Broker Michael T. Ryan of Santa Ana for Unauthorized Outside Business Activities
      • FINRA Bars Former Securities America Broker Derek Lee Miller Over Unsuitable Trading Investigation
      • Charles Schwab Fined $2 Million for Significant Net Capital and Supervisory Deficiencies
      • Rush to Sell Overwhelms Brokerages, Shuts Online Clients Out from Transactions as Stocks Fall
      • Glenn Moffitt Barred Over Allegations He Converted Over $370,000 from Elderly Customer, Churned His Accounts
      • Walter Chao Fined and Suspended for Selling Facebook IPO Shares Away from LPL Financial, Supervisory Failures
      • 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' StockCross Financial Services Firm Fined for Naked Short Selling
      • Gehrin Michael Ortiz Barred After Investigation into Material Disclosure Violations and Omissions
      • Caldwell International Securities Corp's Rasheed "Richard" Adams Barred for Churning, Excessive Trading
      • Wells Fargo Advisors Censured, Fined $500,000, $242k in Restitution Ordered for Unsuitable STRATS Sales
      • Michael J Talin Barred for Failure to Cooperate with Misappropriation, Elder Theft Investigations
      • FINRA Fines Aegis Capital $950,000 for Unregistered Penny Stock Sales and AML Violations
    • July
      • Ex-Billion-Dollar Merrill Lynch, RBC Broker Thomas J. Buck Barred for Overcharging and Misleading Clients, Fraud
      • Volatile Complex Exchange Traded Products (ETFs, ETNs, etc.) May Be Unsuitable for Conservative Investors
      • Merill Lynch Fires Senior VP Marc D Lowe of the $2.5 Billion Vilardo, Lowe & Associates Team for "Inappropriate Workplace Behavi
      • FINRA Bars John Anthony Waszolek for Improperly Appointing Himself Successor Trustee for Diminished Capacity Elder, Attempting t
      • Misleading Advertising Disguised as Free Lunch or Gift Invitation Still Luring Prospective Investors
      • FINRA Fines Ascendiant Capital Markets of Irvine, CA for Failure to Supervise, Inadequate Handling of Customer Complaint
      • Former JP Morgan Chase Banker Daniel Colon Barred for Taking Money from Customer
      • Transacting Bonds: Liquidity, Risk of Loss Target of New FINRA Investor Alert
      • Jeffrey David Daggett Fined & Suspended for Unsuitable ETN, Non-Traditional ETF Recommendations
      • Securities America, Advisor Barry Armstrong Charged Over Grossly Deceptive Alzheimer's Ad Targeted at Seniors
      • F-Squared Files for Bankruptcy in Wake of $35 Million Settlement Over False Performance Claims
      • FINRA Board Candidate Brian Kovack Says He'll Represent Firms, Not Investors
      • SEC Charges Malcolm Segal with $15m Ponzi Scheme Selling Fake CDs, Unrealistic Interest Rate
      • Misappropriation Nets Broker Roderick Yzaguirre 10 Disclosures in 2 Months, Over $3.3 Million in Damages
    • June
      • Bruce R Geiger Fined & Suspended for Falsifying Annuity and Life Insurance Forms Causing $500k in Withdrawals
      • SEC to Fight Financial Elder Abuse and Fraud by Upping Broker and Advisor Oversight in Retirement Accounts
      • Morgan Stanley & Scottrade Fined $950,000 for Failing to Detect Third-Party Wire Transfers due to Inadequate Supervisory Systems
      • Wells Fargo Accused of Deficient Due Diligence on ETF-Based F-Squared Investment Losses
      • Heedo "Joshua" Han Barred for Failure to Cooperate with Investigation into Forgery Case
      • SEC Charges Chad Wiegand, Akis Eracleous with Insider Training, Duo Agrees to Securities Ban
      • Michael J. Strasser, a Broker with 22 Disclosures, Fined & Suspended for Failure to Disclose Judgment
      • Michael A. DeMaria Fined & Suspended for Unauthorized Transfer of Customer Funds
      • William G Stapleton Barred After Investigation into Annuity Misrepresentations
    • May
      • JP Morgan Chase, Citigroup, Barclays, RBS, UBS Admit to Criminal Conduct, Fined $6 Billion; JPMorgan Issues Disclosure Notice
      • Bradley Claus Barred for Misrepresentation, Unauthorized Oil & Gas and Restaurant Investment Solicitations and Transactions
      • FINRA Complaint Charges Scottsdale Capital Advisors, John Hurry, Timothy DiBlasi & D Michael Cruz with Illegal Microcap Sales of
      • Morgan Stanley Fined $2 Million for Short Sale & Interest Reporting Violations
      • SEC Charges Radio Hosts Christopher A. Novinger, Brady J. Speers and Their Companies with Fraudulent Life Settlement Interest Sa
      • Raymond Daniel Schmidt Barred After Borrowing $2.25 Million from LPL Financial Clients
      • SEC Investigating JPMorgan Over Potentially Improper Proprietary Fund Sales, Fiduciary Standard Violations
      • FINRA Sanctions LPL Financial $11.7 Million for Major Supervisory Failures in ETF, REIT and VA Products
      • James Yiu Lee Sentenced to 6.5 Years in Prison, Ordered to Repay $10.5 Million in Fraudulent Scheme
      • Larry M. Phillips Fined, Suspended, Restitution Ordered for Overcharging Customers
    • April
      • FINRA Orders Avenir Financial Group to Stop Selling to Elderly Customers, Bars Cesar Rodriguez for Fraud
      • CFP Board Censures 23 Advisors, Issues Revocations, Suspensions for Unethical Practices
      • FINRA Fines RBC $1 Million, Orders $434,000 in Restitution for Reverse Convertible Failures
      • Former JPMorgan Broker Michael Oppenheim Charged for Stealing $20 Million from Clients
      • Commonwealth Capital Corp. CEO Kimberly Springsteen-Abbott Barred, Disgorgement Ordered for Misusing Investor Funds
      • Under FINRA Investigation for Duping Elderly Investors, Broker Richard Ohrn Fakes Disappearance at Sea
      • New Hampshire Regulator Seeks $3.6 Million from LPL for Unsuitable REIT Sales to Elderly Clients
    • March
      • H. Beck, LaSalle St. Securities, and J.P. Turner & Company Fined $700,000 for Inadequate Supervision
      • Oppenheimer & Co. to Pay $3.75 Million in Fines & Restitution for Failing to Supervise Thieving Broker Mark Hotton
      • Loreta Salinas Nelson Fined & Suspended for Serving as Co-Trustee for 100-year-old Client Without Firm Permission
      • Artak Daldumyan Fined & Suspended for Unapproved Outside Business Activities
      • Nicholas C. Kramer Barred for Misappropriating Funds by Using Fake Identity
      • With 14 Pending Customer Disputes Alleging Misrepresentation and False Statements in Variable Annuity Transactions, FINRA Files
      • FINRA Censures and Fines UBS $500,000 for Failing to Disclose Broker Issues to Regulators
      • FINRA Bars Broker Michael Korson for Misusing Investor Funds from an Undeclared Outside Business Activity
      • Dalas Lee Gundersen Fined, Suspended & Ordered to Disgorge Excess Commissions Earned Through Unsuitable Sales, and Over-Concentr
      • FINRA Fines & Suspends Former Murphy & Durieu CCO Frede for Compliance Failures, Penny Stock Woes
    • February
      • Former LPL Broker James Rosebrough Fined & Suspended for Undisclosed Outside Business Activity
      • Gregory James Bolduc Fined & Suspended for Faking Customer Signatures on Disclosure Forms
      • OHO Bars Sharon H Goodale After Allegations of Improperly Signing Pre-Filled Applications
      • Michael Richard Crow Fined and Suspended for Unauthorized Use of Discretion
      • Foothill Securities, CCO Stephen Shipp Fined $235k for Inadequate Policies, Systems and Procedures
      • BMA Securities Compliance Officer Dudley Muth Fined & Suspended for Inadequate AML Systems
      • Former Compliance Officer Suing Cabot Lodge for Firing After He Reported Firm Misconduct
      • Ronald Paul Rafaloff Barred for Converting Elderly Retiree's Funds for Personal Use
      • FINRA Punishes JP Morgan's Gary R. Dennis for Outside Business Activity, and Shannon S. Hampton for Check Kiting
      • Paul DeFilippis Fined & Suspended for Helping Move Elderly Client's Funds to New Account in DeFilippis' Name
      • William R. Kinyon Barred for Misuse of Elderly Client's Variable Annuity Funds
      • Shawn Michael Richardson Censured and Fined for Exercising Discretion Without Permission
    • January
      • Oppenheimer to Pay $20 Million, Admit Guilt for Penny Stock Violations, Pump-and-Dump Schemes
      • FINRA Fines, Suspends BMA Securities President Burt Martin Arnold for Compliance Failures
      • Ex-UBS Broker Donna Jessee Tucker Barred, Convicted of Fraud for Stealing from Elderly in Ponzi-like Scheme
      • Kevin Luby Fined $25k, Suspended for Disclosure Failures Related to Elderly Customer's Trust and Estate
      • UBS Fined Record $12 Million Plus $2.5m in Disgorgement, Interest for Dark Pool Disclosure Violations
      • Merrill Lynch Fined $175k for Failing to Timely Report Complaints of Defrauding Adviser Who Escaped to LPL
      • FINRA Bars George Carris, Expels Firm John Carris Investments for Fraud and Recklessness
      • David Rose Sentenced, Restitution Ordered for $2 Million Medical Investment Fraud
      • 'Wall Street 2's Anastasios Belesis Barred, Restitution Ordered for Penny Stock Violations, Trading Ahead, Hiding Evidence
      • Securities-Based Lending, Alt Funds Catch FINRA's Eye in 2015
      • Chase Bishop Casson Barred for Failure to Cooperate with Investigation into Private Securities Transactions
      • FINRA Files Complaint Against Bradley Claus, Alleging Improper Oil and Gas Sales, Falsely Tying a Security to Justin Timberlake
      • Fiduciary Duty - Putting Customers First - Tops FINRA's Regulation Priorities for 2015
      • Pershing LLC Fined $3 Million for Supervisory, Customer Protection Violations
      • JP Morgan Downgrades Falling Caterpillar Stock Over Oil and Gas Exposure
      • High Yield Bonds, Stocks, and ETFs in Grave Jeopardy as Oil Bubble Poised to Burst
      • Sagepoint's Daryl R. Lemon Barred for Margin Abuse, Excess Fees After 1,000+ Transactions in Elderly Client's Discount Brokerage
      • Risks and Rewards Abound for Closed-End Funds
  • 2014
    • December
      • To Patch Loophole, FINRA to Provide Insurance Regulators with Monthly Disciplinary Reports
      • LPL, Commonwealth's Angela Marie Borchardt, and Kenneth William Schulz Barred for Customer Impersonation Scheme
      • FINRA Charges Wedbush, Peter Julijs Auzers, Shiva Naby, and Samantha Arrieta McAfee in MSRB Supervisory Failure, Untimely Report
      • Wells Fargo Advisors' former advisor, Jeffrey C. McClure, Barred for Taking $88,850 from Elderly Client
      • Wells Fargo Advisors Fined $1.5 Million for Anti-Money Laundering Failures
      • Merrill Lynch Fined $1.9 Million, Ordered to Pay $540,000 in Restitution for GM Fair Pricing and Supervisory Violations
      • Wedbush Ordered to Pay $350,000+ After Losing FINRA Appeal
      • Medical Research Analyst Michael Dinerman Fined and Suspended for Unauthorized Outside Business Activity
      • FINRA Fines 10 Firms from Barclays to Wells Fargo $43.5 Million for Giving Favorable Research Coverage of Toys"R"Us IPO in Excha
      • Joseph Pappalardo Barred for Fraud, Soliciting Investments in Fake Company
      • David Lawrence Gabai Barred for Deceptive, Fraudulent and Manipulative Schemes
      • JP Morgan to Pay $485,000 in Damages for Overly Concentrated Investments
      • Tammara Lynne Collins Fined & Suspended for Improperly Altering Annuity Purchase Documents
      • Tony Albert Nessan Fined & Suspended for Improperly Marking Recommended Sales as Unsolicited
    • November
      • Swiss HSBC Private Bank Admits Wrongdoing, to Pay $12.5 Million for Providing Unregistered Brokerage in USA
      • Patrick Richard Harrison Barred for Private Securities Transactions That Lost Elderly Clients $340,000
      • FINRA Fines Citigroup $15 Million for Supervisory Failures in IPO Research and Non-Public Communications
      • SEC Fines Wedbush $2.4 Million for Market Access Violations as FINRA Complaint Awaits
      • RCS Capital Confirms SEC, FINRA and MA State Regulator Investigations over $23m Error
      • NASAA Names Top 9 Investor Threats for 2015
      • OC's Robert Klein, Other Brokers with History of Disciplinary 'Red Flags' Flocking to Hotspots for Misconduct, Elderly Investors
      • Fidelity, Pershing, Schwab Latest Firms to Suspend Schorsch REIT Sales over $23m Error
      • Sally Samaris Barred for Failure to Cooperate in Mortgage Fraud Investigation
      • Massachusetts Regulator Investigating Schorsch's Realty Capital Securities, REIT Sales
      • Kent George Lehman Barred for Improperly Borrowing From Customers, Failure to Cooperate
      • Cetera Financial Group Broker-Dealer Network Suspends Some Nicholas Schorsch REITs
      • Investors Withdraw $27.5 Billion From of Pimco in Worst-Ever Month for Redemptions
      • SEC and FINRA Issue Joint Penny Stock Scam Investment Alert
    • October
      • National Planning Holdings Halts American Realty Capital Nontraded REIT Sales over $23m Accounting Problem
      • Merrill Lynch Fined $6 Million for Short Sale Violations and Supervisory Failures
      • At LPL Financial, Higher Q3 Charges For Regulatory Costs
      • Jonathan Kohanof Barred for False Testimony in Insider Trading Investigation
      • SEC Charges Former Wells Fargo Compliance Officer Judy K. Wolf with Altering Documents
      • Thomas David Sharp Fined and Suspended for Improper REIT E-mail Solicitations
      • Travis Capson, Arnab Sarkar Fined and Suspended for Failing to Disclose Outside Business Activity, Denari Capital LLC
      • Luciano Andres Battioli Barred for Conversion, Forgery and Falsification
      • Jo Ellen Fisher Barred, Sued for Allegedly Stealing $1 Million from 95-Year-Old Client
      • SWS Charged with Inadequate Supervision of VA Transactions
    • September
      • WFG Investments Inc. Expecting Second Six-Figure Fine in Two Years After $200k Fraud Penalty
      • 2014's 12 Worst Financial Advisors List Features Ponzi Schemes, Scams and Frauds
      • SEC Fines Wells Fargo Advisors $5 Million for Inadequate Controls to Prevent Broker's Insider Trading
      • SEC Charges Eight, Including de Maison, in Pump-and-Dump Penny Stock Fraud Scheme
      • FBI Arrests De Maison and Wilshinsky in Multi-Million Dollar Penny Stock Fraud
      • Bradley Thomas Badger Fined and Suspended for Undisclosed Outside Trading and Real Estate Business
      • FINRA Releases Frontier Funds Investment Alert
      • Wells Fargo Advisors Warned of Possible Action for Anti-Money Laundering Failures
      • Former LPL Broker Blake Richards Ordered to Pay $2 Million for Defrauding Clients
    • August
      • Matthew John Davis Barred For Failure to Cooperate with FINRA Investigation into Misconduct, Forgery Claims
      • Disease Investment Scam Tips: How to Identify and Avoid Fraudulent Scheme Infection
      • Citigroup Fined $1.85 Million, Ordered to Pay $638,000 Restitution for Non-Convertible Preferred Securities Violations
      • Airbags - Unsafe at any Speed
      • FINRA Charges Wedbush Securities with Insufficient Controls, Leading to Manipulative Trades
      • Ex-Wells Fargo Broker, Michael James Frew, Barred for Failure to Cooperate with Investigation into Alleged Conversion of Funds a
      • Tony Huang, formerly of NY Life Securities, LLC, Barred for Falsifying Life Insurance Applications
      • Former LPL Financial's Mehrdad Farhat Fined, Suspended for Undisclosed Outside Business Activity
      • FINRA Reports Increase in Online Phishing Identify Theft Scams: Identifying the Risks
    • July
      • Five Newport Coast Brokers Charged with Churning Resulting in $1 Million Losses
      • Jason O'Neal Lampier Barred for Fraudulent Misrepresentations Related to Oil and Gas Limited Partnerships
      • David Paul Diehl Suspended, Fined for Failure to Pay Promissory Note Interest, No Notification to Firm
      • William C. Yi Barred for Altering Customer's Check, Converting Funds for Personal Use
      • SEC: Financial Exploitation of Older Adults is an Urgent Issue
      • James William Murphy, Guilty of Fraud, Barred for Misuse, Conversion of Funds for Personal Use
      • Kent Michael Houston Fined $75k & Suspended for Concealing Compensated Trustee Activity
      • FINRA Bars Steven Yi for Failure to Provide Information
      • FINRA Enforcement Charges Mark Foster with Failure to Cooperate with Investigation
    • June
      • FINRA Bars Dale Herman Stevens for Serving on Hedge Fund Board without Disclosing Financial Interest to Firm
      • Former LPL Financial Broker Joshua Allen Farahi for Unauthorized Outside Business Activity
      • Gary Allen Cabello Barred for Conspiring to Commit Bribery
      • Securities and Exchange Commission Upholds FINRA'S Censure and $50,000 Fine of Member Firm CapWest Securities Over Tenant-in-Com
      • At IAA Financial, 84% of Brokers Came from Expelled Firms, 54% with Previous Disclosure Records
      • Broker Patricia Miller Facing Fraud Charges After Clients' Life Savings Go Missing
      • Concentration Risk: The Implications of Putting All Your Eggs in One Basket
      • FINRA Issues Investment Alert Targeting High-Yield CD Scams
    • May
      • FINRA Cracking Down on Abusive, Unsuitable Automatic Trading Practices
      • Disgraced HSBC Rep Ann Maria Ferrao Barred After Alleged Misappropriation of Funds
      • JP Morgan's Kirk Eric Archibald and Michael Linfeng Zheng Barred for Unauthorized Conversion of Customer Funds
      • SEC Bars Convicted Fraudster Gurudeo Persaud for Investment Strategy Based on Astrology
      • Broker Matthew Trulli Suspended for Illicit Borrowing of Nearly $200k in Customer Funds
      • William Jeffrey Austin Fined & Suspended for Exercising Discretion Without Authorization or Consent
      • Morgan Stanley Fined $5 Million for Supervisory Failures Related to Initial Public Offering Sales
      • FINRA Targeting Fixed Annuity Sales' Risks, Firm Policies and Procedures
      • Popularity of Liquifying Home Equity, Cash-Out Refinancing Increases as Valuation Increases
      • NSM Securities, Bhasin, Bhagwani & Balchandani Disciplined for Supervisory, Suitability and Compliance Failures, Churning and U
    • April
      • Douglas Frank Cmelik Fined & Suspended for Inaccurately Marked "Unsolicited" Penny Stock Sales
      • Background Checks for Brokers Newest Requirement for FINRA-Member Firms
      • Infinex Fined for Unsuitable Recommendations of Non-Traditional Inverse, Leveraged ETFs
      • Study: Brokers Who Fail Basic Securities Exams Have More BrokerCheck Black Marks, Disclosures
      • SEC Charges San Diego's Total Wealth Management with Fraud in Kickbacks Scheme
      • Magnolia Gaerlan Fined & Suspended for Effecting Unauthorized Wire Transfers
      • Steven Robert Tomlinson Fined & Suspended for Downloading Confidential Customer Information
      • Michelle Lee Kern Barred for Unlawful Conversion of $669,000 in Client Funds
      • Former MetLife Brokers Christopher Birli & Patrick Chapin Named in Civil Complaint Regarding $21 Million Annuities Scheme
      • NY Firm Meyers Associates: A Standout Broker-Dealer Full of Black-Mark Reps with Disclosures
    • March
      • Arbitrator James H. Frank Removed From FINRA'S Roster of Arbitrators After Lying About Credentials
      • LPL Financial Fined $950,000 for Concentration Violations in Alternative Investments, Non-Traded REITs Sales
      • Irvine Firm Accelerated Capital Group Fined for Misleading and Exaggerated Website Information
      • Merrill Lynch Associate Andres Enrique Rojas Barred for Impersonating Client
      • Citigroup Global Markets Ordered to Pay $1.1 Million for Illegal Short Selling Prior to Public Offerings, Supervisory Failures
      • Integral Financial, Weiming "Frank" Ho Fined for Repeated Non-Compliant Communications in Complex Product Promotions
      • SEC Charges Brokers Michael Horowitz, Moshe Marc Cohen with $80 Million Variable Annuity Fraud
      • Girard Securities Fined for Supervisory Failures Concerning Fraud Prevention Tactics
      • Running with Scissors: SEC Closely Monitoring Advisors' Use of Hot-Button Alternative Mutual Funds
      • The Vertical Group Fined & Ordered to Revise WSPs in Wake of Trade, Records & Supervisory Violations
      • Former Merrill Lynch Broker Jane O'Brien Accused of 18-Year, $1.3 Million Ponzi Scheme
      • FINRA Fines Los Angeles Firm E.J. De La Rosa & Co., Orders Restitution for Compliance Failures Including Unfair Practices, WSP I
    • February
      • Sutherland Review: FINRA Fines Decrease 27%, Actions Reported Remains Flat
      • Berthel Fisher & Co. Financial Services, Affiliate Fined $775,000 for Compliance Failures, Inappropriate Alternative Investment
      • Former Wedbush Securities Rep Karen Ann Mendez Barred for Misappropriation of Funds, Falsified Records
      • Former Merrill Lynch Adviser Gary H. Lane Given 10 Year Prison Sentence for Defrauding Elderly Investors via Ponzi Scheme
      • Patrick Joseph Donohue Barred for Prohibited Business Activities with Elderly Clients, False Statements & Unauthorized Wire Tran
      • Jose Jesus Martinez Jr. Barred for Wrongful Conversion of Elderly Customer Funds
      • CFP Advisors Steven Wilkinson, Noah Myers, Dan Glick & Robert Wheeling Stripped of CFP Certification for Misconduct
      • Proposed Rules Change Requires Firms to Issue Clearer Nontraded REIT Statements
      • Banorte-Ixe Securities Fined $475K for Anti-Money Laundering Program Failures
    • January
      • SEC Issues Risk Alert Criticizing Advisors' Handling of Alternative Investments
      • JP Morgan's Stephanie Ann Becker Barred for Improper Conversion of Customer Funds
      • SEC National Exam Program's Investment Adviser & Company Priorities for 2014
      • SEC National Exam Program Issues Broker-Dealers Priorities List for 2014
      • Lisa Ann Timmerman Fined & Suspended for Writing Checks in Accounts with Insufficient Funds
      • Massachusetts Charges Christopher Veale for Abusive Sales Practices & Churning in Elderly Client's Account
      • Edward D. Jones Fined $200K + $52,000 in Restitution for Improper ETF Sales
      • Four Risky & Sometimes Dangerous Investments to Avoid in 2014
      • FINRA Orders Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Century Securities to Pay Over $1 Million in Fines, Restitution Over Unsuitable Non-Tra
      • FINRA Tells Firms to Put Clients First with Conflicts of Interest Report
      • FINRA to Firms: Investment by Seniors Subject to Special Compliance Considerations
      • SEC Seeks Admission, Apologies from Big Banks that Broke Securities Laws During Crashes
      • FINRA Targets Frontier Funds: A Developing Market Mutual Funds Primer
      • FINRA to Target Complex Investments Including REITs, ETFs and Mortgage Backed Securities in 2014 Exams
      • FINRA Warns Firms Against Blind 401(k) to IRA Fund Transfer Recommendations
  • 2013
    • December
      • Scott Donovan Schroeder Barred for Unsuitable Investment Recommendations to Elderly Customers, Material Misrepresentations and O
      • Bambi Holzer Barred for Unsuitable Provident Royalties Sales, Failure to Disclose and Submission of False Information
      • Gary J. Chackman Barred for Unsuitable Non-traded REIT Transactions
      • Deutsche Bank Securities Fined $6.5 Million for Serious Deficiencies in Lending Program
      • Holiday Cheer Signals Year-End Red Flags To Watch
      • Solicited Leveraged ETF Tickets Marked as Unsolicited is Risky Business
      • Adviser Rafael R. Sanchez Barred & Ordered to Pay $4.6 Million in Damages Over Real-Estate Fund Damages
      • Oppenheimer Fined $675,000 + $246,000 in Restitution for Unfair Municipal Securities Prices; Head Trader David Sirianni Suspende
      • JP Turner Ordered to Pay Over $700,000 in Restitution for Unsuitable Complex ETF Sales, Excessive Switching
      • Two Ex-JP Morgan Brokers Barred for $300,000 Theft from Elderly Woman with Diminished Mental Capacity
      • Morgan Keegan, Stephens Inc. Fined, Restitution Ordered for Inappropriate Volatile Nontraditional ETF Sales
    • November
      • Paul David Arnold Barred for Misappropriating $242,000 from Elderly Customer's Brokerage Account
      • Gary C. Snisky Charged in $3.8-Million Fraud Scheme Targeting Elderly Investors
      • Ferry, Clinton and Martin Sentenced for Conspiracy, Mail and Wire Fraud in FBI Sting
      • Proposed Fiduciary Rule Changes Signal Heightened Due Diligence Requirements for Brokers, Advisors
      • Brian Matt Borakowski, George Alexander Kardaras Barred for Promissory Notes Ponzi Scheme Fraud
      • Veterans Beware: Rogue Financial Advisor "Pension Poachers" Targeting Military Benefits
      • Dangerous Words: SEC Cautions Firms to Stop Using "Protected," "Guaranteed" in Fund Names
      • FINRA: Volatile Interest Rates Are Next Major Threat to Investment Portfolios
      • FINRA Enhances BrokerCheck System, Makes Advisers' IAPD Reports Available
      • TD Ameritrade Clearing & SG Americas Securities Fined $1.8 Million for Reporting, Supervisory Violations
      • Meghan E. Kassel Fined and Suspended for Submitting Falsified Variable Annuity Document
      • Mass. Fines Merrill Lynch $500K for Failing to Stop Broker Misconduct
    • October
      • Closed-End Fund Distributions FINRA Investor Alert Issued: Points to Consider
      • About Time: FINRA Files Complaint Alleging Unsuitable Recommendations, Falsification of Records After Beverly Hills Broker Bamb
      • Warning about Wirehouses: Excess Fees, Depressed Profits Harmful to Clients
      • Study: FINRA Grants Expungement to Most Brokers in Arbitration; FINRA Responds
      • James Arnold Busch Accused of Stealing $1.3 Million from Elderly Customers
      • NASAA Calls Out New Scams, Rotates Five of Top 10 Investor Threats
      • SEC: Small Violations Can Lead to Strong Enforcement, Sanctions, and Fines
      • 558% Increase in Reverse Convertible Sales at Bank of America Signifies Acceptance of Increased Volatility and Risk
      • Managed Futures Fund Fees: A Hidden Money Drain for a Sneaky Security
      • FINRA May Require Brokerage Firms to Carry Arbitration Insurance; Ensure Payment of More Awards
      • Over 5,000 Brokers from Barred Firms, Many Accused of Fraud, Still Selling Securities
      • FINRA Charges John Carris Investments and CEO George Carris with Fraud and Stock Manipulation
      • Fraud in Modern America, a Nation at Risk-The Telltale Signs
      • High Yield: FINRA Cautions Investors Against Excessive Risk Taking
    • September
      • Jerry Dean McGlothlin Barred for Unauthorized Outside Business Private Securities Activities
      • DeCarla Shevon Mathis Fined and Suspended for Fraudulent $100,000 Wire Transfers
      • Wade Harlow Bradley Fined & Suspended for Willful Disregard of Minimum Offering Condition, False Representations and Failure to
      • Private Placement Offerings Require Research and Contemplation of Risk
      • Financial Fraud: An Appealing Scheme Whose Weakness is the Proactive Investor
      • Wendy Janeen Worcester Fined and Suspended for Multiple Due Diligence Failures
      • Jennifer Marie Burton Fined and Suspended for Falsely Claiming Customer Correspondence, Leading to Improper Wire Transfers
    • August
      • SEC Upholds FINRA Decision Banning Former Firm Founder Carl Birkelbach for Failure to Supervise
      • Morgan Stanley Fined $1 Million, Ordered to Pay $188,000 in Restitution for Bond Pricing Failure
      • FINRA Issues Investor Alert over Marijuana Stock Scams
      • Jon Eric Guay Barred for False Representations, Improper Use and Conversion of $225,000 in Customer Funds
      • Christian Joel Brand Suspended for Soliciting $510,000 Investment from Elderly, Unsuitable Customer for Failed Project
      • Former Broker John Brady Guyette Convicted on 15 Securities Fraud Felony Counts
      • A Survey of Reverse Convertible Risks as Bank of America Takes Structured Note Sales Title
      • FINRA Accuses TNP's Tony Thompson of Defrauding Investors, Failing to Pay Out Promissory Notes
      • Christopher Michael Bones, David Shelton Brown, Jr. Fined & Suspended in Separate Instances of Unauthorized Discretionary Tradin
      • FINRA Alert: Beware Cold Calls from Brokerage Firm Imposters, New Phishing Schemes
      • Sunset Financial Fined $200,000, plus $84,253 in Partial Restitution Ordered for Supervisory Failures
      • Oppenheimer Fined $1.4 Million for Sale of Unregistered Penny Stocks and Anti-Money Laundering Violations
      • FINRA Arbitration Panel Orders Citigroup to Pay $10.75 Million for Overconcentration Negligence and Failure to Supervise
      • Yield-Enhanced Structured Products May Harm Investors As They Help Brokers
    • July
      • New Jersey Fines Morgan Stanley $100,000 for Improper ETF Sales to Investors
      • SEC Lifts Ban on Hedge Fund Ads, Increases Private Placement and Hedge Fund Risk
      • Suitability, Recommendation Compliance and the Risk Tolerance Questionnaire Shortfall
      • FINRA's TRACE Program to Increase Transparency of Mortgage-Backed Securities Market
      • Adorean Boleancu, Already Barred from FINRA, Indicted on Fraud Charges
      • John Thornes Barred for Stealing $4.2 Million from Elderly Alzheimer's, Scholarship Accounts
      • Newedge USA, LLC Fined $9.5 Million for Supervisory and Bookkeeping Faults
      • StateTrust Investments, Joseph Turnes Fined $1 Million, Ordered to Pay $353,000 in Restitution for Unfair Bond Prices
      • Frank John Tarazon Fined & Suspended for Improper Borrowing from Elderly Customer
      • Arbitrators Order Wells Fargo to Pay $2.8 Million in Damages, Interest for Failure to Detect Fraud in Investor's Account
      • Massachusetts Investigation into REITs: Firms Targeting Seniors for High-Risk Products
      • Atlas, Firstrade and WTF Fined $900,000 for Anti-Money Laundering Program Failures
      • Joseph John Antosh Jr. Barred for Failure to Cooperate with Investigation into IRA Beneficiary Switch
      • Richard Joseph Gobel Fined and Suspended for Discretionary Trading without Written Authorization
      • Theresa I. Reyes Barred for Engaging a Customer's Business Credit Card Account without Authorization
      • Kelly Ann Willey Barred After Directing Elderly Customer to Write Checks to Her Personally
      • Forrest Nolan Jackson Barred for Selling Away of Notes Related to SEC Lawsuit Defendant
    • June
      • STS, Fuad Ahmed Ponzi Scheme results in Million Dollar Losses for NFL, NBA Athletes Who Invested with Jade Wealth Management
      • Donald Wayne Hastings Barred for Improperly Placing Elderly Customer's Funds in Business Account
      • SEC Approves FINRA Request to Publish Detailed Disciplinary Complaints and Decisions
      • Arbitrator Indictment Spotlights Importance of Conducting Due Diligence in Arbitration
      • Steven Robert Aron Barred for Failure to Disclose Information Related to Outside Business Activities
      • Randy Jason Schneider Barred and Ordered to Pay Restitution for Misappropriation of Elderly Customer's Funds and Earnings
      • Advice on Air: Misleading Advertising, Broker Misconduct and the Radio
      • SEC & FINRA Joint Alert: Beware Pump-and-Dump Scams via E-mail Spam
      • FINRA Investor Alert: Alternative Mutual Funds Can Carry Added Risks
      • Francis Martin Florey Barred for Attempting to Transfer Elderly Customer's Funds without Authorization
      • Jeffrey Stephen Geraci Suspended, Ordered to Pay Retired Widow Restitution for Unsuitable Recommendations
      • Hugh Monroe Dyson, Jr. Censured, Barred and Ordered to Pay Restitution in Connection with False Representations, Phony IRS Forms
      • FINRA Orders Wells Fargo and Merrill Lynch to Pay $5.1 Million for Unsuitable Mutual Fund Sales
      • SAC Capital Stops Cooperating with Government Investigation as DOJ Ramps Up Probe, Investors Flee
    • May
      • Merle Gene Walter Barred for Failure to Disclose Unethical Misconduct, Civil Judgments, Tax Lien
      • Andrew Lewis Pittman Barred in Relation to Elder Financial Misconduct Allegation
      • John Thomas Thornes Accused of Stealing $4.2 Million from Elderly Client, Scholarship Accounts
      • David Lloyd Barber Fined and Suspended for Improper Loans, Concealment from Firm
      • Barbara Mary Bolk Fined and Suspended for Forging Customer Signatures, Effecting Unauthorized Transactions
      • Oran Ben Carroll Suspended and Fined for Inadequate Due Diligence, Failure to Supervise
      • Former LPL Financial Adviser Blake Richards Charged in $2 Million Fraudulent Scheme
      • FINRA: Firms Must Adhere to Industry Rules and Be Honest with Investors
      • Nancy Bolt Hill Fined & Suspended for Allegedly Failing to Disclose Outside Securities Accounts
      • Greg John Campbell Barred in $2+ Million Misappropriation Scheme
      • SEC/FINRA: Selling Rights to Pension Income Streams, Investing in Third Party Pension Can Be Risky
      • Roman J Sledziejowski Barred for Converting $4.8 Million in Fraudulent Scheme
      • Sean Francis Sheridan Barred for Recommending Only Funds that Yielded Higher Commissions
      • Thomas Lloyd Kunkel Fined and Suspended for Unsuitable REIT Recommendations to Elderly and Unsophisticated Investor
      • Bill Alvin Ahlswede Fined and Suspended for False Information, Failing to Disclose Complaint Alleging Churning and Fraud
    • April
      • Kenneth Raden Miller Fined $20,000 & Suspended for Negligent Misrepresentations
      • aryl Marc Holzberg Suspended for Failure to Adequately Supervise, Respond to Red Flags
      • Sean Placido Rodriguez Suspended, Fined and Ordered to Pay Partial Restitution for Unauthorized Trading
      • Charles Chul Nam Barred, Ordered to Pay Restitution for Fraudulent REIT Scheme
      • Robert Louis Iola Jr. Fined & Suspended for Inaccurate Portfolio Valuation Summary Distributions
      • Jon Patrick Horvath Barred Following Fraudulent Alteration of Check, Conversion of Funds
      • Martin Benjamin Feibish Barred For Scheming to Misappropriate Over $5 Million From Elderly Customer Through Fake Investment Vehi
      • Former Wound Management CEO Scott Haire Pleads Guilty to Securities Fraud
      • Once Granted, Permission to Trade with Discretion Can Be Problematic
      • FINRA Increasing Scrutiny of Complex Products Marketed to Seniors
      • FINRA Files Order to Shut Down Success Trade Securities, Claiming Firm Scammed Investors
      • Karl Edward Hahn Ordered to Pay $11 Million to Customer for Investment Fraud & Misrepresentation
      • Thomas Charles Conradt Pleads Guilty to Securities Fraud & Conspiracy in IBM Case
      • Dominic Cammarota Barred for Possession and Use of Unauthorized Notes During Series 6 Exam
    • March
      • UBS-Sponsored Willow Fund Drops 80 Percent After Manager Sam Kim Switches to Risky Derivatives Strategy
      • Jon Herbert Green Suspended For Failure to Repay Elderly Customer's Loan in Timely Manner
      • James Martin Higgs Fined & Suspended for Selling EIAs Outside Firm
      • Steven Joseph Corzan Barred for Unapproved Private Securities Transactions of Positions Linked to Ponzi Scheme
      • LPL Financial Firm Under Fire and On Radar with Several Securities Regulators
      • Michael Mendenhall Barred for Borrowing from Elderly Customers, Untruthful Reply to FINRA Inquiry
      • Gary Reed Feldman Fined &Suspended for Improperly Soliciting Investments
      • Richard Grant Cody Fined & Suspended For Unsuitable and Excess Trading
      • Alberto Neira Barred for Failure to Disclose Outside Business, Investment Sales
      • Jane Elizabeth O'Brien Barred for Unauthorized $3 Million Loans, Failure to Repay Clients, Alleged Securities Fraud
      • Su-Chin Liu Barred In Connection with Investigation into Improper Premium Payments
      • SAC Capital Lawsuit Settled; Firm to Pay Record $616 Million for Insider Trading
      • Adorean Boleancu (Wells Fargo) Ordered to Pay $650,000 in Restitution for Improper Conversion of Funds
      • Scott Bailey Nelson Suspended and Fined for Fixed Indexed Annuity Sale Outside of Firm
      • Christian A. Molina Barred for Unauthorized Withdrawal on Altered Bank Slip
      • James D. Grimes Barred for Conversion of Funds After Forging Customer Signatures
      • Christopher Michael Frank Fined & Suspended for Unauthorized Transactions
      • Apple Linked Reverse Convertibles (RevCons) Prove Risky as Maturity Nears
    • February
      • Mark E. Marek Barred When Unsuitable Investment Recommendation After Client Loses Nearly $600,000
      • Broker Gregory Evan Goldstein Fails to Respond to FINRA Requests, Earns Suspension
      • John L. Gathright Jr. Barred for Misappropriating Annuity Funds After Completing VA Surrender Request Forms
      • FINRA Investor Alert: Bond Portfolios Could be At Risk with Looming Interest Rate Hike
      • Jay Sheldon Potter Jr. Fined & Suspended for Confidentially Settling Complaint without Informing Firm
      • Jeffrey Alan Hutman Fined & Suspended in Relation to Variable Annuity Transactions Outside of Firm
      • Richard Lee Ell Sanctioned in Connection with Variable Annuity Transaction Charges & Complaint
      • Mark Everrett Friesen Fined & Suspended for Failing to Report Felony Charges
      • Massachusetts Regulators Order LPL Financial to Pay $2 Million in Restitution
      • Gabriel Arnaud Dupin De Saint Cyr Fined & Suspended After Forging Form Signatures
      • UBS to Change Customers' Objectives, Reclassify Clients as "Aggressive" Investors
      • Henry John Dellaquila Fined $55,000 and Suspended for Unauthorized Variable Annuity Transactions
    • January
      • Peter C. Bishop Fined & Suspended For Allegedly Effecting Unauthorized Trades After Customer's Death
      • Marshall Douglas Nelson Suspended for Unsuitable Recommendations to Elderly Customer, Restitution Ordered
      • Following Massachusetts Lawsuit LPL Changes ETF Compliance Policies
      • After Appeal, Nolan Wayne Moore Barred and Fined for Failure to Cooperate, Allegedly Engaging in Undisclosed Outside Business Ac
      • Revenge of the Reverse Convertible - Apple
      • Douglas Gregory Bezio Fined and Suspended for Unsuitable, Unauthorized and Excessive Trading
      • FINRA's Five Tips for Financial Well Being
      • James Charles Allen Barred for Failure to Cooperate with Investigation into Material Misrepresentations and Omissions Regarding
      • Supreme Court to Consider Tightening SEC Suit Time Limit Rules for Fraud
      • Tam Thanh Tran (Tom Tran) Barred for Failure to Cooperate with Investigation into Providing False Information
      • Doran Lynn Follis Suspended for Inadequate Due Diligence, Improper Recommendations
      • Adam Spencer Deane Suspended & Fined $25,000 for Improper Out-of-State VA Transaction
      • California Appeals Court Demonstrates Strong Presumption for Arbitration in Reversal
      • Philip Horn Guilty of Fraud: History and Risk of Horn's "Friendly" Scheme
  • 2012
    • December
      • Take Charge Financial, Inc., Joan Anne Perry Expelled & Barred for Unauthorized Transfers, Failure to Report Complaints, Inappro
      • Michael D. Montgomery Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison Following Wire Fraud Conviction
      • Paul Ellsworth McIntosh Barred for Unauthorized Trading Resulting in $40,000 in Customer Losses
      • Matthew Donald Newman Fined & Suspended in Connection with Altered Form Submissions
      • Daniel Leland Chiddister Fined & Suspended for Impersonating Potential Customers
      • Financial West Investment Group Censured & Fined for Inadequate Diligence, Failure to Execute Bond Transactions at Reasonable Pr
      • Aletheia CEO Peter J. Eichler Jr. Accused of Defrauding Investors, Resulting in $4.4 Million in Losses
      • Frank Anthony Quartararo for Over Unauthorized Withdrawals from Customer Accounts Totaling Over $775,000
      • Massachusetts Securities Regulators Sue LPL Financial over Nontraded REIT Sales
      • Wedbush Securities Fined $375,000; Richard Anthony Lanni and Ronald Edward Vogel Fined and Suspended for Poor Supervisory System
      • Teresa Jo Dorenkamp Barred for Forging Signatures, Converting & Transferring Over $390,000 of Customer Funds
    • November
      • Investors Beware: "Free Lunch" Investment Seminars Are Not Always What They Seem
      • Christina Marie Curley Barred Following Allegations She Manipulated Compensation, Transacted in Closed Accounts
      • David Lerner Associates to Pay $12 Million in Restitution in Connection with Inadequate Due Diligence, Excessive Markups
      • SEC Charges Geoffrey H. Lunn, Darlene A. Bishop and Vincent G. Curry with Defrauding Investors by Creating Fake Company, Identit
      • Hojin Kyung Barred After Depositing Customer Checks into Personal Trust Account
      • Edgar Lee Giovannetti Fined & Suspended for Unauthorized Transaction, Failure to Disclose Lawsuit and Settlement
    • October
      • William Michael Jordan Fined and Suspended for Improper Recommendations and Lack of Due Diligence Related to Third Party's Slush
      • John Charles Guys Barred for Misappropriation of Funds, Creating Fake Premium Finance Agreements and Forging Customer Signatures
      • Stuart L Funke Suspended for Soliciting $500,000 in Loans without Firm Approval
      • Fidelity Brokerage Fined $375,000 for Misleading Advertising, Supervisory Failures Related to Mutual Fund Sales
      • Attila Gyula Toth Accused of Soliciting an Investment and Misusing Customer Funds
      • Ralph Thomas Gannett Suspended for Inadequate Due Diligence Related to Private Placement Sale
      • United Planners & CCO Douglas Hall Fined for Lack of Supervision with respect to Variable Annuities
      • FINRA Complaint Alleges Harry Ward Hunt Engaged in Excessive and Unsuitable Trading, Resulting in Commissions Paid to Broker
      • Complaint Issued Against John Cherry III Alleging Improper Use, Conversion of Customer Funds
      • James Scott McKee Barred for Misrepresentations, Omissions to Induce Customers to Buy Securities
      • Charles Duane Lewis Barred After Felony Convictions for Theft from Elder, Fraudulent Appropriation of Funds
    • September
      • Merrill Lynch Fined $500,000 for Failure to File Required Reports with FINRA
      • SEC Charges Broker with Stealing to Pay Personal Expenses, Investors, Many from Santa Monica, Lose $600,000 in Ponzi Scheme
      • Broker Fong I. Cheang Fined & Suspended for Failing to Disclose Felony Fraud Charges
      • Terminated Morgan Stanley Risk Officer Claims Retaliatiory Firing for Whistleblowing
      • FINRA Bars Thomas P. Casper for Borrowing Money from Customers and Against Firm Rules
      • FINRA Bars Jason Robert Cavalier for Failure to Disclose Material Facts, Lack of Cooperation with Investigation
      • FINRA Suspends Christopher Andrew Carra for Posting Allegedly Misleading Messages
      • FINRA Bars Matthew Leon Bradakis for Misuse of Customer Funds, Soliciting Payment From Client For Outside Business Activity
      • William J. Ferry, Dennis Clinton Found Guilty in $1 Billion Investment Fraud Scheme
      • FINRA Suspends David Waldemar Asplund Jr. for Borrowing $50K from Customers
    • August
      • Richard Peter Pascucci Convicted of Fraud, Barred and Ordered to Pay Restitution
      • FINRA Bars Broker Andrew Paul Arno for Misusing Customer IRA Funds
      • Investor Alert Issued: Non-Traded Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)
      • FINRA Suspends James A. Owen and Orders Restitution to his Customers
      • FINRA Fines & Suspends Craig Lamont Miller for Improper Recommendations Outside of Firm
      • FINRA Bars Edward Allen Mantanona and Orders Restitution
      • FINRA Fines & Suspends and Fines Rochelle Anne Leininger for Improperly Notarizing Documents
      • FINRA Fines & Suspends Broker Michael Laurence Digaetano for Failure to Supervise
      • Douglas Brent Cartwright Fined & Suspended for Soliciting Investments Outside the Scope of His Employing Firm
      • James W. Carney, Jr. Fined & Suspended for Undisclosed Outside Business Activities
      • Christipher Lynn Belonge Fined Over $50,000 & Suspended for Inadequate Supervision Resulting in Significant Investment Losses
      • FINRA Orders Supension of Edward Wedbush and Fines Wedbush Securities, Inc. $300,000
      • Erin Christine Ackerman Fined $20,000 and Suspended Until December 2013 for Poor Supervision, Resulting in Unsuitable Recommenda
      • Newport Coast Securities, Inc. Fined $100,000 for Poor Anti-Money Laundering Procedures, Branch Office Manager who Served on Boa
    • July
      • Thomas Michael Buehler Fined & Suspended for Lack of Supervision
      • Manhattan Beach Trading Financial Services, Inc. Fined $125,000 for Poor Security Measures Contributing to Identity Theft, Fraud
      • Slava Volman Pleads Guilty, Sent to Prison for Securities Fraud and Conspiracy
      • Harold E. Wilson Barred and Ordered to Pay 10K Restitution for Failure to Contact Customers, Cooperate with FINRA Investigation
      • Alfred Chi Chen Barred for Unauthorized Trading, Unsuitable Recommendations
      • Glenn Andrew Schwarzkopf Accused of Converting Nearly $250,000 of Client's Money for Personal Use
      • FINRA'S Office of Hearing Officers Issues Decision Barring Broker Alan Jay Davidofsky
      • Edward Antonio "Ted" Salazar Ordered to Pay Nearly $1.2 Million and Suspended for Failure to Conduct Due Diligence, Bypassing Fi
      • Russell Philip Macke Suspended for Excessive Trading and Use of Margin
      • Thomas Brown Hammond Guilty of Theft, Ordered to Pay Over $500,000 in Restitution, Barred from Industry
      • Brett David Henderson Fined $95,000 and Suspended for Unsuitable VA Switch Transactions
      • Real Estate Broker Tony Thompson Suspends Interest Payments to Investors
      • FINRA Issues Investor Alert on Exchange Traded Notes
      • Gary Lee Cousino Barred for Refusing to Cooperate with FINRA Investigation
      • Catheryne June Downs Fined and Suspended for Failure to Provide Timely Notice of Outside EIA Sales
      • Joel William Carlson Barred for Fraudulent Investment Scheme
    • June
      • Investing on Margin Carries Additional Risks and May Result in Unintended Consequences
      • Tsarina Lau Branyan Fined & Suspended for Unlicensed Sales of Securities
      • Michael D. Montgomery Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud, Client's Loss Over $1 Million
      • With New 401(k) Disclosure Requirement, Investors Should Review 401(k) Plan to Determine Fees Charged
      • All About BrokerCheck, FINRA's Free Background Check for Your Financial Advisor
      • UVEST Financial Fined, Forced to Pay Remediation After Overcharging Customer
      • Freedom Investors Corp. Fined & Brokers Suspended for Unsuitable Penny Stock Recommendations
      • Merrill Lynch Fined $2.8 Million for Overcharging Customers $32 Million in Fees
      • John Brady Guyette Suspended & Fined for Fraudulent Misrepresentations in Recommending Investment Options
      • Daniel Edward Becerril II Barred from Securities Industry After Orchestrating Fraudulent Scheme
      • Michael Douglas Venable Barred for Multiple Violations Related to Sales of ETFs
      • Ivan Serge Obolensky, Jr. Barred for Failure to Answer FINRA Inquiry Regarding Unsuitable Investments
      • Merrill Lynch Fined $450,000 for Poor Supervisory System Related to Structured Products
      • John Farahi of NewPoint Financial Pleads Guilty to $20+ Million Ponzi Scheme
      • Russell Kent Childs Suspended and Ordered to Pay Restitution for Improper Charges
      • Brookstone Securities Fined $1 Million, CEO Antony Turbeville Barred for Fraudulent Sales of CMOs to Elderly Clients
      • Oppenheimer to Pay $35 Million for Misleading Investors During Financial Crisis
      • Yong "Michael" Chen Fined, Suspended for Failure to Report Outside Business Activities
      • Stifel, Nicolaus & Company Fined, Ordered to Pay Restitution Totaling $600,000
    • May
      • Rafael Ramon Sanchez Barred for Fraudulent Misconduct
      • Timothy David Cochrane Permanently Barred for Fraudulent Investment Scheme
      • Charles Oscar Boneck, Jr. Barred by FINRA for Unauthorized Transactions
      • Discipline: Midas Securities & Registered Principal Jay S. Lee Disciplined for Unlawful, Irresponsible Conduct
      • Arbitration: Wells Fargo Ordered to Buy Back $2.2 Million in Auction Rate Securities
      • Arbitration: JPMorgan Chase & Co. Ordered to Pay Client $1.9 Million, Only a Fraction of $26.7 Million Claimed in Damages
    • April
      • Discipline: Some Morgan Stanley Structured Product Purchases Failed to Comply with Internal Guidelines
      • Discipline: Stephen Wilson (Prudential, Wachovia) Barred for Unsuitable Recommendations and Unauthorized Trading
      • Discipline: Barclays Capital Fined $3 Million After Providing Inaccurate Information to Investors
      • Promissory Notes and Fraud
      • Home Hazard: The Danger of Using a Mortgage to Finance Investments
      • High Yield Investment Programs (HYIP): A Risky Venture
      • Getting to Know Reverse Convertibles
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