Articles Posted in Churning

Worden Capital Management LLC (CRD# 148366), a FINRA-registered brokerage firm, was sanctioned $1.5 million by FINRA to settle findings that the firm churned (excessively traded) customer accounts. The sanction includes a $350,000 fine and $1.2 million in restitution. According to a FINRA (the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) letter of Acceptance,…

Steven Luftschein (Steven Robert Luftschein CRD# 2690117) was recently barred from acting as a broker by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) following an investigation into allegations that Luftschein violated federal securities laws. Luftschein, who operated in the greater New York area, was registered with Aegis Capital Corp. from 2013-2016,…

Peter Girgis (Peter N. Girgis CRD: 4520444) is a registered broker currently employed with SW Financial (CRD#: 145012) of New York, NY. His previous employers include Worden Capital Management LLC (CRD#:148366) and Legend Securities, Inc. (CRD#:44952, expelled by FINRA, 04/17/2017), also of New York, NY, and Joseph Gunnar & Co.…

William Athes (William Nicholas Athes CRD#: 3165470) is a currently registered broker employed by SW Financial (CRD#: 145012 of Melville, NY.) His previous employers include Worden Capital Management LLC (CRD#:148366), also of Melville, K.C. Ward Financial (CRD#:145135) of Ronkonkoma, NY, and Securities America, Inc. (CRD#:10205) of Port Jefferson, NY. He…

Robert Buffington (CRD#:5220332) is a previously registered broker whose last employer was Aegis Capital Corp. (CRD# 15007) of New York, NY. Prior employers include Gunnallen Financial, Inc (CRD#:17609), Maxim Group LLC (CRD#:120708) and Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. (CRD#:79), all of New York. He has been in the industry since…

David Weisberg is a currently suspended broker who was last registered with Worden Capital Management LLC in New York, New York. Weisberg was suspended by FINRA for findings that he “engaged in excessive and unsuitable trading in the account of an elderly customer.” Before working at Worden Capital Management LLC…

One of the most common claims from unhappy investors is against stockbrokers who churn or excessively trade their account to generate commissions for themselves. Every dollar spent on fees, costs, or commissions is money that needs to be recovered through profit just for the investor to break even. The higher…

Demos Argyros (CRD#: 1325219), a currently-registered broker working for Oppenheimer & Co. (CRD# 249) in St. Louis, Missouri, is the subject of 5 disclosures on his FINRA BrokerCheck report. Argyros has been in the industry since 1985 and was previously registered at CIBC World Markets Corp. (CRD#: 630), Kemper Securities…

James Schwartz (CRD# 3043085) is a former registered broker whose last employer was Joseph Gunnar & Co. LLC (CRD#:24795) of New York, NY. Previous employers include First Standard Financial Company LLC (CRD#:168340) of Garden City, NY, and Aegis Capital Corp. (CRD#:15007) of Melville, NY.  He has been in the industry…

FINRA has alleged that in 2011 and 2012, Ami Forte engaged in unsuitable trading with the account of a client who was very near death. With this account, Forte generated more than $9 million in commissions in less than a year. In 2016, Forte was fired by Morgan Stanley after…