Articles Posted in Stockbroker Misconduct

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…

According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for May 2020, the following individuals were suspended from FINRA for failing to comply with a FINRA arbitration award or settlement agreement pursuant to FINRA rules: NAME FORMER EMPLOYERS   Thomas Bock   Mutual Securities, Inc.   Securities America, Inc.   Richard Brown   Arive…

According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for May 2020, the following individuals were barred from FINRA and cannot currently work for a FINRA brokerage firm for failing to provide FINRA with information it requested or to keep information current with FINRA pursuant to FINRA rules: NAME FORMER EMPLOYERS   George Belesis…

According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for May 2020, the following individuals were suspended from FINRA and cannot currently work for a FINRA brokerage firm for failing to provide FINRA with information it requested or to keep information current with FINRA pursuant to FINRA rules. However, these individuals remain bound by…

Investors whose brokers or financial advisors recommended that they invest in Steepener Notes (a/k/a “Steepeners”) may have incurred losses due to the risky and complex nature of these products. Steepeners, which are tied to U.S. treasury interest rates, have left investors stuck in illiquid investments while receiving little to none…

Silver Law Group is currently investigating broker-dealer firms and financial advisors that improperly marketed and sold Steepener Notes, which are non-traditional, long-term, illiquid, and highly complex products that many brokerage firms have been selling to unsuspecting clients over the past decade. Steepener Notes are structured products that pay a regular…

Bryon Martinsen (Bryon Edwin Martinsen CRD# 1621649) is a currently registered broker and investment advisor employed with Centaurus Financial, Inc. (CRD #30833) of Kings Park, NY. Martinsen previously worked for AXA Advisors, LLC and The Equitable Life Assurance Society Of The United States, in New York, NY.  He has worked…

Jaime Westenbarger (Jaime Michael Westenbarger CRD# 4625703) is a currently barred broker who was last registered with Securities America, Inc. (CRD# 10205) in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Before Securities America, Westenbarger was registered with First Allied Securities, Inc. (CRD# 32444), American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc. (CRD# 18487), Invest Financial Corporation (CRD#…

Stockbrokers should not borrow money from their clients. That’s according to FINRA Rule 3240, which states that unless the stockbroker is an immediate family member or their firm has specific written procedures about borrowing and lending, then borrowing from a customer constitutes a violation. Silver Law Group helps investors recover…

Timothy Johnson (Timothy Edward Johnson, Jr. CRD #5701828) is a former registered broker and investment advisor whose last employer was MML Investors Services, LLC (CRD# 10409) of Lawrenceville, GA. Previous employers include Suntrust Investment Services, Inc. (CRD# 17499) of Atlanta, GA, and PNC Investments (CRD#:129052) of Suwanee, GA. He has…