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Articles Posted in Churning

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Nicholas James Schiano (CRD# 4429212) a financial broker with 24 years of experience, was suspended from the securities industry by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) following allegations of excessive trading for two senior clients. Schiano had been associated with Spartan Capital Securities, LLC in New York City for the past eight years. According to FINRA’s disclosure report, Schiano’s trading activity generated unusually high turnover rates and cost-to-equity ratios that exceeded established industry benchmarks.   Between September 2017 and March 2022, he executed 102 transactions for one client (Customer A), which resulted in significant losses while generating $45,515 in commissions.  For another client (Customer B), he executed 31 transactions from October 2017 through December 2018, producing comparable losses and $30,510 in commissions.  This level of excessive trading is defined as churning – a practice where brokers excessively buy and sell securities to generate commissions for themselves, rather than prioritizing the client’s investment interests.Nicholas James Schiano (CRD# 4429212) a financial broker with 24 years of experience, was suspended from the securities industry by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) following allegations of excessive trading for two senior clients. Schiano had been associated with Spartan Capital Securities, LLC in New York City for the past eight years. Continue reading ›

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Joseph Jemel Steward (CRD# 3241331) a financial broker with 20 years of experience, has been suspended from the securities industry by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). The suspension followed allegations that he engaged in excessive and unsuitable trading that was not in the best interest of his customer. Steward most recently worked at PHX Financial, Inc. in Richmond Hill, New York, where he was employed for three years. According to FINRA disclosures, the customer routinely relied on Steward’s advice and followed his recommendations, giving Steward de facto control over the account.  His trading activity generated a high turnover rate and a cost-to-equity ratio exceeding accepted industry thresholds.Joseph Jemel Steward (CRD# 3241331) a financial broker with 20 years of experience, has been suspended from the securities industry by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). The suspension followed allegations that he engaged in excessive and unsuitable trading that was not in the best interest of his customer. Steward most recently worked at PHX Financial, Inc. in Richmond Hill, New York, where he was employed for three years. Continue reading ›

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Stewart Ginn (a/k/a Stewart Taylor or Paxton Ginn Jr.), who is the owner of Paxton Financial Services, has been a broker Independent Financial Group, LLC since 2015. In 2023 Ginn was suspended by FINRA after FINRA found that Ginn “excessively traded five customers’ accounts” even though “[n]one of the five customers was an aggressive investor” and “three of the customers were retired seniors,” resulting in millions of dollars in losses. According to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), such misconduct violated FINRA Rules and Regulation Best Interest. As a result, Ginn was suspended from acting as a FINRA broker for 18 months, was fined $50,000, and was ordered to pay restitution of $115,000 plus interest.Stewart Ginn (a/k/a Stewart Taylor or Paxton Ginn Jr.), who is the owner of Paxton Financial Services, has been a broker Independent Financial Group, LLC since 2015. In 2023 Ginn was suspended by FINRA after FINRA found that Ginn “excessively traded five customers’ accounts” even though “[n]one of the five customers was an aggressive investor” and “three of the customers were retired seniors,” resulting in millions of dollars in losses. Continue reading ›

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San Diego, CA-based Independent Financial Group, LLC has been fined and censured by the SEC after the firm failed to establish and follow a supervisory system for supervising the firm's brokers when handling customer accounts. This failure occurred between July 2020 and December 2022 and included noncompliance with Registration Best Interest and other requirements. During the same time frame, IFG failed to supervise one broker that churned, or excessively traded, five customer accounts and violated FINRA Rules 3110 and 2010. From September 2022 through April 2024, IFG also made “late and incomplete responses” to a FINRA Rule 8210 request violating FINRA Rules 8210 and 2010.San Diego, CA-based Independent Financial Group, LLC has been fined and censured by the SEC after the firm failed to establish and follow a supervisory system for supervising the firm’s brokers when handling customer accounts. This failure occurred between July 2020 and December 2022 and included noncompliance with Registration Best Interest and other requirements. Continue reading ›

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Minnesota-based broker-dealer Principal Securities has been sued by a local nonprofit over allegations of churning in variable annuities by one of its former registered representatives. The company disclosed this information in its recently filed annual focus report with the SEC. Principal Securities is also the subject of a separate FINRA arbitration claim based on the actions of the same representative. The plaintiff in this case is the Legacy of Angels Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit and private family foundation with the mission, “To improve the lives of children by working to promote the expansion of newborn screening, and to further education, awareness, and research for Krabbe disease and Cystic Fibrosis to provide a better treatment and a cure.”  In June 2023, the nonprofit became known as the Rosenau Family Research Foundation.   In the lawsuit, the plaintiff alleges that Principal Securities made unsuitable recommendations, failed to supervise, and forfeiture of fees and commissions collected by the representative. The representative was not named in the report. The company expects losses in this case to be between $3 million and $5 million. The report was filed with the SEC on February 28, 2024.Minnesota-based broker-dealer Principal Securities has been sued by a local nonprofit over allegations of churning in variable annuities by one of its former registered representatives. The company disclosed this information in its recently filed annual focus report with the SEC. Principal Securities is also the subject of a separate FINRA arbitration claim based on the actions of the same representative. Continue reading ›

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Stewart Ginn (CRD# 4503197, aka “Stewart Taylor,” “Paxton Ginn Jr”) is a registered broker currently employed with Independent Financial Group, LLC (CRD# 7717) of Santa Maria, CA. His previous employers include Navian Capital Securities LLC (CRD#:145037) of Cincinnati, OH, Newbridge Securities Corporation (CRD# 104065) of New York, NY, and Chicago Investment Group, LLC (CRD# 11853, expelled by FINRA on 09/14/2010) of Chicago, IL. He has been in the industry since 2002. During his employment and registration with Independent Financial Group (IFG), FINRA alleges that Ginn churned and over-traded five accounts he acquired in 2019 following the sudden death of a fellow IFG broker. After buying the broker’s book of business, he became the registered representative of record for those customers, including the five involved in the disciplinary action.Stewart Ginn (CRD# 4503197, aka “Stewart Taylor,” “Paxton Ginn Jr”) is a registered broker currently employed with Independent Financial Group, LLC (CRD# 7717) of Santa Maria, CA. His previous employers include Navian Capital Securities LLC (CRD#:145037) of Cincinnati, OH, Newbridge Securities Corporation (CRD# 104065) of New York, NY, and Chicago Investment Group, LLC (CRD# 11853, expelled by FINRA on 09/14/2010) of Chicago, IL. He has been in the industry since 2002. Continue reading ›

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Most investors believe that their brokers will trade on their behalf with their best interests in mind. In fact, they’re required to in accordance with Regulation Best Interest, or Reg BI. In a nutshell, brokers must always use the investor’s best interest as their benchmark before making any recommendation. This includes vetting an investment and completing due diligence following their broker-dealer’s recommendations. Unfortunately, not every broker follows that rule, nor any other rule, resulting in losses for the investor. One method is when a broker continually trades in an investor’s account, but the investor sees no reasonable gains. Sometimes, the excess trading is done on margin, leading to additional charges and risks. The investor loses money and pays increasing amounts of commissions, fees, and other expenses. This process is known as churning. Churning DefinitionMost investors believe that their brokers will trade on their behalf with their best interests in mind. In fact, they’re required to in accordance with Regulation Best Interest, or Reg BI. In a nutshell, brokers must always use the investor’s best interest as their benchmark before making any recommendation. This includes vetting an investment and completing due diligence following their broker-dealer’s recommendations. Continue reading ›

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Christopher Polinaire (Christopher Edward Polinaire CRD# 4330879) is a previously-registered broker whose last employer was Network 1 Financial Securities Inc. (CRD#:13577) of Hauppage, NY. His prior employers include Arive Capital Markets (CRD#:8060) of Ronkonkoma, NY, First Standard Financial Company, LLC (CRD#:168340) of Garden City, NY, and Rockwell Global Capital LLC (CRD#:142485) of Melville, NY. He has been in the industry since 2004. Following a 2020 cause exam by FINRA of Arive Capital Markets, it was found that Polinaire “excessively and unsuitably” traded in three customer accounts. These customers were senior investors, all over the age of 65.Christopher Polinaire (Christopher Edward Polinaire CRD# 4330879) is a previously-registered broker whose last employer was Network 1 Financial Securities Inc. (CRD#:13577) of Hauppage, NY. His prior employers include Arive Capital Markets (CRD#:8060) of Ronkonkoma, NY, First Standard Financial Company, LLC (CRD#:168340) of Garden City, NY, and Rockwell Global Capital LLC (CRD#:142485) of Melville, NY. He has been in the industry since 2004. Continue reading ›

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Efthimios George Petrou (CRD# 2672840) is a registered broker last employed with Arive Capital Markets (CRD#:8060) of Ronkonkoma, NY. He was also employed by J.P. Turner & Company, L.L.C. (CRD#:43177) of Middle Island, NY, Investec Ernst & Company (CRD#:266) of New York, NY, and Royce Investment Group, Inc. (CRD#:10494) of Woodbury, NY. He has been in the industry since 1995. Following FINRA’s 2019 cycle exam of Arive Capital Markets, it was discovered that Petrou had engaged in excessive trading for a retired client. He was a 67 year old pharmacist who had a limited understanding of the stock market. From January 2017 through October 2018, while employed with Arive, Petrou engaged in excessive trading which included the use of margins. Petrou recommended to his customer a total of 73 trades, all placed on margin. The total of all the trades meant that this customer paid $88,348.13 for commission and trade costs $7,958.52 for margin interest, totaling $96,306.65. This cost-to-ratio was 86%, indicating that the customer’s account would have to increase by 86% to break even. Petrou’s unsuitable recommendations led to the customer losing approximately $17,000 by following his advice.Efthimios George Petrou (CRD# 2672840) is a registered broker last employed with Arive Capital Markets (CRD#:8060) of Ronkonkoma, NY. He was also employed by J.P. Turner & Company, L.L.C. (CRD#:43177) of Middle Island, NY, Investec Ernst & Company (CRD#:266) of New York, NY, and Royce Investment Group, Inc. (CRD#:10494) of Woodbury, NY. He has been in the industry since 1995. Continue reading ›

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