SEC Investor Tips

Investor Beware: Does Your Broker Have Access to Your Online Trading Account?

March 22, 2016 | Silver Law Group

Investor Beware: Does Your Broker Have Access to Your Online Trading Account? on silverlaw.com

California broker, Angelo Talebi, finds himself in hot water with his firm and FINRA, as well as his clients.

Does your broker have your username and password for your online trading account? If so, does his current employer know that he does? If not, it could spell trouble for everyone involved.

Take into account Royal Alliance Associated, Inc. broker Angel Talebi out of California according to FINRA records, or about December 2013, Talebi’s customer from Royal Alliance Associates, Inc. moved his accounts with Royal to another FINRA member firm that provided online trading. Without informing Royal, Talebi used the customer’s login credentials to execute transactions through the customer’s other FINRA member firm.

Boca Raton Oppenheimer Employees Settle SEC Investigation

August 11, 2015 | Silver Law Group

Each faces a one-year suspension for alleged unregistered sale of penny stocks

On Thursday, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced settlements in the cases of three Oppenheimer & Co. employees in Boca Raton, Florida. Scott A. Eisler, Arthur M. Lewis and Robert Okin allegedly were involved in the unregistered sale of more than 2.5 billion shares of penny stocks for a customer in 2009 and 2010.

The investigation alleges that Eisler should have conducted an inquiry into the customer’s trading activity, as it raised red flags that could point to illegal activity. According to the SEC, the proceeds from these transactions amounted to about $12 million, with Oppenheimer making more than $588,000 in commissions.

Investors Beware: SEC Warns of Financial Professionals Making False Claims

July 23, 2015 | Silver Law Group

Tips on how how to be alert so you do not fall victim to an investment scheme.

The old adage “don’t believe everything you hear or read” rings true in the case of a recent Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) Investor Alert. This particular alert warns investors about financial professionals that may misrepresent their backgrounds and professional experience to lure investors into investment schemes.

Fraudulent Information Abounds

Securities Industry Watchdog Issues Investor Tips For Variable Annuities

March 4, 2014 | Silver Law Group

Be prepared, the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) warns investors, “to ask your insurance agent, broker, financial planner, or other financial professional lots of questions about whether a variable annuity is right for you.“ Investor education is the key to making informed investment decisions, but what questions should be asked? Investors must rely on their advisors because the variable annuity prospectus, frequently 100-plus pages, or more, is convoluted and not easily understood by the Average investor. The SEC recently issued an Investor Tip: Variable Annuities, What You Should Know publication to provide direction for investors.

Variable annuity contracts are considered by many investors complex which leads to their reliance upon the financial advisor who recommends the investment. The terms of the contract which investors should be familiar include:

surrender period;