Stockbroker Misconduct

Silver Law Group Files FINRA Arbitration Claim Alleging Excessive use of Margin, High Commissions and Elder Financial Fraud on behalf of an Unsophisticated Retiree

February 7, 2018 | Silver Law Group

Silver Law Group, a law firm specializing in securities and investment fraud, has filed a securities arbitration claim with FINRA on behalf of an elderly investor alleging stockbroker misconduct and the unsuitable use of margin and excessive trading.

FINRA recently issued investor guidance highlighting “Purchasing on Margin, Risks Involved with Trading in a Margin Account.” FINRA describes the risks including the following:

You can lose more funds than you deposit in the margin account;

Silver Law Group Investigates Garden State Securities, Inc. Broker Jason Eric Zwibel for Potential Securities Violations

February 7, 2018 | Silver Law Group

Silver Law Group is investigating claims against Garden State Securities, Inc. (“Garden State”) broker Jason E. Zwibel (“Zwibel”) for possible unsuitable investment recommendations. Zwibel is currently employed by the Garden State office located in Wellington, Florida.

A recent customer dispute filed with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) against Zwibel alleges damages of $2,670,750.00 for unsuitable investments, negligence, and breach of fiduciary duty.

Registered brokers like Jason Zwibel are regulated by federal securities laws and FINRA rules and standards. The suitability of a particular investment is governed by FINRA Rules and require a broker to have “a reasonable basis to believe a recommended transaction or investment strategy involving a security or securities is suitable” based upon the investment profile of the customer meaning specifically: the customer’s age, other investments, financial situation and needs, tax status, investment objectives, investment experience, investment time horizon, liquidity needs, risk tolerance.

Silver Law Group is Investigating Claims Against Former Legend Equities Corp. Broker Walter J. Marino for Alleged Unsuitable Recommendations and Charging Excessive Commissions in Customer Accounts

February 7, 2018 | Silver Law Group

Silver Law Group is investigating former Legend Equities Corp. (“Legend”) broker Walter Joseph Marino (“Marino”) for allegations of unsuitable recommendations and charging excessive commissions and fees in customer accounts. Marino was employed by Legend’s Palm Beach Gardens, Florida office prior to his termination in July 2015.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) suspended Marino on 10/16/2017 for a 1-year period ending 10/15/2018 after Marino, without admitting or denying the findings, consented to FINRA’s findings that he had recommended unsuitable exchanges of variable annuity products to two customers without having a reasonable basis for recommending the transactions while at Legend Equities Corp. The transactions were found to benefit Marino and caused substantial harm to the customers.

In addition, in order to evade supervision, the complaint alleged that Marino lied to Legend about the source of the money used to purchase the new annuity. Instead of stating the new annuity was replacing another annuity, Marino stated on company documents that the purchases were paid for with a check.

TD Ameritrade and Sheaff Brock Investment Advisors, LLC

February 6, 2018 | Silver Law Group

Contact Us If You Have Lost Money Investing with Sheaff Brock Investment Advisors, LLC

Silver Law Group is investigating potential FINRA arbitration claims against TD Ameritrade on behalf of investors who suffered investment losses with Sheaff Brock in stock options as a result of investments managed by Sheaff Brock.

A class action alleges TD Ameritrade customers utilized the investment advisory services of Sheaff Brock through TD Ameritrade’s AdvisorDirect program and suffered significant losses in a risky put income options strategy.

Silver Law Group Announces Filing of FINRA Arbitration Claim on Behalf of Customers of Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Inc.

February 5, 2018 | Silver Law Group

Silver Law Group is investigating claims against Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Inc. for the sale of unsuitable investments.

Silver Law Group has filed a securities arbitration claim against Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Inc. (“Stifel”) alleging the customers suffered significant losses due to unsuitable investments and misrepresentation of fees and commissions. The allegations include unsuitable investments, breach of fiduciary duty, negligence, breach of contract and failure to supervise.

Stifel’s broker allegedly recommended unsuitable investments to conservative retired customers. The investment recommendations included concentrating the accounts in below investment-grade corporate bonds and Puerto Rico bonds. The broker would regularly make the recommendation to sell one bond to purchase another bond with a higher coupon without explaining to the customers that the higher coupon carried higher risk.

Silver Law Group is Investigating Claims Against RBC Capital Markets Broker Bruce Cameron for Unsuitable Investments in Oil and Gas Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs)

January 3, 2018 | Silver Law Group

Silver Law Group continues to investigate investments in oil, gas, and energy companies made by clients through master limited partnerships (“MLPs”) at the recommendation of their brokers. As a result of high oil prices over the past few years, there has been a heightened interest in investments in oil and gas using MLPs. Now with the drop in the price of oil and gas, investors who may have been looking for conservative investments without significant risk are facing substantial drops in their portfolios. Investors are further discovering that conflicts of interest between the investment bank, trading desk, and individual advisor influenced stockbroker’s recommendations.

These alternative investments in oil and gas typical take the form of Master Limited Partnerships (“MLPs”). These types of alternative investments have historically been extremely risky investments that demand a careful suitability analysis and due diligence by financial processionals before they are recommended to the public. More often than not, broker-dealers and brokers are enamored with these types of investments because they, like other alternative investments, also tend to pay high commissions.

In a recent Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) arbitration proceeding, RBC Capital Markets and its broker Bruce Cameron were ordered to pay a former client $723,000 for losses sustained from investing in MLPs. The claims included overconcentration in unsuitable investments (MLPs), negligence, and failure to supervise. Cameron was registered with the RBC Massachusetts office.

Jeffrey L. Mischel, Wells Fargo

October 19, 2017 | Silver Law Group

Jeffrey L. Mischel

CRD# 1374486

Silver Law Group is examining Carlsbad, California-based Wells Fargo broker Jeffrey L. Mischel after multiple clients filed FINRA complaints alleging misrepresentation relating to the purchase of Puerto Rico municipal bonds.

North Florida-based D.H. Hill Broker Charles Stevens and St. Johns Financial Planning Under Investigation

October 11, 2017 | Silver Law Group

Silver Law Group is investigating St. Augustine Florida-based D.H. Hill Securities, LLLP (CRD# 41528) broker Charles T. Stevens (CRD# 1698058) after FINRA sanctioned D.H. Hill Securities over misconduct concerning public non-traded REITs.

Charles Stevens and St. Johns Financial Planning

Stevens’ runs his own St. Augustine, Florida-based D.H. Hill Securities office under the moniker St. Johns Financial Planning. St. Johns Financial Planning and Stevens hold themselves out as an independent agency specializing in retirement and estate markets that has been in business in the St. Augustine, Florida area for the past twenty-five (25) years, according to Stevens’ and his firm’s website.

Greensboro, North Carolina-based Ameritas Investment Corp. Broker Alonza Barnett Under Investigation After FINRA Bar

October 10, 2017 | Silver Law Group

Silver Law Group is investigating Greensboro, North Carolina-based Ameritas Investment Corp. (CRD# 14869) broker Alonza Barnett Jr (CRD# 4577695) after FINRA barred him and a customer brought a complaint alleging $1.75 million in damages.

Barnett’s CRD Report

According to Barnett’s FINRA BrokerCheck report, FINRA barred Barnett in March 2017 after he failed to respond to a FINRA request for information. According to FINRA, Barnett failed to request termination of his suspension within three (3) months of the date of the Notice of Suspension.

Former South Florida-based Raymond James Broker Leon P. Rehak Under Investigation

October 10, 2017 | Silver Law Group

Silver Law Group is investigating former South Florida-based Raymond James & Associates, Inc. (CRD# 705) broker Leon P. Rehak (CRD# 2331058) after a customer brought a FINRA arbitration complaint alleging over half a million dollars in damages.

According to Rehak’s FINRA BrokerCheck report, a customer of Rehak filed a FINRA arbitration against him in November 2016 – a few weeks after he left Raymond James.

According to Rehak’s BrokerCheck report, Rehak, who is currently employed by LPL Financial LLC (CRD# 6413) at its Pompano Beach, Florida location, allegedly committed numerous types of securities misconduct between 2004 and 2011 in a customer’s accounts.