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Silver Law Group is investigating banks and brokerage firms for failing to provide competitive interest rates to its customers in this high-interest-rate environment. When customers open accounts, certain firms enroll accountholders in Bank Sweep Programs, which may incur significant expenses for customers while benefiting the banks.  If you believe you've been affected by unfairly low interest rates, contact Silver Law Group at (800) 975-4345 or email ssilver@silverlaw.com. What Are Banks And Brokerage Firms Doing Wrong? Several class actions have been filed against financial institutions regarding their "Cash Sweep Programs." When customers open accounts, the firms allegedly automatically enroll customers in cash sweep programs that "sweep" uninvested cash balances into interest-bearing bank accounts chosen by the banks.Silver Law Group is investigating banks and brokerage firms for failing to provide competitive interest rates to its customers in this high-interest-rate environment. When customers open accounts, certain firms enroll accountholders in Bank Sweep Programs, which may incur significant expenses for customers while benefiting the banks.  If you believe you’ve been affected by unfairly low interest rates, contact Silver Law Group at (800) 975-4345 or email ssilver@silverlaw.com. Continue reading ›

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Eugene Thompson (Eugene Cebron Thompson IV CRD# 4350479, aka Bron Thompson, EC Thompson IV) is a registered broker and investment advisor currently employed with Capital Investment Group, Inc. (CRD# 14752) of Dunn, NC. He was previously employed with Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC (CRD# 19616) of Wilmington, NC, as both a broker and investment advisor. He has been in the industry since 2001. Thompson has five disclosures on his CRD, four of which stem from client investments in GWG Holdings L-Bonds. Two were filed on 2/29/2024, and are currently pending: Client requests damages of $200,000, alleging violation of Regulation Best Interest, including breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, negligence, negligent representation, and failure to supervise. Client requests damages of $ $336,002.44, alleging violations of the NC Securities Act, as well as unfair or deceptive trade practices, fraudulent representation and breach of fiduciary duty.Eugene Thompson (Eugene Cebron Thompson IV CRD# 4350479, aka Bron Thompson, EC Thompson IV) is a registered broker and investment advisor currently employed with Capital Investment Group, Inc. (CRD# 14752) of Dunn, NC. He was previously employed with Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC (CRD# 19616) of Wilmington, NC, as both a broker and investment advisor. He has been in the industry since 2001. Continue reading ›

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Patrick Mendenhall (Patrick Michael Mendenhall CRD# 1068809) is a registered broker and investment advisor currently registered with USCA Securities LLC (CRD# 103789) of Houston, TX. His previous employers include USCA RIA LLC (CRD# 152170) and UBS Financial Services Inc. (CRD# 8174), also of Houston, and Smith Barney, Harris Upham & Co., Incorporated (CRD# 7059), of New York, NY. He has been in the industry since 1982. Mendenhall’s CRD has four disclosures, the earliest one dating back to 2000. The most recent was filed on 1/12/2024, alleging that Mendenhall “missed” several opportunities with a particular investment, leading to losses.  According to Mendenhall’s securities license report, the client has a 30-year business relationship with Mendenhall, has “decades of experience recruiting for the financial services industry,” a $20 million net worth, and is also a sophisticated and experienced investor. The client requests damages of $5,000,000; the claim is currently “pending.”Patrick Mendenhall (Patrick Michael Mendenhall CRD# 1068809) is a registered broker and investment advisor currently registered with USCA Securities LLC (CRD# 103789) of Houston, TX. His previous employers include USCA RIA LLC (CRD# 152170) and UBS Financial Services Inc. (CRD# 8174), also of Houston, and Smith Barney, Harris Upham & Co., Incorporated (CRD# 7059), of New York, NY. He has been in the industry since 1982. Continue reading ›

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Silver Law Group, a nationally-recognized class action law firm representing shareholders, is investigating Sculptor Capital Management (SCU) regarding its sale to Rithm Capital Corp and potential breach of fiduciary duty claims against the board of directors of Sculptor. If you own shares of Sculptor Capital Management (SCU), Silver Law Group would like to hear from you. Contact us today for a consultation at 800-975-4345. Sculptor Capital Corp (SCU) Agrees To Acquisition By Rithm Capital In July, 2023 Sculptor Capital Management and Rithm Capital Corp announced that they had reached an agreement in principle for Rithm to acquire Sculptor Capital. The merger is expected to pay Sculptor Capital $11.15 cash for each Class A share of the company.Silver Law Group, a nationally-recognized class action law firm representing shareholders, is investigating Sculptor Capital Management (SCU) regarding its sale to Rithm Capital Corp and potential breach of fiduciary duty claims against the board of directors of Sculptor.

If you own shares of Sculptor Capital Management (SCU), Silver Law Group would like to hear from you. Contact us today for a consultation at 800-975-4345. Continue reading ›

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Michael Raineri (Michael Patrick Raineri CRD# 4817558) is a former broker and investment advisor whose last employer was Securities America, Inc. (CRD# 10205) of Seattle, WA. His previous employers were KMS Financial Services, Inc. (CRD# 3866), Cetera Advisors LLC (CRD# 10299) and Pacific West Securities, Inc. (CRD# 6390), all of Seattle. He has been in the industry since 2006. On 1/31/2023, a customer filed a dispute claiming that Raineri transferred $135,000 into his own personal account without the customer’s consent. This claim is currently listed as “pending.” Securities America Inc. (SAI) discharged Raineri on 4/6/2023, with the reasons for termination as: “The Financial Professional failed to follow firm policies, including being named as POA for customers' bank accounts and engaging in financial transactions with a customer for payment processing for personal services customer received from third parties without prior request or approval by the Firm.” Michael Raineri (Michael Patrick Raineri CRD# 4817558) is a former broker and investment advisor whose last employer was Securities America, Inc. (CRD# 10205) of Seattle, WA. His previous employers were KMS Financial Services, Inc. (CRD# 3866), Cetera Advisors LLC (CRD# 10299) and Pacific West Securities, Inc. (CRD# 6390), all of Seattle. He has been in the industry since 2006. Continue reading ›

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Silver Law Group’s managing partner Scott Silver has recently been awarded the designation of an America’s 100 High Stakes Litigator for the Southern Florida region. Every year, America’s Top 100 recognizes 100 attorneys in each state and highlighting their accomplishments. Using a proprietary selection methodology, along with specific criteria, the organization seeks out attorneys throughout the US for their exceptional work in their chosen field of law. A high-stakes litigator is one who has: Litigated a case worth at least $2M, either for a plaintiff or a defendant, or Litigated a case involving a business with an outcome worth at least $2M The attorney is initially nominated by a peer or through third-party research and is by invitation-only. Once selected, the candidates are vetted through the organization’s criteria and algorithms to determine their eligibility. Additional criteria include:Silver Law Group’s managing partner Scott Silver has recently been awarded the designation of an America’s 100 High Stakes Litigator for the Southern Florida region.

Every year, America’s Top 100 recognizes 100 attorneys in each state and highlighting their accomplishments. Using a proprietary selection methodology, along with specific criteria, the organization seeks out attorneys throughout the US for their exceptional work in their chosen field of law. Continue reading ›

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According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for December 2021, 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
  William Friedman   Pinnacle Investments, LLC
  Woodstock Financial Group, Inc.
  Johnnie Jones   Network 1 Financial Securities Inc.
  National Securities Corporation
  Toni Marshall   J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
  Dominic Scalzi   Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
  Banc of America Investment Services, Inc.
  Rosemary Vrablic   Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
  Banc of America Investment Services, Inc.

Continue reading ›

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Cynthia Komarek & Grant Birkley, two brokers formerly registered with SagePoint Financial of Barrington, IL, were terminated on the same day after the firm discovered that they were engaged in making referrals to an outside asset manager who was not approved by the board. Cynthia Komarek (CRD#: 1188714, aka (Cynthia Ann Brown, Cynthia Brown-Komarek, Cynthia Brown Komarek, Cynthia Brown Pearson) is a former registered broker and investment advisor last employed with SagePoint. Her previous employers include Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC (CRD#:19616) of Woodstock, IL., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (CRD#:7691) of Crystal Lake, IL., and Lehman Brothers Inc. (CRD#:7506), of New York, NY. She has been in the industry since 1983. Grant Birkley (Grant Christopher Birkley CRD#: 2933533) is also formerly registered with SagePoint, Wells Fargo, and Merrill Lynch at the same time as Komarek. He has been in the industry since 1998.  Two client disputes were filed on the same day for both Komarek and Birkley. In Komarek’s case, they total $2,330,000:Cynthia Komarek & Grant Birkley, two brokers formerly registered with SagePoint Financial of Barrington, IL, were terminated on the same day after the firm discovered that they were engaged in making referrals to an outside asset manager who was not approved by the board. Continue reading ›

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The Wall Street Journal reported that Fidelity Investments is the subject of a Labor Department probe and a lawsuit by an investor in a T-Mobile 401(k) plan, regarding the disclosure of an “infrastructure fee” it charges mutual funds for using their FundsNetwork asset management platform.The Wall Street Journal reported that Fidelity Investments is the subject of a Labor Department probe and a lawsuit by an investor in a T-Mobile 401(k) plan, regarding the disclosure of an “infrastructure fee” it charges mutual funds for using their FundsNetwork asset management platform.

The lawsuit claims that Fidelity conceals the fee, while Fidelity says it fully discloses all fees it charges. Continue reading ›

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FINRA Reports Brokers Nas Adel Allan and Gregory Anastos Made Unsuitable Recommendations on elderfinancialfraudattorneys.comSilver Law Group represented the Claimant in a FINRA arbitration claim against Texas E&P Partner, Inc. and Mark Plummer.  Scott Silver, managing partner of Silver Law Group, a leading securities and investment fraud law firm, said “the Award is significant because we have seen a rise in cases involving private placements and alternative investments and we are grateful that the FINRA Panel recognized the damage caused by Respondent.

The securities arbitration claim alleged that Respondents sold a Reg D private placement to the Claimant without disclosing all of the risks and the investment was unsuitable.  The FINRA Statement of Claim further alleged that the Respondents charged excess commissions or markups.  Significantly, the FINRA Arbitration Panel found that Respondents are jointly and severally liable for and shall pay to Claimant the sum of $1,000,000.00 in punitive damages pursuant to Mastrobuono v. Shearson Lehman Hutton, Inc., 514 U.S. 52, 64 (1995).

If you’ve lost money investing in unsuitable private placements or Reg “D” offerings, you may be able to recover your investment losses. We take cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover. Please contact Scott Silver of the Silver Law Group for a free consultation at ssilver@silverlaw.com or toll free at (800) 975-4345.

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