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Articles Posted in Unsuitable Investment Advice

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Former NEXT Financial Group broker Charles Kulch (Charles Chester Kulch CRD# 2371584) is the subject of four pending customer disputes, as well as five settled disputes, according to his FINRA record. Kulch was previously registered with NEXT Financial Group, Inc. in Nashua, New Hampshire from 2006 until he left the brokerage industry in 2020. According to Kulch’s CRD Report, he was also operating Kulch Associates Inc., a tax preparation service, and Kulch Insurance Group LLC.Former NEXT Financial Group broker Charles Kulch (Charles Chester Kulch CRD# 2371584) is the subject of four pending customer disputes, as well as five settled disputes, according to his FINRA record. Kulch was previously registered with NEXT Financial Group, Inc. in Nashua, New Hampshire from 2006 until he left the brokerage industry in 2020. According to Kulch’s CRD Report, he was also operating Kulch Associates Inc., a tax preparation service, and Kulch Insurance Group LLC. Continue reading ›

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Thomas Fross (Thomas Michael Fross CRD:# 4509874) is a registered broker and investment advisor currently employed with LPL Financial of The Villages, FL. He was previously employed with Securities America, Inc. (CRD#:10205), also of The Villages. He has been in the industry since 2002. Fross is currently the subject of a pending dispute over the sale of a client’s securities, filed on 6/10/2020. In it, the client claims that Fross failed to follow instructions in regards to “unsuitable portfolio changes” from 3/26/20 TO 8/21/20. The client requests damages in the amount of $119,716.05. Fross responds that he denies all allegations, that he discussed everything with the customer, and the changes were made in order to move into more conservative investments.Thomas Fross (Thomas Michael Fross CRD:# 4509874) is a registered broker and investment advisor currently employed with LPL Financial of The Villages, FL. He was previously employed with Securities America, Inc. (CRD#:10205), also of The Villages. He has been in the industry since 2002. Continue reading ›

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Kevin Schaefer (Kevin Joseph Schaefer CRD:# 1286030) is a registered broker and investment advisor currently employed with Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC (CRD#: 19616) of San Francisco, CA. His previous employers include Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (CRD#:149777) and UBS Financial Services Inc. (CRD#:8174), both of San Francisco, and Smith Barney Shearson Inc. (CRD#:7059) of New York, NY. He has been in the industry since 1984. Schaefer is the subject of two currently pending disputes. The first, filed on 6/12/2020, alleges “unsuitable investment recommendations and misrepresentations.” The client requests damages of $1,000,000. The second, filed on 6/4/2020, alleges “unsuitable investment recommendations, failure to follow instructions and misrepresentations from 2012 until 2020.”  The client requests damages of $300,000.Kevin Schaefer (Kevin Joseph Schaefer CRD:# 1286030) is a registered broker and investment advisor currently employed with Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC (CRD#: 19616) of San Francisco, CA. His previous employers include Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (CRD#:149777) and UBS Financial Services Inc. (CRD#:8174), both of San Francisco, and Smith Barney Shearson Inc. (CRD#:7059) of New York, NY. He has been in the industry since 1984. Continue reading ›

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Gregory Williams (Gregory Jon Williams CRD#: 1561089) is a previously registered broker and investment advisor whose last known employer was Forta Financial Group, Inc. (CRD#:28784) of Greenwood Village, CO. His previous employers include Morgan Stanley Smith Barney (CRD#:149777) and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (CRD#:7059) of Denver, CO, and Banc One Securities Corporation (CRD#:16999) of Chicago, IL. He has been in the industry since 1986. Williams is currently the subject of four pending customer disputes with nearly identical allegations of unsuitability, misrepresentation, and negligence. The claims were filed between 3/31/2020 and 10/26/2020. The collective requested damages total $1,349,000. In two of the four claims, the firm denies the claims and will defend themselves. A previous customer dispute filed on 3/29/2020 involving multiple claimants also included allegations of unsuitability, negligence, fraud, and misrepresentation. This case went into FINRA arbitration. Although the six claimants requested damages of $578,821.00, ultimately, only two of the claimants were awarded anything, damages totaling $45,818.00. The other four claimants were denied damages.

Gregory Williams (Gregory Jon Williams, CRD# 1561089) is a previously registered broker and investment advisor whose last known employer was Forta Financial Group, Inc. (CRD#:28784) of Greenwood Village, CO. His previous employers include Morgan Stanley Smith Barney (CRD#:149777) and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (CRD#:7059) of Denver, CO, and Banc One Securities Corporation (CRD#:16999) of Chicago, IL. He has been in the industry since 1986. Continue reading ›

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David Bibo (David Omori Bibo CRD#: 2602436) is a registered broker currently employed with WESTERN INTERNATIONAL SECURITIES, INC. (CRD#: 39262) of San Jose, CA. He was previously employed with Myclearing.Com (CRD#:104161) and Interfirst Capital Corporation (CRD#:7659), both of Los Angeles, and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (CRD#:7691) of New York, NY. He has been in the industry since 1995. Bibo is the subject of two currently pending customer disputes regarding unsuitable recommendations. The first, filed on 12/18/2019, requests damages in the amount of $1,500,000. The second, filed on 9/22/2020, requests $300,000 in damages. Two previous filed on 5/15/2019 with concerns over “reasonableness of investment” requested $50,000 each. These claims were both denied.David Bibo (David Omori Bibo CRD#: 2602436) is a registered broker currently employed with WESTERN INTERNATIONAL SECURITIES, INC. (CRD#: 39262) of San Jose, CA. He was previously employed with Myclearing.Com (CRD#:104161) and Interfirst Capital Corporation (CRD#:7659), both of Los Angeles, and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (CRD#:7691) of New York, NY. He has been in the industry since 1995. Continue reading ›

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Wayne Miller (Wayne Ivan Miller CRD#: 4813645) is a registered broker and previously registered investment advisor currently employed with Aeon Capital Inc. (CRD#: 164004) of Scottsdale, AZ. His previous employers include American Asset Advisory, LLC (CRD#:168444), Accelerated Capital Group (CRD#:41270, expelled by FINRA on 11/26/2019) and Longview Financial Group, Inc. (CRD#:38286), also of Scottsdale. He has been in the industry since 2004. Wayne Miller Disclosures Miller is the subject of eight disclosures, seven of which are related to his tenure at the now-defunct  Accelerated Capital Group. He was named in these disputes due to being named “owner and control person” while at ACG until he left on 2/2/2018. Miller left the firm more than a year before the firm was expelled by FINRA for misleading advertising and failing to establish and maintain a supervisory system. Before its expulsion, the firm was subjected to censures and fines for misconduct. The most recent was filed on 9/25/2020, and alleged “unsuitable placements of alternative investments,” with requested damages of $13,204,427.00. Miller was not the broker of record, and denies the allegations. This claim is pending.Wayne Miller (Wayne Ivan Miller CRD#: 4813645) is a registered broker and previously registered investment advisor currently employed with Aeon Capital Inc. (CRD#: 164004) of Scottsdale, AZ. His previous employers include American Asset Advisory, LLC (CRD#:168444), Accelerated Capital Group (CRD#:41270, expelled by FINRA on 11/26/2019) and Longview Financial Group, Inc. (CRD#:38286), also of Scottsdale. He has been in the industry since 2004. Continue reading ›

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Keith Simmons (Keith Frederick Simmons CRD: #730619) is a broker and investment advisor with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (CRD#:7691) of Miami, FL. He has been with Merrill Lynch since 1981, and is registered in 30 states. Simmons is the subject of a customer dispute filed on 5/29/2020 by a client who alleges “unsuitable investment recommendations.”  The client requests damages of $8,000,000. No additional information is available. The dispute is currently listed as “pending.” A previous customer dispute filed on 12/2/2009 alleges “misrepresentation regarding the liquidity and risk of auction rate securities in June 2008.”  This case involved the sale of auction rate securities.  Merrill Lynch settled for $300,000, the cost of repurchasing these securities. The case was settled to avoid the continued cost and uncertainty of litigation. Simmons took no part in the settlement. A customer dispute filed on 10/17/1997 alleged that Simmons “oversold” a client’s shares without authorization. The client requested reinstatement of the shares, worth $9,000. Merrill Lynch settled the matter for $9,000 to avoid litigation.Keith Simmons (Keith Frederick Simmons CRD: #730619) is a broker and investment advisor with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (CRD#:7691) of Miami, FL. He has been with Merrill Lynch since 1981, and is registered in 30 states. Continue reading ›

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Christ Baltas (Christ Elias Baltas CRD: 2570499) is a former registered broker whose last known employer was Worden Capital Management LLC (CRD#:148366) of Melville, NY. His previous employers include Wilmington Capital Securities, LLC (CRD#:133839) also of Melville, Kovack Securities Inc. (CRD#:44848) of Fort Lauderdale FL, and Quest Capital Strategies, Inc. (CRD#:16783) of Laguna Hills, CA. He has been in the industry since 1995. In August of 2020, FINRA sent Baltas a notice to appear for on-the-record testimony in relation to its investigation of his supervision of a registered representative. This representative had made trading recommendations that were potentially unsuitable while Baltas was a supervisor. Although Baltas acknowledged receipt of FINRA's notice, he notified staff that he would not be appearing for testimony at any time.Christ Baltas (Christ Elias Baltas CRD: 2570499) is a former registered broker whose last known employer was Worden Capital Management LLC (CRD#:148366) of Melville, NY. His previous employers include Wilmington Capital Securities, LLC (CRD#:133839) also of Melville, Kovack Securities Inc. (CRD#:44848) of Fort Lauderdale FL, and Quest Capital Strategies, Inc. (CRD#:16783) of Laguna Hills, CA. He has been in the industry since 1995. Continue reading ›

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On behalf of investors, Silver Law Group is investigating junk bonds offered by now-bankrupt Hornbeck Offshore Services. Hornbeck Offshore bonds were sold to clients when they held a D rating by Standard and Poor’s, the lowest rating possible. About Hornbeck Offshore Services Hornbeck Offshore Services calls itself a “leading provider of marine transportation services to exploration and production, oilfield service, offshore construction and military customers.” After struggling with low oil prices and significant debt, including debt sold to investors as bonds, Hornbeck filed for bankruptcy. In September, 2020 Hornbeck announced that it had emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy and completed a reorganization as a private company with a new board of directors. Investors in Hornbeck bonds lost their money.  On behalf of investors, Silver Law Group is investigating junk bonds offered by now-bankrupt Hornbeck Offshore Services. Hornbeck Offshore bonds were sold to clients when they held a D rating by Standard and Poor’s, the lowest rating possible.

About Hornbeck Offshore Services

Hornbeck Offshore Services calls itself a “leading provider of marine transportation services to exploration and production, oilfield service, offshore construction and military customers.” Continue reading ›

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William Friedman (William Sidney Friedman CRD#: 2475502) is a former registered broker and investment advisor whose last known employer was Pinnacle Investments, LLC (CRD#:142910) of Boca Raton, FL. His previous employers include Woodstock Financial Group, Inc. (CRD#:38095), Newbridge Securities Corporation (CRD#:104065), and Brookstreet Securities Corporation (CRD#:14667), all of Boca Raton. He has been in the industry since 1994. Friedman is the subject of four disclosures, two of which are customer disputes. The most recent client dispute was filed on 11/20/2015, alleging that Friedman “pursued an inappropriate equity trading strategy which resulted in losses on the account. Client also indicated the rep exercised discretion over the account, breached his fiduciary responsibilities and suitability obligations.” The client requested damages of $50,000, and the firm settled the claim for $10,000. An additional note indicates that the original written complaint was denied earlier in the year, and became an arbitration case.William Friedman (William Sidney Friedman CRD#: 2475502) is a former registered broker and investment advisor whose last known employer was Pinnacle Investments, LLC (CRD#:142910) of Boca Raton, FL. His previous employers include Woodstock Financial Group, Inc. (CRD#:38095), Newbridge Securities Corporation (CRD#:104065), and Brookstreet Securities Corporation (CRD#:14667), all of Boca Raton. He has been in the industry since 1994. Continue reading ›

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