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You may have heard the term “churning” in discussions of investments and securities. But you probably won’t know what it means unless you’ve actually experienced it. (Hint: it has nothing to do with butter.)“Churning” is when a broker and/or firm conducted extra trading in your account for the sole purpose of earning additional commissions from the transactions. If you’ve ever looked at an account statement and thought, “that’s quite a lot of broker commissions,” it could mean that your account has been churned.Cetera Advisor Networks will be paying about $1.4 million in fines and restitution related to a former broker who made multiple short-term mutual fund purchases. The broker received sales awards in 2013 and 2014 from the firm. FINRA fined Cetera $700,000, and ordered the firm to pay $691,800 in customer restitution.You may have heard the term “churning” in discussions of investments and securities. But you probably won’t know what it means unless you’ve actually experienced it. (Hint: it has nothing to do with butter.)

“Churning” is when a broker and/or firm conducted extra trading in your account for the sole purpose of earning additional commissions from the transactions. If you’ve ever looked at an account statement and thought, “that’s quite a lot of broker commissions,” it could mean that your account has been churned. Continue reading ›

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Back in August, we told you about Bradley Joseph Tennison (CRD#: 156988), who was barred by FINRA after his discharge from Genos Wealth Management of Mesa, AZ. Tennison was discharged for “selling away,” the practice of offering and selling securities that are not offered by the broker’s firm of employment. The firm was unable to locate any records of these investments, and Tennison was not completely cooperative.A new customer dispute was filed on 10/19/2018, alleging that Tennison recommended to the client that he sell his investments in order to invest in a private placement trust that Tennison managed. Tennison also did not disclose to the customer that he was strictly prohibited from recommending these kinds of investments without review and the express approval from Genos. This allegation led to his discharge from Genos in April of 2018. This customer requests damages of $1,200,000. The case is currently pending.Back in August, we told you about Bradley Joseph Tennison (CRD#: 156988), who was barred by FINRA after his discharge from Genos Wealth Management of Mesa, AZ. Tennison was discharged for “selling away,” the practice of offering and selling securities that are not offered by the broker’s firm of employment. The firm was unable to locate any records of these investments, and Tennison was not completely cooperative.

A new customer dispute was filed on 10/19/2018, alleging that Tennison recommended to the client that he sell his investments in order to invest in a private placement trust that Tennison managed. Tennison also did not disclose to the customer that he was strictly prohibited from recommending these kinds of investments without review and the express approval from Genos. This allegation led to his discharge from Genos in April of 2018. This customer requests damages of $1,200,000. The case is currently pending. Continue reading ›

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sec-300x198Back in June, we told you about John Greg Schmidt (CRD#: 708094) who was barred by FINRA after a series of allegations of misappropriation of funds. Since then the Securities and Exchange Commission has also investigated Schmidt, and has now filed a civil action.

Schmidt was discharged by his last employer, Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC (CRD#:11025), of Dayton, OH, after allegations of “unauthorized money movement between clients,” and inaccurate account statements that were not generated or approved by Wells Fargo. Continue reading ›

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A new report from FINRA finds that some brokers and brokerage firms are not doing due diligence for their customers when it comes to variable annuities, REITs, and private placements.This new report finds that some firms rely heavily on these types of securities, over-concentrating clients in non-traded investments, including sector-specific investments and complex structured notes.A new report from FINRA finds that some brokers and brokerage firms are not doing due diligence for their customers when it comes to illiquid securities such as variable annuities, REITs, and private placements.

This new report finds that some firms rely heavily on these types of securities, over-concentrating clients in non-traded investments, including sector-specific investments and complex structured notes. Continue reading ›

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The Massachusetts Securities Division has charged Cape Cod investment advisor Francis Weller, Jr. (CRD#: 4852071) and his company, Weller Asset Management, with violating their fiduciary duty to act in their clients’ best interest and failing to disclose conflicts of interest.Weller and his company had an arrangement since 2009 with Missouri-based broker-dealer Stifel, Nicolaus & Company. One of its local representatives overcharged his Weller Asset clients and utilized Stifel’s resources.The Massachusetts Securities Division has charged Cape Cod investment advisor Francis Weller, Jr. (CRD#: 4852071) and his company, Weller Asset Management, with violating their fiduciary duty to act in their clients’ best interest and failing to disclose conflicts of interest.

Weller and his company had an arrangement since 2009 with Missouri-based broker-dealer Stifel, Nicolaus & Company. One of its local representatives overcharged his Weller Asset clients and utilized Stifel’s resources. Continue reading ›

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Registered investment advisor Direct Lending Investments, LLC (CRD# 282476) has been sued by the SEC with multiple fraud charges relating to $11 million in management and performance fee overcharges on private placements. The company also falsified loan repayment information and inflated their annual returns for many years. The suit was filed on March 22 in Los Angeles.A DLI employee notified the SEC that Direct Lending’s founder, Brendan Ross, “knowingly engaged in a multi-year scheme to mask the poor performance of one of the funds’ largest investments,” the SEC said in its lawsuit. Ross engineered loans that were valued “at par,” but should have been valued at zero. Ross also over-stated the company’s valuation of one of its loans, to a company called Quarterspot, an online small-business lender.Registered investment advisor Direct Lending Investments, LLC (CRD# 282476) has been sued by the SEC with multiple fraud charges relating to $11 million in management and performance fee overcharges on private placements. The company also falsified loan repayment information and inflated their annual returns for many years. The suit was filed on March 22 in Los Angeles. Continue reading ›

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Wilfred Rodriquez, Jr. (CRD#: 2504369, aka “Will” or “Wilfredo”) is a former registered broker and investment advisor whose last employer was Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC (CRD#:19616) of Boca Raton, FL. His previous employers include Prudential Securities Incorporated (CRD#:7471) of New York, NY, UBS Painewebber Inc. (CRD#:8174) of Weehawken, NJ, and Citicorp Investment Services (CRD#:23988) of Long Island City, NY.Two of Rodriquez’ previous employers were expelled by FINRA: Euro-Atlantic Securities Inc. (CRD#:21367, expelled 09/08/1997) of Boca Raton, and Biltmore Securities, Inc. (CRD#:25023, expelled 03/01/1999) of Fort Lauderdale, FL. No current employment information is available. He has been in the industry since 1994. FINRA barred Rodriquez indefinitely, and in all capacities.Wilfred Rodriquez, Jr. (CRD#: 2504369, aka “Will” or “Wilfredo”) is a former registered broker and investment advisor whose last employer was Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC (CRD#:19616) of Boca Raton, FL. His previous employers include Prudential Securities Incorporated (CRD#:7471) of New York, NY, UBS Painewebber Inc. (CRD#:8174) of Weehawken, NJ, and Citicorp Investment Services (CRD#:23988) of Long Island City, NY. Continue reading ›

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John-Aaron Lenhert is a former registered broker and investment advisor whose last (and only broker) employer was Morgan Stanley (CRD#:149777) of Laguna Nigel, CA. No current employment information is available. He has been in the industry since 2011.Morgan Stanley terminated Lenhert’s employment on 1/12/2017, after being notified of allegations that he borrowed money from three member firm clients, against FINRA and the firm’s policies.John-Aaron Lenhert is a former registered broker and investment advisor whose last (and only broker) employer was Morgan Stanley (CRD#:149777) of Laguna Nigel, CA. No current employment information is available. He has been in the industry since 2011.

Morgan Stanley terminated Lenhert’s employment on 1/12/2017, after being notified of allegations that he borrowed money from three member firm clients, against FINRA and the firm’s policies. Continue reading ›

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Chris Raymond Kubiak (CRD#: 1527367) is a previously registered broker whose last employer was Calton & Associates, Inc. (CRD#:20999) of Brookfield, WI. His previous employers include American Global Wealth Management, Inc. (CRD#:7388) of McDonough, GA, Freedom Investors Corp. (CRD#:23714) of Brookfield, and Dreher & Associates, Inc. (CRD#:8665) of Oakbrook Terrace, IL.  He has been in the industry since 1986.On 9/25/2018, Kubiak was arrested and charged with “felony theft by fraud” (Theft 943.20(1)(b)). The charges are currently pending, and he has not yet entered a plea.Chris Raymond Kubiak (CRD#: 1527367) is a previously registered broker whose last employer was Calton & Associates, Inc. (CRD#:20999) of Brookfield, WI. His previous employers include American Global Wealth Management, Inc. (CRD#:7388) of McDonough, GA, Freedom Investors Corp. (CRD#:23714) of Brookfield, and Dreher & Associates, Inc. (CRD#:8665) of Oakbrook Terrace, IL.  He has been in the industry since 1986.

On 9/25/2018, Kubiak was arrested and charged with “felony theft by fraud” (Theft 943.20(1)(b)). The charges are currently pending, and he has not yet entered a plea. Continue reading ›

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Brandon Curt Stimpson (CRED#: 4299623) is a currently registered investment advisor and former registered broker. His last employer of record is Allegis Investment Services, LLC (CRD#:168557) of North Logan, UT. Previous employers include Signator Financial Services, Inc. (CRD#:19061), also of North Logan, Insphere Securities, Inc. (CRD#:136433) of Salt Lake City, UT, and Equity Services of Logan, UT. Current employment information is not listed. He has been in the business since 2000.Stimpson is the subject of nine disclosures, the latest a “separation employment after allegations.” Allegis Investment Advisors discharged Stimpson on 12/13/2017 after he “failed to follow firm policies and code of ethics.” Additional details are not available.Brandon Curt Stimpson (CRED#: 4299623) is a currently registered investment advisor and former registered broker. His last employer of record is Allegis Investment Services, LLC (CRD#:168557) of North Logan, UT. Previous employers include Signator Financial Services, Inc. (CRD#:19061), also of North Logan, Insphere Securities, Inc. (CRD#:136433) of Salt Lake City, UT, and Equity Services of Logan, UT. Current employment information is not listed. He has been in the business since 2000.

Stimpson is the subject of nine disclosures, the latest a “separation employment after allegations.” Allegis Investment Advisors discharged Stimpson on 12/13/2017 after he “failed to follow firm policies and code of ethics.” Additional details are not available. Continue reading ›

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