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$70 MILLION Recovery for Investment Fraud
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San Diego, CA-based Independent Financial Group, LLC has been fined and censured by the SEC after the firm failed to establish and follow a supervisory system for supervising the firm's brokers when handling customer accounts. This failure occurred between July 2020 and December 2022 and included noncompliance with Registration Best Interest and other requirements. During the same time frame, IFG failed to supervise one broker that churned, or excessively traded, five customer accounts and violated FINRA Rules 3110 and 2010. From September 2022 through April 2024, IFG also made “late and incomplete responses” to a FINRA Rule 8210 request violating FINRA Rules 8210 and 2010.San Diego, CA-based Independent Financial Group, LLC has been fined and censured by the SEC after the firm failed to establish and follow a supervisory system for supervising the firm’s brokers when handling customer accounts. This failure occurred between July 2020 and December 2022 and included noncompliance with Registration Best Interest and other requirements. Continue reading ›

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Robert Thompson (Robert Kennedy Thompson CRD# 1975407, aka, “Bob Thompson”) is a previously registered broker and currently registered investment advisor with Concourse Financial Group Securities, Inc. (CRD# 15708) of Palos Hills, IL. His previous employers include The Concord Equity Group, LLC (CRD# 14569) of Iselin, NJ, Emissary Financial Group, Inc. (CRD# 44568) of Mentor, OH, and   Money Concepts Capital Corp (CRD# 12963) of Palm Beach Gardens, FL. He has been in the industry since 1989. Concourse Financial discharged Thompson on 10/6/2023 for engaging in outside business activity (OBA) without the firm’s approval and written consent. On February 1, 2023, Thompson sought pre-approval from Concourse Financial Group to work as a business development officer at an external bank. Concourse Financial Group denied his request.Robert Thompson (Robert Kennedy Thompson CRD# 1975407, aka, “Bob Thompson”) is a previously registered broker and currently registered investment advisor with Concourse Financial Group Securities, Inc. (CRD# 15708) of Palos Hills, IL. His previous employers include The Concord Equity Group, LLC (CRD# 14569) of Iselin, NJ, Emissary Financial Group, Inc. (CRD# 44568) of Mentor, OH, and Money Concepts Capital Corp (CRD# 12963) of Palm Beach Gardens, FL. He has been in the industry since 1989. Continue reading ›

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Richard Mireles (Richard Randy Mireles CRD# 5288651) is a currently registered broker and investment advisor with  Independent Financial Group, LLC (CRD# 7717) of San Diego, CA. He was previously registered with Western Financial Advisors (CRD# 35098), also of San Diego. He has been in the industry since 2007. In the disciplinary action, FINRA detailed how from July 2020 and December 2022, despite notifications from lower-level managers, Mireles did not respond or act on “red flags” escalated to him. These red flags were for a registered representative who had traded excessively in five customer accounts during this period. Multiple trades were repeatedly “red-flagged” for this representative. The parameters were designed to notify the firm of solicited trades with high principal amounts.Richard Mireles (Richard Randy Mireles CRD# 5288651) is a currently registered broker and investment advisor with  Independent Financial Group, LLC (CRD# 7717) of San Diego, CA. He was previously registered with Western Financial Advisors (CRD# 35098), also of San Diego. He has been in the industry since 2007. Continue reading ›

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Maria Leon (Maria De Los Angeles Leon CRD# 6042515, aka, Maria D. Del Real, Maria De Los Angeles Del Real, Maria Del Real, Maria D Delreal, Maria D. Delreal, Maria De Los Angeles Delreal, Maria Delreal) is a previously registered broker last employed with PNC Investments (CRD# 129052) of Grand Rapids, MI. Her previous employers were J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (CRD# 79) of Chicago, IL and San Leandro, CA, and Chase Investment Services Corp. (CRD# 25574) of Michigan City, IN. She has been in the industry since 2012. PNC Investments discharged Leon on August 13, 2024 for misappropriation of customer funds following an investigation. The firm issued a Uniform Termination Notice for Securities Industry Registration (Form U5) for her termination. Despite no longer being an employee of PNC or any other member broker-dealer, Leon continues to be subject to FINRA’s jurisdiction. FINRA sent requests for related information, documents, and for on-the-record testimony to Leon on September 10, 2024.  Leon acknowledged the requests in an email on the same day and declined to provide the requested documents and information and refused any on-the-record testimony. This refusal violates FINRA Rules 8210 and 2010.Maria Leon (Maria De Los Angeles Leon CRD# 6042515, aka, Maria D. Del Real, Maria De Los Angeles Del Real, Maria Del Real, Maria D Delreal, Maria D. Delreal, Maria De Los Angeles Delreal, Maria Delreal) is a previously registered broker last employed with PNC Investments (CRD# 129052) of Grand Rapids, MI. Her previous employers were J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (CRD# 79) of Chicago, IL and San Leandro, CA, and Chase Investment Services Corp. (CRD# 25574) of Michigan City, IN. She has been in the industry since 2012. Continue reading ›

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An elderly retiree has been awarded $152,382.41 in compensatory damages and attorneys’ fees of $48,762.37 in a FINRA arbitration against broker-dealer Citizens Securities relating to the sale of Colorado Bankers’ annuities. Most of the FINRA arbitration fees were to be paid by the broker-dealer. The action resulted from the client’s purchase of Colorado Bankers’ Life annuities. In the arbitration, the retiree’s legal counsel argued that Citizens Securities violations included breach of contract and warranties, promissory estoppel; violation of state securities statutes; state insurance statute violations; breach of fiduciary duty; claims under common law; and vicarious liability. Citizens Securities heavily promoted these annuities, offering high commissions and incentives to brokers for selling them. But when North Carolina regulators seized company assets, investors’ money was frozen and unavailable. Most were elderly retirees and investors who bought Colorado Bankers’ Life annuities for the income from the dividends and were then left without that income.An elderly retiree has been awarded $152,382.41 in compensatory damages and attorneys’ fees of $48,762.37 in a FINRA arbitration against broker-dealer Citizens Securities relating to the sale of Colorado Bankers’ annuities. Most of the FINRA arbitration fees were to be paid by the broker-dealer. Continue reading ›

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Roy Williams (Roy Kevin Williams CRD# 843607) is a former registered broker and investment advisor last employed with Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated (CRD# 793) of Indianapolis, IN. He was previously employed with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney (CRD# 149777) and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (CRD# 7059), also of Indianapolis, and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (CRD# 7691). He has been in the industry since 1977. On June 5, 2023, a customer filed a dispute alleging that Williams convinced them to “make personal loans to him from 2019 through 2021. The client requested damages of $59,000, and the dispute was settled for the same amount.Roy Williams (Roy Kevin Williams CRD# 843607) is a former registered broker and investment advisor last employed with Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated (CRD# 793) of Indianapolis, IN. He was previously employed with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney (CRD# 149777) and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (CRD# 7059), also of Indianapolis, and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (CRD# 7691). He has been in the industry since 1977. Continue reading ›

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After discovering that four of its financial advisors had committed fraud with automatic bank transfers, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney (MSSB) has agreed to pay $15 million in fines and other sanctions for failing to have reasonable theft detection in place. Prior to December of 2022, MSSB did not have a system that screened and detected unauthorized transfers and payments made by Automatic Clearing House (ACH) and other types of cash transfers. Both methods were unauthorized, and the financial advisors were able to transfer millions of customer funds to their own accounts.After discovering that four of its financial advisors had committed fraud with automatic bank transfers, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney (MSSB) has agreed to pay $15 million in fines and other sanctions for failing to have reasonable theft detection in place. Continue reading ›

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Blog-Graphics1Silver Law Group founder Scott Silver was recently interviewed by Investment News for an article about Henry Duval, formerly known as “Roger Allen Duvall.” Duvall was barred by FINRA in 2020 after it found he was selling away and misappropriating funds while associated with MML and Pruco, two former employers. Continue reading ›

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Silver Law Group’s managing partner Scott Silver discussed a recent ruling from a California court that gave two brokers a temporary restraining order (TRO) against FINRA in arbitration over their sales of GHG Holdings’ illiquid L-Bonds.  “This appears to be a Hail Mary pass by two brokers who are taking a ‘never say die’ approach to arbitration,” Scott said in a recent AdvisorHub article. "In this case, FINRA's position is correct, straightforward, and investor friendly."Silver Law Group’s managing partner Scott Silver discussed a recent ruling from a California court that gave two brokers a temporary restraining order (TRO) against FINRA in arbitration over their sales of GWG Holdings’ illiquid L-Bonds.

“This appears to be a Hail Mary pass by two brokers who are taking a ‘never say die’ approach to arbitration,” Scott said in a recent AdvisorHub article. “In this case, FINRA’s position is correct, straightforward, and investor friendly.” Continue reading ›

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According to FINRA Disciplinary actions for November, 2024, the following individuals were suspended from FINRA for failing to comply with a FINRA arbitration award or settlement agreement pursuant to FINRA rules:

NAME FORMER EMPLOYERS
Helen Andrews Morgan Stanley
Barclays Capital Inc.
Vincent Fuchs Steward Partners Investment Solutions, LLC
Raymond James Financial Services, Inc.
Wentworth Gardner CUNA Brokerage Services, Inc.
AXA Advisors, LLC
Colton Jacob Steward Partners Investment Solutions, LLC
Raymond James Financial Services, Inc.
Gail Milon ELE Wealth Advisors, Inc.
MSI Financial Services, Inc.
Michael Paesano Morgan Stanley
UBS Financial Services Inc.
David Page Spartan Capital Securities, LLC
SW Financial
Any Zwaan LPL Financial LLC
Wealthplan Partners

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