Brokers in FINRA Complaint

LP Customer Compliants

November 16, 2017 | Silver Law Group

The New Jersey Bureau of Securities has levied a large fine against LPL Financial LLC, one of the largest independent broker-dealer in the United States. The $950,000 fine also requires LPL to donate $25,000 to the New Jersey state investor education fund. The Bureau of Securities imposed these judgments against LPL for allegedly conducting unsuitable sales of non-traded real estate investment trusts and business development companies.

The Bureau on its settlement with LPL states; “This substantial settlement with LPL Financial sends a message that the securities industry cannot sell unsuitable investments to clients who are unlikely to be able to bear the financial risks,” said Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino. “The standards governing sales of alternative investments are in place to protect investors, and the Bureau will take action when these standards are ignored.”

Generally, Federal statues regulate suitability standards and limit the sale of certain alternative investments based on a complex calculation that reflects a client’s liquid net worth, or a mixture of a client’s income and net worth and other factors. New Jersey also limits the maximum total ratio of alternative investments held by an individual client’s portfolio to not exceed 10 percent of an investor’s complete portfolio.

Prospera Broker John N. Crook Under Investigation After $4.8 Million Complaint Filed

January 25, 2017 | Silver Law Group

Silver Law Group is investigating Macon, Georgia-based Prospera Financial Services, Inc. (CRD# 10740) broker John N. Crook (CRD# 2715424) after a customer filed a $4.8 million complaint.

According to Crook’s FINRA BrokerCheck report, a customer filed a FINRA arbitration against Crook in August 2016 alleging churning and excessive trading, unauthorized trading, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud and intentional misrepresentation and omission, and negligence. The complaint alleges $4.8 million in damages.

The $4.8 million claim follows Crook’s termination by Raymond James & Associates, Inc. (CRD# 705). Raymond James alleged that it had lost confidence in Crook after an internal review into a client complaint during which the Raymond James found that Crook did not respond candidly to a supervisory review of trading activity.

Alleged Manipulative Trading of Securities Lands Firm and Brokers in FINRA Complaint

August 24, 2015 | Silver Law Group

Meyers Associates, L.P., George Johnson, Joseph Mahalick and Christopher Wynne all named in FINRA complaint

In the June 2015 FINRA Disciplinary Actions report, one firm and three brokers were named in a FINRA complaint alleging numerous violations that include manipulative trading of securities.

According to the complaint, Meyers Associates, L.P., George Johnson, Joseph Mahalick and Christopher Wynne were all named as respondents. The report alleges that Johnson willfully violated SEC rules by soliciting some customers to buy stocks while at the same time soliciting others to sell the same stock, all at inflated prices. As part of this scenario, both Johnson and Wynne allegedly provided firm customers with information regarding the stocks that contained misleading information. The stock was a penny stock called Ice Web, Inc. (OTCBB.IWEB)