Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Florida Broker Fraud Attorneys Continue To Investigate Former Merrill Lynch Broker William King
Ex-Vero Beach, FL Financial Advisor Now Has At Least 28 Customer Complaints
For the past year, our seasoned Florida broker fraud attorneys have been looking into claims of investor losses involving William Worthen King, who resigned from Merrill Lynch Pierce, Fenner & Smith after 37 years with the firm. He left after his former customers filed more than a dozen FINRA lawsuits.
That number has now risen to 28 arbitration claims. The allegations made include unsuitable investment recommendations, misrepresentations and omissions, unauthorized trades, questionable margin use, and other accusations of broker misconduct and negligence.
Some of the purported unauthorized trades may have involved options, which can be high-risk and lead to significant investment losses. They are not appropriate for investors who are inexperienced or conservative when it comes to being able to take on risk.
One former customer is suing broker-dealer Merrill Lynch for up to $4M. This investor contends that the ex-Florida stockbroker allegedly unsuitably employed, without authorization, an aggressive strategy that involved selling put options. King is also accused of falsely stating that the customer had 20 years of experience in options. The claimant is alleging that material misrepresentations were made regarding leveraged, closed-end bond fund Nuveen and its involvement in low-rated municipal securities.
Representing Florida Investors Against Broker-Dealers For Three Decades
Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Florida Broker Fraud Attorneys (investorlawyers.com) have been representing investors in Florida and the rest of the United States for over 30 years. We are zealous when it comes to holding financial advisors and their firms liable for broker misconduct and negligence.
We are knowledgeable about the different kinds of broker fraud and how to recognize when this has happened. We know how to pursue damages against broker-dealers whose failure to supervise their registered representatives enabled careless or reckless actions that led to serious financial harm for customers.
If you suffered serious portfolio losses while working with ex-Merrill Lynch broker William King or any other financial advisor from the firm, contact us today to schedule your free, no-obligation case consultation. We can help you assess whether you have grounds for a FINRA lawsuit and what steps to take next.
This is not the type of legal claim you want to make without skilled broker-dealer negligence attorneys representing you and protecting your legal rights. Any ruling by a FINRA arbitration panel is final without much chance for appeal—all the more reason to hire a savvy securities law firm to advocate for you.
How To Contact Our Florida Broker Fraud Attorneys:
Call (800) 259-9010. In Florida, where we have a law office in Tampa, call (813) 560-2992.