Atlanta Financial Advisor Accused of Using an Unsuitable Options Investment Strategy Michael John Wagner, a longtime Morgan Stanley broker, is currently under scrutiny in the wake of recent customer disputes in which the claimants are requesting over $20M in damages. Based out of Atlanta, Georgia, Wagner has worked in the…
Two Merrill Lynch Brokers Stole More Than $6M from 13 Clients In December 2021, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) fined Merrill Lynch in two separate matters. One fine, of $950K, is because the firm allegedly failed to detect that two of its financial advisors had stolen more than $6M…
South Carolina Financial Advisor Named in Five Pending Customer Disputes Cetera Advisors Network registered representative, Ronald Franklin Metcalf, Jr, is named in five pending customer disputes in which the claimants are seeking more than $6.5M in financial recovery. All of them accuse Metcalf of failing to supervise other registered representatives…
Sanctuary Wealth Ordered To Pay Over $370K in Restitution to ETF Customers Independent broker-dealer Sanctuary Wealth, formerly David A. Noyes & Co., has been censured by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). It must now pay a $160K fine and over $370K in restitution for its failure to supervise certain…
Texas-Based Brokerage Firm Accused of Overconcentration & Supervisory Failures NEXT Financial Group has arrived at a $750K settlement with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) to resolve claims that the Texas-based broker-dealer overconcentrated customer accounts in Puerto Rico municipal bonds and did not have the kind of supervisory system that…
Settlement in FINRA Case Involves Repaying Nearly $44K to Affected Customers The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has ordered Triad Advisors to pay a $150K fine for not adequately supervising both short-term trades involving Class A shares of mutual funds and variable annuity exchanges. The self-regulatory organization (SRO) also accused…
Worden Capital Management’s Settlement Includes $1.2M in Customer Restitution In December 2020, Worden Capital Management, a New York-based broker-dealer, arrived at an over $1.5M settlement with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) over excessive trades made by the firm’s registered representatives. The self-regulatory organization (SRO) contends that from January 2015…
Banned Woodbury Financial Broker Allegedly Sold Fake Investments, Converted Client Monies Ronald Walter Hannes, a Spokane, Washington-based investment advisor and former Woodbury Financial Services broker, is accused by the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions of defrauding 19 clients of over $2.9M. Hannes had operated out of Hannes Financial Services…
Family Trust to Receive Compensatory Damages From Broker-Dealer In its Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claim against Raymond James & Associates and former broker Paul Anthony Steffany, the Angelina J. Cuccaro Family Trusted was awarded $320K in compensatory damages. The claimant contends that it was the victim of broker…
Morgan Stanley Settlement Includes FINRA Fine and Investor Restitution According to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Morgan Stanley Wealth Management has consented to pay a $175K fine and more than $774K in restitution for allegedly failing to supervise its former broker Kevin Gunnip. The Texas-based financial representative is accused…