Current Investigations

Alternative Investment Fraud Attorneys

Published on: March 25, 2024 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Did Ex-Coastal Equities Broker Luke Johnson Sell You GPB Private Placements, GWG Stock, REITs, or Other Alternative Investments?

27 FINRA Lawsuits Allege Unsuitable Recommendations

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (investorlawyers.com) are investigating portfolio loss claims by former customers of ex-Arizona stockbroker Luke Michael Johnson. The ex-Coastal Equities financial advisor was suspended for 18 months by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) last year after investors accused him of allegedly unsuitably recommending over $2.3M in illiquid alternative investments, overconcentrating their accounts with them, and making misrepresentations about the risks.

Securities Loss Lawyers

Published on: March 22, 2024 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

CB Life Annuity Investors’ Best Chances For Financial Recovery May Be To Sue Broker-Dealer

A North Carolina Court of Appeals has rejected billionaire Greg Lindberg’s appeal, which clears a path for his Colorado Bankers Life Insurance and Bankers Life Insurance to begin liquidation proceedings on June 30, 2024. The state’s insurance commissioner, Mike Causey, said the opinion by the three-judge panel on March 5 should allow state guaranty associations to start paying claims to policyholders at that time. However, Lindberg’s attorneys could once more appeal, which may cause another delay. That is what they did following an earlier ruling by a Wake County Superior Court judge to liquidate, and investors have been in limbo in their efforts to get back their money.

Lindberg, who has long been suspected of funneling funds from his insurers to his special purpose vehicles, is currently charged with allegedly defrauding annuity policyholders in a $2B scam. He is suspected of taking $1.2B of policyholders’ money for this. Convicted of trying to bribe Causey, that was overturned and he is scheduled for a retrial on those criminal charges.

San Francisco Financial Advisor Fraud Lawyers

Published on: March 8, 2024 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

San Francisco Financial Advisor Fraud Lawyers of SSEK are Representing SF Bay Area Investors In Recouping Their Portfolio Losses

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (investorlawyers.com) is pleased to announce that we have recently opened a securities law office in San Francisco. With our other California branch office in San Diego, we continue to solidify our presence as a premier financial advisor fraud law firm representing clients all over the state.

Our San Francisco Financial Advisor Fraud Lawyers are conveniently located in the city’s financial district, and we represent retail investors, retirees, accredited investors, high-net-worth individual investors, and institutional clients throughout the region. Not only that, but we have provided quality investment loss recovery representation to US investors, as well as foreign nationals, with claims against US-based brokerage firms for over 30 years.

iCap Investment Loss Recovery Lawyers

Published on: March 8, 2024 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

IBN Financial Services Under Scrutiny Over Role In Selling ICap Securities To Investors. Our iCap Investment Loss Recovery Lawyers Continue To Investigate Losses

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas iCap Investment Loss Recovery Lawyers (investorlawyers.com) has been zealously investigating claims of losses involving one of the many iCap investments that were sold by US brokerage firms. One of the broker-dealers we are looking at is IBN Financial Services, which agreed in 2022 to be a placement agent for iCap Vault 1 and sell its notes for a minimum of $25/purchaser. The offering was a maximum of $500K in notes.

Other iCap investments:

Reg D Private Placement Loss Attorneys

Published on: March 8, 2024 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

More Allegations Of Allegedly Unsuitable Investment Recommendations Continue To Haunt Broker-Dealer HJ Sims. Our Seasoned Reg D Private Placement Loss Attorneys Represent Reg D Offering Investors

Four years after the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed civil fraud charges against Herbert J. Sims & Co. (HJ Sims) accusing it of allegedly fraudulently selling certain “highly complex and high-risk” investments to retail customers, the broker-dealer is once more under scrutiny. This time, it is investors who are crying foul over the broker-dealer’s sale of Regulation D private placement offerings, a number of which have since defaulted.

High-risk, complex, and speculative, Reg D offerings should ideally only be sold to accredited investors. Yet retail customers, including older retirees, also may have ended up purchasing them at the alleged recommendation of a financial advisor.

Financial Advisor Fraud Law Firm

Published on: March 8, 2024 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Denver, CO Financial Advisor Fraud Law Firm

Fighting For Colorado Investors Against Brokerage Firms and Investment Advisers

If you have suffered investment losses and are wondering if someone should be held liable for what happened to you, please contact Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Financial Advisor Fraud Law Firm (investorlawyers.com) today. Not only can we evaluate the cause of your portfolio losses and whether they warrant grounds for a financial advisor fraud lawsuit, but also, we offer quality securities law representation to Colorado investors from our law offices conveniently located in Denver and Ridgway, CO.

Broker Negligence Attorneys

Published on: March 8, 2024 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Broker Negligence Attorneys Investigates Losses Involving Commonwealth Income and Growth Funds I-VIII

Our Broker Negligence Lawyers Want To Speak With Investors

If you are someone that sustained losses in any of the Commonwealth Income and Growth Funds, Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Broker Negligence Attorneys (investorlawyers.com) would like to offer you a free, no-obligation case assessment. There are some concerns that brokerage firms may have engaged in alleged negligence when marketing and selling these alternative investments.

Annuity Investment Loss Lawyers

Published on: March 8, 2024 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Colorado Bankers Life Insurance Investors File 7-Figure Lawsuit Against Citizens Securities. Our CB Life Annuity Investment Loss Lawyers Are Representing This Couple

Two senior investors are seeking up to $1M in damages in their annuity loss against Citizens Securities. The claimants are novice investors who worked with Citizens Securities brokers Zane Jason Michalski and Adit Sem. The latter is now with Santander Securities.

The two financial advisors allegedly misrepresented Colorado Bankers Life Insurance as a safe investing opportunity. The claimants, purportedly at the stockbrokers’ recommendation, proceeded to place all of their savings in a CB Life annuity. These are not our only clients with pending lawsuits against this brokerage firm.

Private Fund Loss Attorneys

Published on: March 8, 2024 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Are You An Investor Who Suffered Losses in CAZ Investments? Our Houston, TX Private Fund Loss Attorneys Are Investigating

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (investorlawyers.com) are currently looking into CAZ Investments and whether the Texas-based registered investment adviser may have unsuitably marketed and sold any of its proprietary private funds, including the following to its clients:

CAZ Energy Opportunity Fund, LP

Broker Misconduct Lawyers

Published on: March 8, 2024 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Broker Misconduct Lawyers Are Investigating Ex-Spartan Capital Securities Broker Tory Duggins

NY Financial Advisor Accused of Excessive Trading and Reg Best Interest Violations

Our broker misconduct lawyers are looking into claims of portfolio losses by investors who worked with former Spartan Capital Securities stockbroker Tory Duggins. The New York financial advisor was suspended for 18 months by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in January 2024 following allegations that he willfully violated Regulation Best Interest obligations after purportedly excessively trading in the accounts of customers, some of whom were elderly seniors.