Current Investigations

Mutual Fund Switching Loss Attorneys

Published on: July 23, 2024 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Did You Suffer Mutual Fund Losses While Working With Suspended Florida Broker John Wigmore Reilly III?

Ex-Securities Research Financial Advisor Accused of Best Interest Violations

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Mutual Fund Switching Loss Attorneys (investorlawyers.com) are offering free, no obligation case assessments to customers of former stockbroker John Reilly III. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) suspended him for three months after finding that he purportedly violated customers’ best interests when he allegedly engaged in mutual fund switching that resulted in excessive sales fees for two older investors.

Healthcare Trust REIT Law Firm

Published on: July 23, 2024 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Are You A Healthcare Trust Non-Traded REIT Investor Who Suffered Serious Losses? Our Healthcare Trust REIT Law Firm Is Continuing To Investigate Allegations Against Financial Advisors

If you sustained losses in Healthcare Trust Inc. (HTI), please contact Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (investorlawyers.com) today so that we can help you determine whether you have grounds for a broker misconduct claim against your financial advisor. This publicly registered non-traded real estate investment trust (non-traded REIT)— formerly called Healthcare Trust II (ARC Healthcare Trust II)—was closed off to new investors a while back. However, there have been concerns that the stockbrokers that marketed and sold this alternative investment to clients may have unsuitably recommended Healthcare Trust to some and, also, allegedly misrepresented the risks.

With its limited operating history as an emerging growth company, this non-traded REIT was always a high-risk proposition for investors. Healthcare Trust is very illiquid, offering materials by sponsor AR Global even indicated that its offering price was “arbitrarily” determined, and there were purported conflicts of interest between HTI investors and other parties involved. Also, high commissions and other fees were reportedly paid to broker-dealers, dealer managers, and others. Add those up and that means that less than 87% of Hospitality Trust investors’ money end up actually going into this investment.

Stockbroker Misconduct Attorney

Published on: July 23, 2024 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

When Structured Products Involving Stockbroker Misconduct Leads To Investment Losses. Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Stockbroker Misconduct Attorney Team Represents Investors Against Brokerage Firms

If you have sustained losses in a structured product, contact our securities law firm today. Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Stockbroker Misconduct Attorney Teams (investorlawyers.com) have been fighting for investors against brokers and their firms for over 30 years.

What Are Structured Products?

Structured Product Loss Attorneys

Published on: July 23, 2024 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Ex-Customers of Stifel, Nicolaus Broker Chuck Roberts Are Suing For $41.2M. Contact Our Structured Product Loss Attorneys To Explore Your Legal Options

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (investorlawyers.com) Structured Product Loss Attorneys are continuing to speak with investors who have sustained losses while working with Stifel, Nicolaus, & Co. financial advisor Chuck A. Roberts. This New York broker, who has been in the industry for 34 years, has nearly two dozen disclosures on his CRD. This purportedly includes $41.2M in still pending investment loss recovery claims by former customers and primarily over the sale of structured notes. Among these were autocallable notes that didn’t come with much downside protection in the event that there was a decline in price of their underlying reference assets. Structured notes can be very volatile and speculative investments.

Claimants allege negligence, financial advisor fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and breach of contract by Roberts, who is also a Miami Beach, Florida investment adviser for the firm. This Stifel, Nicolaus stockbroker is accused of telling clients that if they invested in the structured notes he chose, they would be able to preserve capital while making a return that came with a long-term average of approximately 12.25%.

Securities Broker Misconduct Attorney

Published on: July 21, 2024 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Did You Suffer Investment Losses While Working With Ex-Western International Securities Broker Tony Liddle?

Former Customers of Barred Wisconsin Financial Advisor Seeking Over $3M in Damages

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (investorlawyers.com) is speaking to investors who sustained losses while working with ex-Landolt Securities financial advisor Anthony Baker Liddle (Tony Liddle). He pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money-related offenses in January 2023 and was sentenced to 97 months in prison for each count, but he will serve his time concurrently. He also was ordered to pay more than $1.6M in restitution. Liddle, a former registered investment adviser and control person of Prosper Wealth Management in Wausau, was barred by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions Division of Securities. Prior to being a Landolt registered representative, he was a Western International Securities broker.

Portland Non-Traded REIT Fraud Attorneys

Published on: July 21, 2024 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Portland, OR Non-Traded REIT Fraud Attorneys

Representing Oregon Alternative Investment Investors In Recovering Their Losses

From our Portland securities law office, Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (investorlawyers.com) represents Oregon non-traded real estate investment trust (non-traded REIT) loss investors in pursuing the damages they are owed by negligent or fraudulent financial advisers. Non-traded REITs are alternative investments and they are not suitable for everyone. Unfortunately, unsuitable investment recommendations is a common reason why investors end up losing money unnecessarily. Often high-risk, illiquid, and complex, non-traded REITs tend to pay broker-dealers high commissions and fees, which sometimes causes financial advisors to disregard clients’ best interests.

FINRA Law Firm

Published on: July 15, 2024 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas FINRA Law Firm Investigates Investor Losses Involving Barred Beverly Hills Broker Antoine Souma. We Represent High-Net-Worth Investors With FINRA Lawsuits

Our broker fraud lawyers are continuing to look into claims of investor losses by former clients of Beverly Hills financial advisor Antoine Souma. Previously registered with Insigneo Securities, JP Morgan Securities, Morgan Stanley, Galliot Capital Advisors, and other financial firms over the years, Souma was barred by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) last year in the wake of stockbroker misconduct allegations, including claims of excessive trading.

A FINRA arbitration claim brought by one investor was settled by Insigneo Securities for $400K. In another broker fraud lawsuit involving Souma, JP Morgan Securities agreed to pay $14M to settle allegations brought by an investor blaming Souma for $20M in investment losses.

Overconcentration Attorneys

Published on: July 15, 2024 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Are You The Victim of Overconcentration by Your Broker? Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Overconcentration Attorneys Want To Talk To You

As an investor, you are always taking on a certain degree of risk. What you invest in is as important as whether or not your portfolio is properly diversified. This means making sure you aren’t placing all of your money in just one product or asset class especially if it is a high-risk one. As a matter of fact, according to market experts, diversification is considered a solid investing strategy and it can minimize the risk and magnitude of your losses if certain investments do poorly.

If you have hired a broker to manage your portfolio, it would be wonderful to think that they would automatically and properly diversify your assets according to your financial goals, risk tolerance level, age, investing experience, and other key factors. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen and many investors end up losing money because their financial adviser overconcentrated their account.

Reg D Investment Loss Lawyers

Published on: July 15, 2024 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Did Your Financial Goal Securities Broker Sell You iCap Investments? Our Reg D Investment Loss Lawyers Continue To Investigate

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Reg D Investment Loss Lawyers (investorlawyers.com) represents victims of broker fraud and negligence. Currently, our Reg D Investment Loss Lawyers are investigating brokerage firm Financial Goal Securities for allegedly marketing and selling the following investments:

iCap

FINRA Broker Fraud Attorney

Published on: July 15, 2024 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Did You Suffer Investor Losses While Working With Western International Securities Broker Jeffrey Higgins? Our FINRA Broker Fraud Attorney Are Investigating Misappropriation Allegations

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas FINRA Broker Fraud Attorney Team (investorlawyers.com) is speaking to investors who sustained losses while working with now barred Western International Securities financial advisor Jeffrey Thomas Higgins. The broker-dealer recently fired the Oregon stockbroker after finding that he has been allegedly misappropriating clients’ money since 2007 when he was still registered with Financial West Group. That brokerage firm was expelled from the industry in 2020.

Already, at least one Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claim has been brought against Higgins. The claimant, who made allegations of unsuitable investment recommendations and misrepresentations and omissions, settled their claim for over $94K.