Current Investigations

Margin Abuse Lawyers

Published on: June 28, 2024 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Are You an Oppenheimer PEP Investor Who Suffered Serious Losses? Our Margin Abuse Lawyers Are Representing Claimants In Suing This Broker-Dealer

For the last several months, Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Margin Abuse Lawyers (investorlawyers.com) has been speaking to accredited investors who were marketed and sold the Oppenheimer Portfolio Enhancement Program (PEP) by their broker. This is a proprietary program that the firm offered to wealthy customers as a supposed chance to earn up to an additional 5% if they participated and borrowed on margin.

A $1.25M minimum was required to become involved in Oppenheimer PEP. This was a high-risk, hedged investment program that, in truth, could only succeed in a low-volatile, low-interest environment.

Elder Financial Abuse Lawyers

Published on: June 27, 2024 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Are You A Victim of Elder Financial Abuse? Elder Fraud Cost Victims More Than $3.4B in 2023, Reports FBI

June 15 was World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, which was established to promote a greater awareness globally about the abuse and neglect that can be suffered by older persons. Here, at Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas our Elder Financial Abuse Lawyers (investorlawyers.com) represent seniors who have fallen victim to elder financial abuse by a broker or investment adviser.

In a recent report by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), its Internet Crime Complaint Center stated that in 2023, total losses exceeded over $3.4B from scams reported that targeted victims older than 60. That is a nearly 11% rise from the losses reported in 2022. About $1.24B of the losses from last year were a result of investment schemes.

Stockbroker Misconduct Lawyers

Published on: June 27, 2024 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Are You An Investor Who Suffered Portfolio Losses While Working With Oppenheimer Broker Gustavo Miramontes?

Our Stockbroker Misconduct Lawyers Want To Talk To You

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (investorlawyers.com) is looking into claims of investor losses involving Oppenheimer financial advisor Gustavo Santos Miramontes. The Los Angeles stockbroker has multiple disclosures on his CRD that primarily consist of customer disputes.

Reg D Private Placement Lawyers

Published on: June 27, 2024 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Investment Fraud And Unsuitability Allegations Continue Plaguing HJ Sims Reg D Investments

Our Reg D Private Placement Lawyers Are Zealously Investigating Investor Losses

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Reg D Private Placement Lawyers (investorlawyers.com) is continuing to speak with investors who were sold an HJ Sims Regulation D offering by their financial advisor. These are high-risk investments that the broker-dealer may have allegedly unsuitably, maybe even fraudulently, sold—$2B in these private placements to customers, including retail investors and retirees. One can’t help but wonder if the high commissions and fees that HJ Sims brokers stood to earn from the sales took greater precedence over investors’ best interests.

FINRA Arbitration Lawyer

Published on: June 26, 2024 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

There Is Still Time To Pursue Damages From Oppenheimer Over Your Horizon Private Equity III Losses

SEC Bars Former Southport Capital Investment Advisers For Alleged Involvement in $110M Ponzi Scam

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas FINRA Arbitration Lawyer Teams (investorlawyers.com) is representing investors who sustained losses in the $110M Horizon Private Equity III Ponzi scam. Run by ex-Oppenheimer broker John Justin Woods, this investment scheme defrauded hundreds of investors, including seniors, veterans, and retirees from at least 20 US states. Woods also ran the registered investment advisory firm Southport Capital (Livingston Group Asset Management Company) while he was with Oppenheimer.

DST Loss Lawyers

Published on: June 17, 2024 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas DST Loss Lawyers Are Investigating HPI Real Estate Opportunity Fund IV Losses

Our Investment Loss Recovery Lawyers Can Help You Explore Your Legal Options

If you suffered investment losses in HPI Real Estate Opportunity Fund IV or any of the other real estate private equity investment funds and 1031 Delaware Statutory Trust (DST) programs from Hamilton Point Investments, LLC, contact Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (investorlawyers.com) today. We represent investors who may have been unsuitably recommended any of the following by their broker-dealer:

Investment Loss Law Firm

Published on: June 17, 2024 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Institutional Investors File 7-Figure FINRA Lawsuit Morgan Stanley Alleging Broker Fraud

Claimants Are Seeking Up To $5,000,000 In Damages

The Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Investment Loss Law Firm (investorlawyers.com) recently filed an institutional investor claim against Morgan Stanley Smith Barney (DBA as Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management) over losses sustained because of alleged gross negligence, fraudulent actions, and breach of fiduciary duty by the firm and Morgan Stanley broker Brian Pfeifler.

GWG L Bond Loss Recovery Attorney

Published on: June 17, 2024 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

GWG Investors Awarded More Than $600K in FINRA Lawsuit Against Cornerstone Financial Planning

Investment Adviser John Wolf Is A Respondent In This Broker Fraud Claim

Two investors were awarded $613,825K in compensatory damages from their GWG L Bond loss recovery lawsuit against Cornerstone Financial Planning and its financial advisor John William Wolf. The claimants had alleged unsuitability, misrepresentation, negligence, gross negligence, and breach of fiduciary duty. Wolf, who is no longer a Cornerstone stockbroker, remains a registered investment adviser with this firm.

Institutional Investment Fraud Lawyers

Published on: June 17, 2024 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Research Foundation Awarded More Than $7.3M In Their FINRA Lawsuit Against Principal Securities. Our Institutional Investment Fraud Lawyers are Representing Nonprofits, Charitable Organizations, Endowment Funds, And Institutional investors

Churning, Unsuitability, and Supervisory Failures Alleged in Nonprofit’s Broker Fraud Claim

A Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration panel has awarded over $7.3 million to the Rosenau Family Research Foundation (formerly known as The Legacy of Angels Foundation) in their stockbroker fraud claim against Principal Securities. The 501 (c)(3) nonprofit, which helps promote awareness and education around Cystic Fibrosis and Krabbe disease, accused the brokerage firm of allegedly excessive trading in variable annuities, making unsuitable investment recommendations, supervisory failures, negligence, and other acts of broker misconduct.

BREIT Loss Attorneys

Published on: June 10, 2024 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Blackstone REIT Investors May Have Reason To Worry. Our BREIT Loss Attorneys Are Investigating Claims Of Losses

If you are an investor who has sustained serious losses in the $59B Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust (BREIT), contact Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (investorlawyers.com) today. Our seasoned real estate investment trust (REIT) loss attorneys have been looking into this high-risk product since it first limited redemption requests starting in November 2022.

An annual report by BREIT stated that it paid out more to investors than it made in 2023—$2.8B in distributions, which was beyond its $2.7B of cash flows. The fund’s performance was impacted by requests by investors to get their money back. In February 2024, Blackstone REIT was able to fully pay all withdrawal requests since late 2022. For May 2024, its board decided to let the trust go beyond a 2% monthly limit order to satisfy such requests. Once a $70B behemoth, BREIT’s net asset value (NAV) has dropped significantly.