Financial Firms

Ex-IFS Securities Broker Steven Schisler Barred Following Unsuitable Investment Recommendations

Published on: March 21, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Ex-IFS Securities Broker Recommended Promissory Note to Elderly Investors

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has barred ex-IFS Securities registered representative Steven Douglas Schisler beginning January 31, 2022. Schisler, who works out of the Greater Sacramento, California area, has been a financial planner and investment advisor for over 20 years. He is also the principal of Synergy Wealth Management.

The industry bar comes in the wake of allegations that Schisler unsuitably recommended a promissory note to an older married couple.

Arizona Retirees Win $2.6M FINRA Arbitration Award Against First Allied Securities

Published on: March 18, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Cetera Broker-Dealer Unsuitably Recommended Non-Traded REITs to Retired Couple

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas, LLP (SSEK Law Firm at investorlawyers.com) and Menzer & Hill, PA, are pleased to announce that a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration panel has awarded our clients a $2.6M award against First Allied Securities. This includes $1.1M in compensatory damages, $818K in market-adjusted damages, more than $660K in legal fees, and $40K in other expenses.

This was a unanimous decision by the three-person panel of arbitrators, which awarded the retired couple the total amount they requested. The arbitration panel was just as troubled as our knowledgeable broker misconduct attorneys were about the actions of First Allied Securities and its financial advisors. First Allied is a Cetera Financial Group broker-dealer.

Former Wells Fargo Broker Mario Rivero Charged With $500K Investment Fraud

Published on: March 16, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Ex-Wells Fargo Clearing Services Advisor Allegedly Misappropriated Funds from Elderly Investors

Mario Everildo Rivero is charged with two counts of wire fraud, one count of securities fraud, and one count of investment advisor fraud. He was arrested on March 14, 2022. The ex-Wells Fargo Clearing Services broker is accused of stealing more than $500K from clients. All of them were older investors.

Prosecutors contend that from April 2018 to November 2020, when Rivero was working as a Wells Fargo financial advisor, he misappropriated at least $529K from four customers. This allegedly included:

SSEK Law Firm Continues to Investigate Northstar Financial Services (Bermuda) Losses Involving East West Bank

Published on: March 11, 2022 | by Kirk G. Smith

Several East West Bank Customers Worked With Cetera Broker Linda Fang

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm at investorlawyers.com) is continuing to investigate claims of losses involving East West Bank customers who invested in Northstar Financial Services (Bermuda) products.

East West Bank had signed a partnership agreement with Cetera Investment Services, LLC. The latter would offer “wealth management solutions and support” to the bank’s clients at several branches. East West Bancorp owns East West Bank. It was founded in Los Angeles in 1973 to cater to the Chinese American community in Southern California. It has branches in several U.S. states and China.

FINRA Suspends Ex-Stifel Nicolaus Broker Andrew Elsoffer for Two Years

Published on: March 10, 2022 | by Kirk G. Smith

Ohio Financial Advisor Andrew Elsoffer Named in Multiple Customer Disputes

Andrew Bruce Elsoffer, who Stifel, Nicolaus & Co. fired in 2018, is suspended by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for two years, beginning March 7, 2022. The suspension comes in the wake of customer allegations that he exercised discretion in their accounts without their written authorization.

He also allegedly lent money to one client, his personal friend, for home renovations without the firm’s approval. The friend later repaid him.

Class Action Securities Lawsuit Filed Against GWG Holdings Over L Bond Losses

Published on: March 9, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Texas-Based GWG Holdings and its Directors Are Defendants in Class-Action Lawsuit

Two investors seeking class-action status have filed a lawsuit against GWG Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: GWGH). They are accusing the Texas-based alternative asset manager and investor of life settlements, as well as its directors, of making misrepresentations and omissions in offering documents of its L Bonds.

GWGH sold more than $350M of these high-yield bonds between August 2020 and April 2021, when sales were discontinued due to liquidity problems. The company also failed to submit its 2020 yearly report in a timely manner. In February 2022, GWG Holdings defaulted on $3.25M of principal payments plus $10.35M of interest owed to L Bond investors.

Trusts of Late Investor Awarded $1.875M in UBS YES Case

Published on: March 8, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

FINRA Arbitration Ruling Grants Largest UBS YES Award to Date

A Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration panel has awarded a deceased investor’s family trusts $1.857M in their securities case against UBS Financial. The broker-dealer had involved the late Irving Siegel’s QTIP Trust and generation-skipping transfer trust in its UBS Yield Enhancement Strategy. This is the largest award to claimants over UBS YES losses to date.

Siegel passed away in 2013. He left the trusts for his family. The trusts accused the broker-dealer of misrepresentation, negligence, and fraud in their investor claim. A FINRA arbitration panel in Boca Raton, Florida, awarded Siegel’s QTIP trust $1.171M and his generation-skipping trust $517K. The rest of the award was for prejudgment interest and other fees.

Appointment of Class Representatives in Northstar (Bermuda) and Omnia Liquidations Doesn’t Help Investors

Published on: March 7, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Joint Provisional Liquidators & Deloitte Updates Credit Holders and Policyholders

On February 23, 2022, Rachelle Frisby, the Deloitte Financial Advisory head in Bermuda and the British Virgin Islands, sent a letter to creditors and policyholders updating them about the liquidation proceedings involving Northstar Financial Services (Bermuda) and Omnia, Ltd. (formerly Old Mutual (Bermuda)). Northstar (Bermuda) filed for bankruptcy in 2020. Omnia submitted its filing in 2019.

Both entities, which Global Bankers previously acquired, have come under scrutiny in the wake of owner Greg Linberg’s conviction for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bribery, as well as their subsequent liquidation proceedings. Meanwhile, investors of both entities have struggled to recover their investment losses.

Ex-Worden Capital Broker William Athas Accused of Excessive Trading That Cost Customers $1.1M

Published on: March 4, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Ex-NY Worden Capital Broker Barred After Allegedly Charging $1.6M in Commissions

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has barred ex-Worden Capital Management and former SW Financial registered representative, William Nicholas Athas. This bar comes in the wake of allegations that he engaged in excessive trading in customer accounts.

According to the self-regulatory organization’s (SRO’s) complaint, Athas controlled the trading in these accounts, deciding the frequency and volume of trades. He also allegedly made the calls regarding which securities to purchase and sell, as well as the quantity and timing of each transaction. William Athas’ customers usually would go by his recommendations.

Massachusetts Charges Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments Over Investors’ $2.3M in ETF Losses

Published on: March 3, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Brokers Allegedly Involved Were Also Harvest Group Wealth Management Investment Advisers

Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin has filed a complaint against Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments (PKS Investments), accusing the broker-dealer of failing to supervise its financial advisors. These advisors who were dually registered through another financial firm allegedly sold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that were unsuitable for customers.

This other firm was Waltham-based investment advisor Harvest Group Wealth Management. As a result, the state securities regulator contends that investors suffered $2.3M in losses.