Financial Firms

Japanese Customers Of Bankoh Investment Services File 7-Figure Claim Over Northstar Financial Services (Bermuda) Losses

Published on: June 13, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

More Claimants Accuse Broker Yoko Farias of Overconcentration In Obscure, Offshore Investment

An older couple from Japan has filed a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claim requesting between $500K and $1M in financial recovery over losses sustained in Northstar Financial Services (Bermuda). The respondents are Bankoh Investment Services and its registered representative Yoko K. Farias in Hawaii.

The investors contend that Bankoh and Farias allegedly abused their trust by overconcentrating a considerable amount of their assets in Northstar (Bermuda), which is now defunct and in liquidation proceedings. Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm at investorlawyers.com) represent these claimants in FINRA arbitration in the United States.

Fired Berthel Fisher Broker Steve Cummings’ Customers Report Investment Losses

Published on: June 10, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Ex-Alabama Financial Advisor Has Been Accused of Misrepresentations and Unsuitability

Our knowledgeable broker misconduct attorneys are investigating claims of losses by customers of ex-Berthel Fisher & Co. registered representative Steve Jeffrey Cummings. In July 2021, claimants filed a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claim for $250K in damages.

The customers contend that they were sold unsuitable investments between 2010 and 2015 and that Cummings allegedly made misrepresentations to them. They believe brokerage firm Berthel Fisher failed to supervise its Alabama broker and did not conduct proper due diligence. In 2017, Berthel Fisher fired Cummings over allegations that he did not disclose tax liens in a timely fashion.

Arizona Investor Alleges That Modern Wealth Management in Tucson Unsuitably Recommended GWG L Bonds

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

Centaurus Financial is Respondent in Six-Figure FINRA Arbitration Claim

A Salt Lakes, Arizona investor, has filed a FINRA arbitration claim against Centaurus Financial over losses he sustained in GWG L Bonds. Offering documents for the investment named ex-Centaurus broker Otto Ramon Bohon. Recently, Bohon has locally been affiliated with Modern Wealth Management (formerly Catalina Investments) as a registered representative.

The claimant is seeking to recover up to $500K in damages. Our GWG L Bond lawyers are representing him in FINRA arbitration.

Ameriprise Subsidiary RiverSource Fined $5M For Allegedly Improperly Switching Customers’ Variable Exchanges To Earn Commissions

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

RiverSource Distributors Accused of Targeting Retail Ameriprise Financial Customers With VA Sales

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is ordering Ameriprise’s subsidiary brokerage firm, RiverSource Distributors, to pay a $5M fine for alleged violations involving variable annuities (VAs). The regulator contends that several RiverSource employees came up with a sales strategy that caused holders of these products to switch annuities. This purportedly resulted in enhanced sales commissions and boosted VA sales revenues for the firm.

The SEC said that RiverSource Distributors sold the VA exchanges to retail customers through Ameriprise Financial Services. It charged RiverSource with “improper switching or replacing variable annuities.” The case is the SEC’s first-ever enforcement proceeding under the Investment Company Act of 1940’s Section 11.

Cetera Investment Services Named in Chinese Couple’s 7-Figure Beechwood Bermuda Claim

Published on: June 2, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Ex-Cetera Investment Services Broker Xinxin Lu May Have Overconcentrated Couple’s Account in Obscure, Offshore Investment

Our seasoned securities lawyers have filed a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration case against Cetera Investment Services on behalf of two Chinese investors. These investors seek up to $5M in damages for losses they sustained in Beechwood Bermuda. The claimants, an older couple who have health issues, worked with former Cetera broker Xinxin Lu (also known as Stella Lu).

Beechwood Bermuda (formerly known as PB Life) is a division of Northstar Financial Services (Bermuda). Both are offshore entities that are now defunct and were owned by billionaire Greg Lindberg. He is now in prison for bribery and wire fraud.

GWG Managing Broker-Dealer Emerson Equity Reports Possible Financial Woes

Published on: May 30, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Emerson Equity’s Audited Financial Statement With the SEC Reports Problems Involving Unnamed Offering

Emerson Equity disclosed problems involving an unnamed offering in its yearly audited financial statement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This unnamed offering could potentially cause financial harm to the brokerage firm. The full-service broker-dealer, which works with high net worth individual investors and institutional clients, is the lead seller and underwriter of the L Bonds issued by GWG Holdings, Inc.

In April 2022, GWG Holdings, which sold $1.6B of L Bonds to investors, announced filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Emerson Equity is the lead seller of these high-yield bonds. It partnered with more than 140 regional brokerage firms to sell these life settlement-backed bonds to customers.

Despite Red Flags, Centaurus Financial Allegedly Raised Cap for Selling L Bonds To Customers

Published on: May 27, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

SSEK Law Firm is Representing Investors Against Centaurus Financial

In a recent InvestmentNews column, reporter Bruce Kelly discussed how broker-dealers and their financial advisors continued selling L Bonds to customers despite indications of possible troubles at GWG Holdings, Inc. In April 2022, the alternative asset firm filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

The firm sold $1.6B in life insurance-backed bonds through over 140 regional brokerage firms and managing broker-dealer Emerson Equity. It is unknown what value these high-yield bonds still have or if they are worth anything at all now. Visit our L Bonds and GWG Holdings, Inc. pages to find out more.

UBS Financial Services Ordered To Pay Yield Enhancement Strategy Customers Almost $4 Million

Published on: May 27, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Francis Amsler and Marc Lobarde Were the UBS Financial Brokers of Record

A Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration panel has awarded a Houston, Texas, couple $3.9 million in their claim against UBS Financial Services (UBS). The couple alleged losses from the firm’s Yield Enhancement Strategy (YES).

Now, UBS must pay these former YES investors almost $4 million to compensate the investors for their losses. This includes $2.9 million in compensatory damages and approximately $1 million in legal fees and other costs.

Kansas City Retiree Files GWG L Bond Claim Against Titan Securities and Rodger Sprouse of Sprouse Financial in Lee’s Summit, MO

Published on: May 25, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Claimant Says He Was Never Apprised of the Risks Involved in GWG ‘Junk’ L Bonds

A retired Missouri worker has filed a six-figure Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claim against Titan Securities and its broker, Rodger Sprouse, over losses sustained in GWG L Bonds. The claimant, who is on disability and was forced to stop working after an injury, is an inexperienced investor.

The claimant contends that Titan Securities and Sprouse allegedly unsuitably recommended these illiquid, speculative junk bonds without fully informing him about the risks. Sprouse is also the owner of Sprouse Financial in Lee’s Summit.

Former UBS Broker Robert Turner in Waco, Texas May Have Stolen Over $17M From Customers

Published on: May 24, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Ex-UBS Financial Services Broker Robert Turner Investigated For Stealing Clients’ Money

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm at investorlawyers.com) is looking into claims of losses involving former UBS Financial Services broker Robert Earl Turner. Although no longer a registered broker or investment advisor, Turner worked in the industry for 31 years. He spent 25 years at UBS until October 2021. He is accused of stealing money from customers in a scam that allegedly lasted for over two decades.

In late 2021, Turner and his wife joined Stifel, Nicolaus, & Co. She is still with that firm, although Robert left after just several months in early 2022. While at UBS Financial Services, they reportedly oversaw $900M in customer assets and made about $3M in yearly revenue.