Financial Firms

Following GWG Holdings’ Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, SSEK Law Firm Steps Up Investigation of Brokerage Firms That Sold L Bonds

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

High-Yield GWG L Bonds May Now Be Worth 20 to 30 Cents on The Dollar

Our high-yield bond lawyers investigate brokerage firms that sold GWG L Bonds to their customers. On April 20, 2022, GWG Holdings, Inc., the issuer of these junk bonds, announced that it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

The news comes in the wake of a slew of troubles involving the Texas-based alternative firm. GWG Holdings owes investors $13.6M in principal payments plus interest and is way behind in submitting yearly regulatory filings. It also has been under investigation by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) since 2020.

SEC Sues Ex-Morgan Stanley Broker Shawn Good Over Alleged $4.8M Ponzi Scam

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

Ex-Morgan Stanley Broker Accused of Defrauding Investors, Including Retirees

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed civil charges against former Morgan Stanley financial advisor Shawn Edward Good accusing him of operating a years-long Ponzi scheme and misappropriating millions of dollars from customers.

Shawn Good is accused of raising at least $4.8M from five clients at the firm, including retirees and a single mom with young children, to supposedly invest in low-risk, tax-free bonds and land development projects.

GWG Holdings Files For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection

Published on: April 22, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Issuer of L Bonds Says SEC’s Probe Contributed to Its Demise

In the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas on April 20, 2022, GWG Holdings, Inc. (GWGH) voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The move was expected in the wake of the regulatory and financial woes plaguing the Dallas-based alternative firm.

GWG Holdings’ bankruptcy is bad news for investors, many of whom are retail customers, including elderly investors and retirees. In February 2022, the company, which sold $1.6B in life-settlement backed bonds via independent brokerage firms, had defaulted on $13.6M in principal payments and interest it owed investors of its L Bond series.

Ex-Transamerica Financial Advisors Broker Scott Allen Fries Ordered To Pay Over $747K For Allegedly Defrauding Investors

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

SEC Obtains Default Judgment Against Former Cincinnati, Ohio Registered Representative

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has obtained a default judgment against Scott Allen Fries. He was a Transamerica Financial Advisors registered representative from 2014 to 2019.

The regulator’s amended complaint accuses the former broker and investment advisor of raising approximately $458K from at least ten investors, including customers from the brokerage firm, and using the funds to pay for his personal expenses. Fries is barred from further fraud violations and must pay disgorgement of $428,334.53, a civil penalty of $208,500, and a prejudgment interest of $110,548.02.

SSEK Law Firm Investigates Claims of Investor Losses Involving Grab Holdings, Ltd.

Published on: April 19, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Investors Involved in Biggest SPAC Merger File Class Action Securities Lawsuit

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm at investorlawyers.com) is looking into claims of losses by investors of Grab Holdings, Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRAB). This firm became a public entity on December 1, 2021, via the largest Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) merger to date with Altimeter Growth Corp. The latter is a blank-check firm run by Altimeter Capital CEO and founder Brad Gerstner.

Grab Holdings, the largest ride-hailing, and delivery company in Southeast Asia has experienced the opposite of growth. Its shares plunged over 20% from $13.06/share to $8.75 at the end of the first day of trading. On March 3, 2022, Grab announced that fourth-quarter revenues saw a 44% drop from the third quarter. That’s a $1.1B loss.

UBS Financial Services To Pay YES Investors Almost $1.2M

Published on: April 15, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

YES Claimants’ FINRA Arbitration Case Alleged Misrepresentations and Negligence

A Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration panel has awarded two investors $1.2M (plus 6% interest from June 28, 2019, through March 7, 2022) over losses they sustained in the UBS Yield Enhancement Strategy (UBS YES). This options overlay strategy, also known as the iron condor strategy, is exclusive to UBS.

The claimants contend that UBS YES was misrepresented and not in line with their investment goals and risk tolerance level. They accused the broker-dealer of fraud, negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, unsuitability, and other violations.

NI Advisors Sold GWG L Bond To Inexperienced Investor Who Suffered Losses

Published on: April 14, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Broker Peter Po Unsuitably Recommended High-Risk Product

A California investor has sustained losses in GWG Holdings’ (NASDAQ: GWGH) L Bonds. NI Advisors and broker Peter T. Po unsuitably recommended this precarious high-yield bond. This retail customer has filed a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claim requesting damages for his losses.

Our GWG L Bond investment attorneys represent this claimant in his FINRA arbitration case. We are also investigating other claims of losses by investors whose brokerage firms sold them this illiquid, risky product.

GWG Holdings Expected To File For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Published on: April 12, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Dallas-Based Alternative Asset Firm Expected To Seek Bankruptcy Protection Very Soon

According to sources, GWG Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: GWGH) is preparing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The reports come after the Texas-based alternative asset firm notified the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in an April 1, 2022 filing that it could not submit its 2021 yearly report and other financial statements. The firm has yet to retain an auditor since Grant Thornton stepped down from that role in December 2021.

Not having an auditor for this long can signify that a company is planning to seek bankruptcy protection. However, according to InvestmentNews, a GWG spokesperson refused to comment about such preparations when questioned.

Central American Couple Pursues 6-Figure Northstar Financial Services (Bermuda) Claim Against Ocean Financial Services

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

Global VIP and Global Advantage Select Were Unsuitable For Claimants

Two older investors from Venezuela have filed a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claim against Ocean Financial Services over losses they sustained in Northstar Financial Services (Bermuda). They are requesting about $385K, plus interests and costs, after the broker-dealer unsuitably recommended Northstar (Bermuda)’s Global Advantage Select and Global VIP.

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas, LLP and Sonn Law Group, PA jointly represent this couple. A FINRA arbitration panel will hear their Northstar Financial Services (Bermuda) investment claim in Boca Raton, Florida.

McNally Financial Services’ Recommendation of Lightstone Real Estate Income Trust Leads To Couple’s Losses

Published on: April 5, 2022 | by Samuel B. Edwards

Investors’ Worked With Ex-McNally Financial Broker Michael O’Meara

An older couple from Washington State has filed a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claim against McNally Financial Services and its former broker Michael Charles O’Meara. The claimants seek up to six figures in damages and contend that they were unsuitably recommended and sold Lightstone Real Estate Income Trust.

This private, non-traded real estate investment trust (non-traded REIT) was too risky and complex for inexperienced investors like them. In September 2021, Lightstone Real Estate Income Trust changed its name to Lightstone Value Plus REIT IV, Inc.