UBS Financial Services

UBS Financial Ordered to Pay Punitive Damages in $1.3M Arbitration Ruling Over YES Strategy

Published on: July 28, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Broker-Dealer Losses Yet Another Investor Claim Involving Its Yield Enhancement Strategy

A Financial Industry Regulatory Authority arbitration panel has awarded investors $1.34M, including punitive damages, for losses sustained in the UBS Yield Enhancement Strategy. This is the latest award related to UBS Financial’s complex options trading strategy that has cost investors over $1B.

In June 2022, UBS agreed to pay $25M to settle Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) fraud charges accusing the firm with failure to provide its brokers with proper training and oversight in the YES program even as they sold this strategy to hundreds of investors. This purportedly caused many of the firm’s financial advisors to not fully comprehend the risks involved and affected their ability to determine whether the Yield Enhancement Strategy was, in fact, in the best interests of these customers.

UBS To Pay $25M To Settle SEC Charges Involving Its Yield Enhancement Strategy

Published on: July 26, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Firm Accused of Inadequate Training And Poor Supervision of Brokers That Sold YES

UBS Financial Services has consented to pay about $25M to settle US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charges related to the firm’s Yield Enhancement Strategy (YES). The regulator contends that the broker-dealer, which marketed and sold $2B of UBS YES to about 600 high-net-worth individual investors between February 2016 and February 2017, allegedly failed to adequately train its financial advisors in and supervise this complex iron condor strategy.

This purportedly included the firm knowing about— documenting—the “possibility of significant risk” but not notifying many of its brokers and clients about this.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Former UBS Broker German Nino Allegedly Stole $5.8M From Client

Published on: January 31, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Ex-UBS Financial Services Advisor Faces SEC and Criminal Charges

German Nino, a former UBS Financial Services (UBS) broker and investment advisor, is accused of stealing $5.8M from a customer. Nino, who left the broker-dealer in 2020, is now facing related civil charges brought by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and parallel criminal charges.

Our Florida broker misconduct lawyers are looking into claims of significant investment losses by other ex-customers of the financial advisor, German Nino. Contact us at Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas today so that we can help you determine whether you have grounds for a FINRA arbitration claim to file for damages.

UBS YES Clients of Broker William Cerf Want $16.5M in Damages

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

UBS Financial Services is Also a Defendant in New Class Action Lawsuit

If you are a UBS Financial Services customer who invested in the firm’s Yield Enhancement Strategy (UBS YES) at the recommendation of New York financial advisor, William Montgomery Cerf, you are not alone.

According to BrokerCheck, William Cerf is named in six pending customer disputes. The claimants are collectively requesting $16.5M in damages. He is also one among many UBS brokers who marketed and sold UBS YES as a low-risk way to generate modest income. This options overlay strategy has ended up costing wealthy investors millions of dollars.

Customers of UBS Broker Roderick Von Lipsey Report UBS YES Losses

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

Claimants Are Seeking Over $4M in Damages Over UBS YES Strategy

If you suffered investment losses while working with UBS Financial Services broker and investment advisor Roderick K. Von Lipsey, you may have grounds for filing a FINRA arbitration claim to recover damages.

In the last 2.5 years, between September 2019 and January 2022, the Washington DC financial advisor has been named in four pending customer disputes over alleged losses sustained in the UBS Yield Enhancement Strategy (UBS YES).

More Customers Say UBS Broker Brian Donaldson Unsuitably Recommended Yield Enhancement Strategy

Published on: October 15, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

YES Strategy Investors Suffer Losses, Say Risks Were Misrepresented

Another Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claim has been filed against UBS Financial for losses sustained in its Yield Enhancement Strategy. The claimants contend that their financial advisors at the broker-dealer unsuitably recommended this iron condor strategy that was misrepresented to them as low risk.

The investors say that they worked with UBS brokers Brian Jay Donaldson and Frank Frederick Baldwin. According to BrokerCheck, this is Baldwin’s first customer dispute and Donaldson’s second. The first one involving Donaldson is also over UBS YES losses with that claimant seeking $600K in damages.