FINRA

Ex-Joseph Stone Capital Broker Joseph Ambrosole Faces Excessive and Unsuitable Trading Allegations

Published on: August 17, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Customer of Former New York Financial Advisor Is Requesting Over $850K in Damages

In July 2022, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) permanently barred Joseph Albert Ambrosole after he refused to testify in the self-regulatory organization’s (SRO) probe. FINRA led this investigation concerning an amended Uniform Termination Notice by Joseph Stone Capital, one of the broker-dealers where he used to be registered. According to that member firm, Ambrosole, who resigned, was the subject of a customer complaint accusing him of allegedly engaging in unsuitable trading.

The ex-New York broker, who worked in the industry for eight years, was most recently a Joseph Stone Capital financial advisor between 2017 to 2021. Other firms where Ambrosole used to be a registered representative include Alexander Capital, Meyers Associates, Global Arena Capital, Laidlaw & Co., and Obsidian Financial Group.

Spartan Capital Securities Broker James Pecoraro Suspended Following Excessive Trading Allegations

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

New York Broker Allegedly Cost Customers Six-Figure Losses, Trading Costs, and Commissions

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has suspended Spartan Capital Securities financial advisor James Robert Pecoraro for nine months. FINRA ordered him to pay a $10K penalty and nearly $69K restitution for allegedly excessively unauthorized trading in customers’ accounts. The New York broker consented to the sanctions without denying or admitting to the findings.

According to the self-regulatory organization (SRO), Pecoraro recommended to certain clients a pattern of very costly, high-velocity trading that involved him making frequent stop loss orders, resulting in the liquidation of securities positions. At this point, he would allegedly recommend new purchases to the investors. FINRA said these trades were excessive and unsuitable for the investors, given their investing profiles. The trades cost them investment losses of over $166K and total trading costs of more than $184K, including over $165K in commissions.

Shomir Mukherjee, Western International Securities Broker in Los Angeles Allegedly Concentrated GWG L Bonds & Non-Traded REITs

Published on: July 6, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Texas Retiree Files Six-Figure FINRA Arbitration Claim Over Her Investment Losses

An Austin, TX investor has filed a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claim against Western International Securities, Inc. The investor sustained losses in GWG Holdings L Bonds and the following non-traded real estate investment trusts (non-traded REITs):

Griffin Realty Trust Class E

SSEK Law Firm Client of Fired J.P. Morgan Securities Broker Ed Turley Wins $4 Million FINRA Arbitration Award

Published on: December 13, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

SSEK Law Firm Represented Client of Fired J.P. Morgan Securities Broker, Ed Turley, and Wins $4 Million FINRA Arbitration Award

A Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration panel in Houston, Texas has awarded a client of Shepherd, Smith, Edwards & Kantas (SSEK Law Firm at investorlawyers.com) $4 million in compensatory damages over losses she sustained while working with ex-J.P. Morgan Securities stockbroker, Edward Turley.

Not only did this ex-San Francisco-based financial advisor unsuitably invest her in products that were too risky, but he and the firm also used a complex strategy that involved borrowing on margin without her knowledge. Tragically, the client lost millions of dollars while Ed Turley and J.P. Morgan profited significantly from her account.

Former Morgan Stanley Broker Jesus Rodriguez Is Barred by FINRA

Published on: December 7, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Ex-El Paso Financial Advisor Allegedly Took Over $61K From Client Credit Line

On November 29, 2021, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) barred Jesus Rodriguez. The former Texas broker was accused of taking over $61K from a client credit line for his own use. The sanction came after he refused to cooperate in the self-regulatory organization’s (SRO’s) investigation. Rodriguez is also named in several customer disputes.

Our broker misconduct attorneys are speaking with former customers of ex-Morgan Stanley financial advisor Jesus Rodriguez that have suffered investment losses. We can help you determine whether you have grounds for a FINRA arbitration claim.

SSEK Law Firm Files FINRA Arbitration Claims Against J.P. Morgan For Customers of Fired Broker Ed Turley

Published on: September 28, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Former San Francisco Financial Advisor Costs Investors Over $62 million

Our FINRA arbitration lawyers at Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm at investorlawyers.com) are continuing to investigate investors’ claims of losses sustained while working with ex-J.P. Morgan Securities LLC broker, Edward Lawrence Turley.

Already, SSEK Law Firm has filed a number of FINRA arbitration cases on behalf of customers requesting damages from Turley’s former broker-dealer. To date, investors who worked with Turley have filed FINRA claims alleging more than $62 million in losses.

Former CFD Investments Broker Dana Vietor Facing Over $3M in Customer Complaints

Published on: September 20, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Financial Independence President & Ex-Dallas, Texas Financial Advisor Was Barred by FINRA

Dana Bruce Vietor, a former CFD Investment Services registered representative is under scrutiny following multiple allegations of broker misconduct that have led to customer losses. The latest still pending claims were brought by investors seeking to collectively recover more than $3M in damages.

According to his LinkedIn, Vietor is the President of Financial Independence Corp. in Dallas, Texas. He also is a manager of SRS Management, LLC.

Former LPL Financial Broker Kevin McCallum Facing Over $4.8M in FINRA Arbitration Claims

Published on: August 24, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Glacier Point Advisors Managing Partner is Ordered to Pay Customers More Than $1.2M in Restitution

Kevin Marshall McCallum, a former LPL Financial stockbroker and the Managing Partner of Glacier Point Advisors has been suspended by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for a year.

McCallum is ordered to pay over $1.2M, along with interest, in deferred restitution to customers. He is currently facing more than $4.8M in FINRA arbitration claims from investors for their losses.

Brokerage Firms With History of Misconduct Will Have To Put Money Aside for Investor Claims

Published on: August 11, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

SEC Approves New FINRA Rule That Will Designate Some Brokerage Firms as “Restricted”

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) rule 4111, which will require certain brokerage firm members with histories of broker misconduct to put aside reserve funds to pay for both future and unpaid investor claims, has now been approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

These broker-dealers will be deemed “restricted” based on numeric thresholds to be determined by the self-regulatory organization (SRO) that involve six conditions including disclosure events involving the firm or its registered individuals, firings, and affiliated registered individuals from broker-dealers that already have been expelled.

Sigma Financial is Facing $4.5M in Possible Damages from Customer Claims Arbitration

Published on: June 22, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Recent Report to SEC Notes Four Pending Disputes Against Sigma Financial

InvestmentNews reports that according to Sigma Financial Corp.’s recent Focus Report to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the firm is contending with four pending Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claims from customers alleging damages of approximately $4.5M. The broker-dealer noted that it has put aside nearly $652K should these claims result in settlements or awards.

Our broker-dealer negligence lawyers at Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm at investorlawyers.com) are representing clients who have suffered losses because of the negligence or fraudulent actions of a Sigma Financial broker. Call us at (800) 259-9010 today.