REITs

SSEK Law Firm Continues to Investigate Brokers Who Sold Hospitality Investors Trust

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

Non-Traded REIT Causes Investor Losses of Up To Over 95%

Our non-traded real estate investment trust (non-traded REIT) lawyers are continuing to look into claims of losses by investors whose financial advisors marketed and sold shares in Hospitality Investors Trust (HIT REIT). This investment was previously named American Realty Capital Hospitality Trust (ARC Hospitality). Unfortunately, some may have lost up to 95% of their investment.

Please call Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm at investorlawyers.com) at (800) 259-9010 and ask to schedule your free, no-obligation case assessment with one of our seasoned investment fraud lawyers.

Cetera Advisors Broker Jeffrey Meyers Accused of Making Unsuitable REIT Investment Recommendations

Published on: November 10, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Hospitality Investors Trust Was One of the REITs Marketed

Cetera Advisors Network broker Jeffrey Gerard Meyers, an Overland Park, Kansas financial advisor, is named in two pending customer disputes.

The claimants are accusing him of making unsuitable investment recommendations involving non-liquid real estate investment trusts (REIT). One of the products was Hospitality Investors Trust (HIT REIT), which declared bankruptcy after the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Ex-Western International Securities Broker Megurditch Patatian Allegedly Unsuitably Recommended Non-Traded REITs to Investors

Published on: October 26, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

FINRA Claims Former Financial Advisor Also Cost Investors Over Variable Annuities

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has filed a complaint accusing ex-Western International Securities registered representative Megurditch Mike Patatian of unsuitably recommending to 59 customers that they purchase non-traded real estate investment trusts (non-traded REITs). According to the self-regulatory organization (SRO), Patatian lacked reasonable grounds to make 81 recommendations to these customers. Not only that, but for four of the non-traded REIT sales at issue, the ex-financial advisor recommended that they surrender their variable annuities (VAs), which caused them to have to pay surrender fees and incur taxes.

These purportedly unsuitable recommendations which caused investors to lose money, occurred while Patatian was with Western International Securities in Westlake Village, CA. (After leaving that brokerage firm in 2020, he became a Supreme Alliance broker for less than a year in Charlotte, North Carolina.)

SEC Investigates Ex-MVP American Securities Broker Mike Shustek Over REIT Investors’ Losses

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

Ex-Broker Mike Shustek is Accused of Fraudulently Enriching Himself and the Company

Michael Vincent Shustek, an ex-MVP American Securities stockbroker and the CEO of a number of real estate investment trusts (REITs) is facing SEC charges. The ex-broker is being accused of enriching himself and The Parking REIT since 2012.

He purportedly did this by causing financial harm to Vestin Realty Mortgage I and Vestin Realty Mortgage II, two of the real estate investment trusts that he founded. The Commission contends that Shustek took $29M from the two Vestin REITs to become involved in a number of “money-losing transactions” that involved reselling the same several buildings repeatedly.

Benefit Street Partners Realty Trust to Merge With Capstead Mortgage Corp.

Published on: August 3, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Benefit Street Partners Realty Trust Investors May Be Looking At More Losses

If you are an investor whose broker unsuitably recommended Benefit Street Partners Realty Trust, you may have grounds for a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claim to recover damages.

On July 26, this publicly registered non-traded real estate investment trust (non-traded REIT) announced its merger with Capstead Mortgage Corporation. The combined company will be named Franklin BSP Realty Trust and is set to become the fourth biggest commercial mortgage REIT with a common stock that will trade on the New York Stock Exchange.

Hospitality Investors Trust Files For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection

Published on: June 23, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Non-Traded REIT Seeks To Restructure $1.3B in Unsecured Debt

If you are an investor whose broker recommended that you invest in Hospitality Investors Trust (HIT), you may have grounds for a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claim to recover damages.

Hospitality Investors Trust used to be called American Realty Capital Hospitality Trust (ARC Hospitality Trust). In May 2021, the publicly registered non-traded real estate investment trust (non-traded REIT) filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection as it seeks to restructure its $1.3B in unsecured debt.

Georgia Retiree Files Non-Traded REIT Fraud Claim Against MML Investors Services

Published on: April 5, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Allegedly Unsuitable Recommendations Caused Senior Investor Loss of Savings

A Brunswick, Georgia retiree has filed a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration case against broker-dealer MML Investors Services, LLC. The investor contends that a broker from the firm overconcentrated his IRA and a non-IRA account in CNL Lifestyle Properties, which is an illiquid, privately traded real estate investment trust (non-traded REIT).

This caused him to lose a large portion of his savings. Now, the investor is alleging failure to supervise, unauthorized transactions, securities fraud, broker negligence, breach of duty, breach of contract, violation of state securities laws, and other claims. He is seeking up to $100K plus interest and costs.

SSEK Law Firm Investigates Brokerage Firms That Sold New York City REIT to Customers

Published on: March 25, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Investors That Bought NYC Stock When it Was a Non-Traded REIT Hit Especially Hard After NYSE Listing

Our real estate investment fraud attorneys (REIT) at Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm at investorlawyers.com) are investigating the broker-dealers and investment advisors that sold New York City REIT (NYC) to customers.

Now available on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and open to any investor with a brokerage account, this real estate investment trust used to be a non-traded REIT and it is the investors that purchased this non-traded real estate trust that have sustained the most significant losses after it went public in August 2020.

Utah Retirees Files $500K Investor Fraud Claim Over GPB & REIT Losses After Working With Triad Advisors & Broker Michael Payne

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

Triad Advisors and its Ex-Florida-Based Broker Placed Claimants Funds In Too Risky GPB Capital & REIT Investments

Two Utah retirees have filed a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claim against Triad Advisors, Inc. over losses they suffered from investing in GPB private placements and privately traded real estate investment trusts (REITs), including American Realty Capital Trust. Now they are seeking up to $500K in damages.

The couple worked with former Triad Advisors broker Michael Payne, who is now a broker with Proequities, Inc. in Longwood, Florida. He also is a financial representative with Payne Financial Group in Winter Springs, Florida.

Broker Tamber Proctor Accused of Unsuitably Recommending FS Energy & Power Fund and the Northstar REIT

Published on: December 16, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Ex-LPL Broker Marketed Non-Traded Investments To Mississippi Retiree

A retired investor has filed a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claim against LPL Financial and its former broker, Tamber King Proctor, seeking up to $100K in damages.

The claimant contends that LPL Financial and Proctor should have never recommended that he invest in the business development company (BDC), FS Energy & Power Fund (FSEP), and the Northstar Healthcare Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT).