Senior Investors

Elder Financial Exploitation

Published on: June 29, 2023 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Our Skilled Elder Financial Abuse Attorneys Represents Retirees and Seniors

Elder Financial Exploitation Leads To $28.3B in Losses Yearly, Reports AARP

If you are wondering whether you or someone you love may have suffered investment losses due to elder financial abuse by a broker, contact Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (investorlawyers.com) today. Throughout the US, we help seniors and retirees in going after the brokerage firms whose negligence or misconduct led to them losing money.

Senior Investor Fraud Lawyers

Published on: May 30, 2023 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Are You A Retiree Whose Citizens Securities Broker Sold You Colorado Bankers Life Insurance Annuity?

Our Trusted Senior Investor Fraud Lawyers May Be Able To Help You Recoup Your Losses

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas team of Senior Investor Fraud Lawyers (investorlawyers.com) are helping many of the investors who suffered losses in Colorado Bankers Life Insurance and the other insurance companies owned by Greg Lindberg. This includes, most recently, filing another FINRA lawsuit against brokerage firm Citizens Securities, Inc. on behalf of a Florida retiree who is seeking up to $500K in damages.

Ex-Garden State Securities Broker Joseph DeGregorio Allegedly Defrauded Elderly Investors

Published on: March 11, 2022 | by Samuel B. Edwards

SEC Says Older Seniors Were Defrauded of $1.2M by Garden State Securities Broker

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed civil charges against former Garden State Securities financial advisor Joseph Orazio DeGregorio. The previously registered broker, who worked at 14 firms in 14 years, is accused of defrauding four elderly investors of $1.2M.

He has now settled the Commission’s charges with disgorgement, interest, and a penalty to be determined later. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York has filed parallel criminal charges.

Ex-LPL Financial Broker Matthew Clason Pleads Guilty To Defrauding Elderly Investor of $600K

Published on: May 14, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Barred Connecticut Financial Advisor Faces Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud

Matthew O. Clason, a former LPL Financial broker, has pleaded guilty to wire transfer fraud related to his misappropriation of $600K from a 73-year-old Connecticut retiree. Now he could be sentenced to up to 20 years behind bars. The theft is from when Clason worked with the senior investor as a registered representative with LPL Financial and before that with Lincoln Financial Advisors.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) barred Clason in September 2020 right after the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed parallel charges against him. The brokerage firm had fired Clason the month before, as did Integrated Wealth Concepts where he was a registered investment adviser.

Retiree Who Worked With Ex-Kestra Investment Services Broker James Daughtry Seeks Up To $500K in Damages

Published on: May 4, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Alabama Investor Contends The Daughtry Group Owner Unsuitably Invested His Retirement Funds

Another investor has stepped forward to file a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claim against Kestra Investment Services over financial losses sustained while working with the firm’s former broker, James Blake Daughtry. The latter ran a local office in Dothan, Alabama known as The Daughtry Group. FINRA barred Daughtry and Kestra fired him last year.

The claimant, a senior investor, contends that Kestra failed to properly supervise Daughtry, whom he accuses of making fraudulent and unauthorized transactions in his account. As a result, this retiree lost $232K. He is seeking up to $500K in damages.

JP Morgan Securities & Two Former Brokers Ordered to Pay $19M, Found Liable for Elder Financial Abuse

Published on: February 17, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Unauthorized Trading and Abuse of Fiduciary Duty By Older Investor’s Grandsons

A Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration panel has ruled that JP Morgan Securities (JPM) and its ex-brokers, Avi Elliot Schottenstein and Evan A. Schottenstein, must pay a senior investor $19M in her investment fraud claim over losses sustained from the unauthorized trading of complex products in her brokerage account.

The claimant is Beverley Schottenstein of Bal Harbour, Florida, of the family that owns holding company Schottenstein Stores Corp. The two former JP Morgan registered representatives are her grandsons.

Ex- NPB Financial Broker Cynthia Cowden Allegedly Recommended Investments That Were Too Risky For Senior Investors

Published on: December 21, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

FINRA Bars Californian Financial Advisor After Older Customers Suffer Huge Losses

Cynthia Diane Cowden, a former NPB Financial Group stockbroker, has been barred by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Cowden, who also was a registered investment advisor, is based out of Lake Isabella, California where she operated under the name Cynthia Cowden Investments.

At Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm at investorlawyers.com), our California senior investment fraud attorneys are investigating claims involving former customers of Cynthia Cowden. Call us at (619) 550-4847.

Former Benjamin & Jerrold Broker Rand Heckler Faces Elder Financial Fraud and Ponzi Scam Allegations

Published on: October 9, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Rand Heckler of Rand Heckler, Inc. is Now The Subject of SEC and Criminal Fraud Charges

Former stockbroker Rand Allan Heckler of Long Island, New York, is facing US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charges accusing him of investor fraud. Heckler, who was barred by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) last year, is also now facing criminal charges alleging that he ran an over $1M Ponzi scam.

Over his 22 years in the securities industry, Rand Heckler worked at 11 broker-dealers. Four of these firms were expelled by FINRA.

SEC Says Fired LPL Financial Broker Stole $300K From 73-Year Old Retiree

Published on: October 6, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Former LPL Financial Investment Advisor Was Also Was Let Go By Integrated Wealth Concepts

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed civil charges accusing former LPL Financial (LPLA) registered representative, Matthew O. Clason, of defrauding an older investor of over $300K.

In August, Clason, who worked out of Glastonbury, Connecticut, was let go by LPL Financial. He also was fired by Integrated Wealth Concepts, where he was an investment advisor. In September, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) barred Clason.

SEC Accuses Financial Advisor And Strategic Wealth Advisor Group of Stealing $2.2M From Senior Investors

Published on: September 4, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Investment Advisor Allegedly Defrauded Senior Investors to Fund Lavish Lifestyle

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed charges against Mark Joseph Boucher, a California-based investment adviser, and his firm, Strategic Wealth Advisor Group Services.

Boucher and Strategic Wealth Advisor Group are accused of stealing $2.2M from older customers, including one who had died. Now, the regulator wants permanent injunctions, civil penalties, and disgorgement with prejudgment interest.