Churning

Ex-Summit Brokerage Services Financial Advisor Francis Velten Barred Following Churning Allegations in Elderly Customers’ Accounts

Published on: August 5, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Former New Port Richey, FL broker is also accused of selling away

Francis Joseph Velten, most recently an Ameriprise Financial Services broker, is now barred by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). He’s accused of churning in older investors’ accounts and encouraging them to surrender their annuities and mutual fund holdings to buy bonus annuities. This caused them to pay surrender fees while he earned commissions from the transactions.

Churning, which involves excessively trading in customer accounts, is one of the ways many brokers will try to earn additional money through resulting commissions and fees. Unfortunately, this can cause investors substantial losses, especially if done in excess.

Ex-Worden Capital Broker William Athas Accused of Excessive Trading That Cost Customers $1.1M

Published on: March 4, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Ex-NY Worden Capital Broker Barred After Allegedly Charging $1.6M in Commissions

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has barred ex-Worden Capital Management and former SW Financial registered representative, William Nicholas Athas. This bar comes in the wake of allegations that he engaged in excessive trading in customer accounts.

According to the self-regulatory organization’s (SRO’s) complaint, Athas controlled the trading in these accounts, deciding the frequency and volume of trades. He also allegedly made the calls regarding which securities to purchase and sell, as well as the quantity and timing of each transaction. William Athas’ customers usually would go by his recommendations.

Aegis Capital To Pay $2.75M For Churning in FINRA Case

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

68 Customers To Receive Restitution From NY-Based Broker-Dealer, Aegis Capital

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has sanctioned Aegis Capital, which will pay about $2.8M for the excessive and unsuitable trading that allegedly took place in dozens of customers’ accounts.

Of this amount, $1.7M in restitution will go to 68 customers who were potentially harmed. The remaining $1.1M is a fine the broker-dealer will pay for related supervisory violations involving Aegis brokers Roberto Birardi and Joseph Giordano.

Customers of Former Worden Capital Management Broker Christ Baltas Request Over $614K in Damages

Published on: August 31, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

FINRA Barred New York Financial Advisor Following Unsuitability & Churning Allegations

If you have suffered investment losses while working with ex-Worden Capital Management broker Christ Elias Baltas, you may be able to pursue damages by filing a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claim.

Baltas, who was based out of Melville, New York, is currently named in two pending customer disputes in which the claimants are seeking more than $614K in damage. FINRA barred him in 2020.

FINRA Bars Worden Capital Management Broker Salvatore Pizzimenti Following Churning Allegations

Published on: July 8, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

SRO Was Investigating Trading Activity in Customers’ Accounts

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has barred Salvatore Pizzimenti from the industry. The ex-Worden Capital Management broker was under investigation for trades made in customers’ accounts. The industry bar came after Pizzimenti refused to give testimony in the self-regulatory organization’s (SRO’s) probe into the allegations.

Salvatore Pizzimenti, a former New York broker, has six disclosures on his BrokerCheck record. Aside from the bar, the other five are customer disputes.

FINRA Orders Worden Capital Management to Pay Over $1.5M For Brokers’ Churning

Published on: January 19, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Worden Capital Management’s Settlement Includes $1.2M in Customer Restitution

In December 2020, Worden Capital Management, a New York-based broker-dealer, arrived at an over $1.5M settlement with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) over excessive trades made by the firm’s registered representatives.

The self-regulatory organization (SRO) contends that from January 2015 to October 2019, the New York brokerage firm did not have the kind of supervisory system in place that would have allowed it to “achieve compliance” with rules having to do with churning and excessive trading.

Ex-Merrill Lynch Brokers Charles Kenahan & Dermod Cavanaugh Investigated for Alleged Churning After Over $200M in Losses

Published on: July 15, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Ex-New Hampshire Governor is Suing For Damages

The New Hampshire Bureau of Securities Regulation is looking into allegations brought by the state’s former governor, Craig Benson, who is accusing ex-Merrill Lynch brokers Dermod Cavanaugh and Charles Kenahan of churning his account and causing over $50M in damages that with market adjustments, he claims, is now over $100M. Benson filed a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claim against the broker-dealer and the two men.

Merrill Lynch is a Bank of America (BAC) subsidiary. Churning is when a broker makes excessive trades in a customer’s account in order to earn commissions.

SSEK Explores Investor Claims Involving Ex-Cetera Advisors Broker Stephen Carver

Published on: January 13, 2020 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Former LifeMark Securities Broker Gets Banned By FINRA

If you are an investor who suffered losses while Stephen Carver handled your investments and wish to file an investor claim, our broker misconduct attorneys at Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm) want to talk to you.

Carver, who most recently was a LifeMark Securities broker and before that a Cetera Advisors financial representative — Cetera and LifeMark both fired him — was just barred by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).

Morgan Stanley Pays $182K to Clients of Ex-Broker Justin Amaral

Published on: November 5, 2019 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Morgan Stanley Ordered To Pay Over $300K In Fines And Restitution

Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, William Galvin, is ordering Morgan Stanley (MS) to pay a $200K fine, as well as $182K in restitution to four customers who suffered losses while working with former broker Justin E. Amaral.

The ex-Morgan Stanley financial advisor was barred by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in 2015.

Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas Investigates Investor Claims Involving ex-Morgan Stanley Brokers Ami Forte and Charles Lawrence

Published on: October 24, 2019 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

SSEK Investigating The Ex-Morgan Stanley Broker, Ami Forte

Earlier this year, our investor lawyers reported that the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) had filed a lawsuit against former Morgan Stanley broker, Ami Forte. She allegedly made unauthorized trades in the now-deceased Home Shopping Network co-founder, Roy Speer’s, account while he was afflicted with dementia.

The self-regulatory authority has now announced that it is barring Forte. Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm) are currently investigating complaints and concerns by former customers of Ami Forte who are suspecting that their losses may be due to fraud.