Western International Securities Tag Archives

Following SEC Charges Related To GWG L Bonds, CFP Board Suspends Western International Securities Broker Patrick Egan

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

California investment advisor accused of best interest violations

The Certified Financial Board has suspended Western International Securities financial advisor Patrick Michael Egan from using his CFP designation. The decision comes after the US Securities and the Exchange Commission (SEC) charged him, the broker-dealer, and four other Western International brokers with alleged Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI) violations related to their sale of GWG Holdings L Bonds.

The SEC contends they sold investors these risky, illiquid junk bonds despite the fact these investments were not in the latter’s best interests, given their investing profiles, financial goals, and risk tolerance levels. The CFP Board is the non-profit organization that administers the Certified Financial Planner Certification program.

SEC Accuses Western International Securities & Five Brokers Of Reg BI Violations Involving $13.3M in L Bond Sales

Published on: July 2, 2022 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

SEC Alleges Western International Securities and Its California Financial Advisors Committed Due Diligence Failures

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed civil charges against Western International Securities and several of its registered representatives. The firm and its advisors allegedly violated Regulation Best Interest standards when they sold about $13.3M of GWG L Bonds to investors between July 2020 and April 2021.

The regulator contends that the broker-dealer neglected to conduct adequate due diligence when recommending and selling these unrated and speculative junk bonds. In February 2022, GWG Holdings, Inc. defaulted on $13.6M of payments and interest it owes L Bond investors. The Dallas-based alternative asset firm filed for bankruptcy protection in April 2022.

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.)

Customers of Western International Securities Broker Peter Steege Allege Unsuitability

Published on: October 18, 2021 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

Denver, Colorado Financial Advisor Has 21 Disclosures on BrokerCheck

If you suffered losses while working with Western International Securities registered investment advisor Peter Benedict Steege, our Denver, Colorado broker misconduct lawyers want to speak with you. Steege, who has been with this firm for 19 years, has 21 disclosures listed on BrokerCheck. Most of them are customer disputes. However, Steege was also named in a former criminal case (now dismissed) that alleged petty theft and a few regulatory disputes.

Our Denver broker negligence lawyers represent investors throughout the state and the rest of the US in their Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claims over losses they sustained due to the wrongful or careless actions of their financial advisors. In Colorado, call SSEK Law Firm at (720) 439-2827. You can also reach us nationwide at (800) 259-9010.

Portland Investor Files $500K Private Placement Fraud Claim Against Western International Securities

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

Claimant Alleges Overconcentration, Unsuitability, Failure to Supervise

A Portland, Oregon semi-retiree has filed a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration claim against Western International Securities, Inc. and is seeking up to $500K in damages. The investor contends that a former financial advisor from the firm overconcentrated most of her retirement funds in illiquid private placements and caused her significant financial losses.

Our Portland investment fraud attorneys at Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm at investorlawyers.com) are representing this claimant in her private placement fraud case against Western International Securities.

Customers Seeking $1.8M Over Investments Recommended By Western International Securities’ David Bibo

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

California Stockbroker Accused Of Unsuitability & Misrepresentations

David Omori Bibo, a Western International Securities, Inc. registered representative is named in two pending customer disputes collectively seeking $1.8M in damages. The San Jose broker has been part of the industry for 25 years. He has seven disclosures on his BrokerCheck record.

Our California securities fraud lawyers are looking into investor claims involving Western International Securities broker, David Bibo, or any other registered representative from the firm. Contact Shepherd Smith Edwards and Kantas (SSEK Law Firm at investorlawyers.com) today so that we can help you determine whether you have grounds for a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration case to recover your losses.

Ex-Wells Fargo Broker Barred for Alleged $180K Elder Financial Fraud

Published on: February 26, 2018 | by Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas, LLP

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority has barred Jeffrey Palish, an ex-Wells Fargo (WFC) broker in the wake of allegations of senior investor fraud. The regulator is accusing him of stealing over $180K from an elderly client with no plans or means of paying her back.

Palish was let go by the firm last year after an internal probe found that he had made misstatements about these transactions. He was arrested last week in New Jersey and charged with theft by deception involving over $75K.

According to prosecutors, Palish may have stolen at least $600K from elderly clients and failed to pay back a $100K loan from two clients. NorthJersey.com reports that Palish took clients’ money by selling their stock holdings and putting the funds from those sales into a bank account in which he deposited checks from clients. He also is accused of making more than three dozen unauthorized wire transfers of about $300K in total to pay his credit card bills.