Broker Misconduct

INVESTIGATION: Former Edward Jones Financial Advisor Matthew Jennings Barred by FINRA– Johnston, Iowa

Published on: November 21, 2020 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has barred financial advisor Matthew Jennings (CRD# 6762685) from the securities industry for refusing to cooperate with a FINRA investigation. Mr. Jennings was fired by Edward Jones in August 2019 due to concerns that he introduced clients to investments not offered through the firm. This type of conduct is often referred to as “selling away.”

What is “selling away?”

“Selling away” is when a financial advisor solicits a customer to participate in a private securities transaction that is not offered or approved by the brokerage firm where the financial advisor is employed or registered.

$1.3 Million Claim Filed Against Insigneo Securities Over Broker Felipe Henao – Miami, FL

Published on: November 19, 2020 | by Iorio Altamirano

A recently filed FINRA customer complaint against Insigneo Securities alleges account mismanagement and short trading by broker Felipe Henao. The claim appears to arise at least in part from a February 28, 2020 short trade placed by Henao for 20,000 shares in the Barclays Bk VIX Short-Term Futures ETN in his customer’s Zaphiro Investments’ account. Subsequently, on March 17, 2020, Henao placed a trade to cover the short.

The customer then raised concerns in an email to Henao about the management and the overall performance of the brokerage account on or around August 19, 2020. The customer indicated that he was underwhelmed by the fluctuations and volatility in the Zaphiro account, which suffered substantial account value depreciation. The customer also complained about Henao’s lack of communication. Insigneo Securities reviewed and responded to the customer’s complaint on September 2, 2020. The FINRA complaint was filed on September 8, 2020.

If you have lost money with Felipe Henao or Insigneo Securities, contact New York securities arbitration lawyers Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential evaluation of your account.

Former Merrill Lynch Broker Douglas Stopkey Suspended by FINRA for 30 Days Over Unauthorized Trading and Mismarked Orders in Senior Customer Accounts

Published on: November 19, 2020 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has suspended financial advisor Douglas William Stopkey from the securities industry for a 30-day period, which began on November 16, 2020, and runs through December 15, 2020. Douglas Stopkey was registered with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith in Richmond, VA, from March 1992 until September 2018, when he was terminated. Since then, he has been registered with Davenport & Company LLC in Richmond, VA.

If you have lost money with Douglas Stopkey, contact New York securities arbitration lawyers Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential evaluation of your account.

Douglas Stopkey and FINRA entered into a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent (“AWC”) on October 26, 2020, over allegations related to Stopkey’s conduct between January 2016 and June 2018. Specifically, FINRA alleged:

David T. Phillips Suspended for Nine Months for Future Income Payments, LLC Solicitation – Gilbert, Arizona

Published on: November 18, 2020 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has suspended stockbroker David T. Phillips (CRD #3094195) for nine months from the securities industry and ordered him to pay a $5,000 fine. These sanctions arose from Mr. Phillips’ solicitation of Future Income Payments, LLC. This blog has previously written about Future Income Payments, LLC.

FINRA alleged that between May 2017 and April 2018, David Phillips participated in private securities transactions totaling $876,636, without prior disclosure and approval from his employer at the time, ProEquities, Inc. Specifically, FINRA alleged:

Between May 2017 and April 2018, Mr. Phillips solicited eight investors to purchase $876,363 in securities of Future Income Payments, LLC.

Troy R. Baily Suspended for Recommending Future Income Payments, LLC – Omaha, Nebraska

Published on: November 17, 2020 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has suspended stockbroker Troy R. Baily (CRD #4458930) for six months from the securities industry and ordered him to pay a $5,000 fine. These sanctions arose from Mr. Baily’s solicitation of Future Income Payments, LLC. This blog has previously written about Future Income Payments, LLC.

FINRA alleged that between February and May 2017, Troy Baily participated in private securities transactions totaling $210,000, without prior disclosure and approval from his employer at the time, Sagepoint Financial, Inc. Specifically, FINRA alleged:

Between February and May 2017, Mr. Baily solicited investors to purchase $210,000 in securities of Future Income Payments, LLC.

Lonna R. Dehn Ristvedt Suspended for Soliciting Customers to Buy Future Income Payments, LLC – Fargo, North Dakota

Published on: November 17, 2020 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has suspended stockbroker Lonna Rae Dehn Ristvedt (CRD #2277778) for four months from the securities industry and ordered her to pay a $5,000 fine. These sanctions arose from Ms. Dehn Ristvedt’s solicitation of Future Income Payments, LLC. This blog has previously written about Future Income Payments, LLC.

FINRA alleged that in June 2015, Lonna Rae Dehn Ristvedt participated in private securities transactions totaling $163,320 without prior disclosure and approval from her employer at the time, National Planning Corporation. Specifically, FINRA alleged:

In June 2015, Ms. Dehn Ristvedt solicited two investors to purchase $163,320 in securities of Future Income Payments, LLC.

John Westbrook Suspended for Future Income Payments, LLC Solicitation – Montgomery, Alabama

Published on: November 17, 2020 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has suspended stockbroker John A. Westbrook (CRD #1846059) for five months from the securities industry and ordered him to pay a $5,000 fine. These sanctions arose from Mr. Wesbrook’s solicitation of Future Income Payments, LLC. This blog has previously written about Future Income Payments, LLC.

FINRA alleged that between October 1, 2016, and May 9, 2017, John Westbrook participated in private securities transactions totaling $350,335, without prior disclosure and approval from his employer at the time, Center Street Securities, Inc. Specifically, FINRA alleged:

Between October 1, 2016, and May 9, 2017, Mr. Westbrook solicited three investors to purchase $350,335 in securities of Future Income Payments, LLC.

Coastal Equities, Inc. Censured by FINRA and Ordered to Pay Over $280,000 in Restitution and Interest to Customers – Dublin, Ohio

Published on: November 13, 2020 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has sanctioned Coastal Equities, Inc. for its failure to reasonably supervise a stockbroker who recommended excessive and unsuitable trades in the accounts of customers. Coastal Equities, Inc. was censured and ordered to pay $270,320 in restitution to clients, plus $9,589 in interest.

FINRA alleged that between October 2016 and July 2018, Coastal Equities, Inc. failed to reasonably supervise a financial advisor that recommended excessive and unsuitable trading in accounts of four customers. FINRA also alleged that the financial advisor was making unsuitable recommendations to purchase securities using margin in two of those accounts. According to the allegations, the financial advisor’s supervisor became aware of multiple instances of unsuitable trading but failed to respond reasonably.

Based on public records, it is believed that the financial advisor at issue is Sam Aziz. Mr. Aziz worked at Coastal Equities in the Dublin, Ohio branch from September 2015 through July 2018. In 2019, Mr. Aziz was barred by FINRA from the securities industry. He has also been the subject of numerous customer complaints.

Financial Advisor Richard Michael Wesselt BARRED by FINRA for Recommendations in Unsuitable Variable Annuity Investments to 78 Customers – Collegeville, PA

Published on: November 11, 2020 | by Iorio Altamirano

**Update: 3/22/2021** On December 21, 2020, the state of Maryland revoked Mr. Wesselt’s registration. In addition, in December 2020, two additional customers filed complaints concerning the suitability of recommendations made by Mr. Wesselt.

Original Post:

Financial Advisor Richard Michael Wesselt BARRED by FINRA for Recommendations in Unsuitable Variable Annuity Investments to 78 Customers – Collegeville, PA

Financial Advisor Lawrence Goldstein BARRED by FINRA – Nevada

Published on: November 11, 2020 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has barred stockbroker Lawrence Goldstein from the securities industry. Lawrence Goldstein was a registered financial advisor with McNally Financial Services Corporation in Sparks, Nevada, from April 2010 until February 28, 2020.

According to public records, Mr. Goldstein refused to cooperate with a FINRA investigation in whether he engaged in unsuitable excessive trading in a customer’s account.

Excessive trading occurs when a financial advisor makes many trades in a customer’s account, not to benefit the customer but to generate commissions for the broker. Excessive trading is unethical and illegal.