FINRA

Key Investor Issues Outlined in FINRA 2021 Exam Priorities – Part Two

Published on: February 5, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

We are continuing our discussion of FINRA’s 2021 Report on Risk Monitoring and Examination Activities. In Part Two, we will focus on FINRA’s comments and findings related to Variable Annuities, Outside Business Activities, and Private Securities Transactions and Private Placements. These are all areas of interest that directly affect retail investors, and in which FINRA found deficiencies following its examination of member-firms.

If you are interested in FINRA’s comments regarding Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI), Communications with the Public, and Best Execution, you can read Part One of our discussion here.

Variable Annuities

Portland Financial Advisor, Lisa Brumm, Suspended by FINRA for Unsuitable Variable Annuity Recommendations, Borrowing from a Client, and Negligent Misrepresentation

Published on: February 5, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has suspended financial advisor Lisa Ann Brumm (also known as Lisa Am Brumm and Lisa Ann Moon) from the securities industry for six months and fined her $7,500. Lisa Brumm was registered with Woodbury Financial Services, Inc. in Portland, Oregon, from April 2017 until December 2020. She was previously registered with AXA Advisors, LLC (now known as Equitable Advisors LLC) from July 2011 to May 2017. Ms. Brumm is also the CEO and founder of My Financial Girlfriend (Moon & Bear LLC).

FINRA suspended Ms. Brumm for recommending two unsuitable variable annuities to a customer, borrowing $40,000 from the same customer, and negligently misrepresenting the effect of a withdrawal from a variable annuity to another customer.

If you have suffered financial losses investing with Lisa Brumm or suspect that Ms. Brumm did not have your best interest in mind when recommending investments, annuities, or annuity switches, contact New York securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential review of your account or annuity contract.

Somersworth, NH Financial Advisor Michael Francoeur, Formerly of Cambridge Investment Research, Inc, BARRED by FINRA

Published on: February 5, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has barred stockbroker Michael Paul Francoeur from the securities industry. FINRA expelled Mr. Francoeur from the brokerage industry because he refused to provide information and documents connected with FINRA’s investigation into his conduct after receiving a customer complaint.

Mr. Francoeur was a financial advisor at Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. in Somersworth, New Hampshire, from January 2012 until his employment was terminated in March 2020. Cambridge Investment Research fired Mr. Francoeur, alleging that he assisted a client with an investment that was not approved by the firm and that he used an unapproved email account, both against the firm’s policies.

If you have suffered financial losses investing with Michael Francoeur or suspect that Mr. Francoeur did not have your best interest in mind when recommending investments or account transactions, contact New York securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential review of your account.

Arive Capital Markets Broker, Lon Faccini, Facing Two Pending Disputes Alleging Excessive Trading, Churning, Misrepresentation, and Unsuitability

Published on: February 5, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

Lon Charles Faccini Jr. is a stockbroker with Arive Capital Markets LLC (“Arive Capital Markets”) in Brooklyn, NY, with a history of customer complaints and associations with disreputable broker-dealers.

Mr. Faccini has been the subject of seven customer complaints, which include two pending disputes. The pending disputes are securities arbitration claims filed by customers of Mr. Faccini. At least one of the customers was also a client of Arive Capital Markets. The Arive Capital Markets customer alleged excessive trading, churning, and unsuitability. The second customer alleged misrepresentation and unsuitability.

If you have lost money with broker Lon Faccini or Arive Capital Markets, contact New York securities arbitration lawyers Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential evaluation of your account.

Former J.P. Morgan Securities Broker Jasmit Singh SUSPENDED by FINRA – New York, NY

Published on: February 3, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has suspended former broker Jasmit Singh from the securities industry for seven months over allegations that Mr. Singh participated in private securities transactions and engaged in outside business activities without providing prior written notice to his firm. In addition to the suspension, FINRA fined him $10,000 and ordered him to disgorge $5,500 in finder’s fees.

Mr. Singh was registered as an Investment Banking Representative with J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (“J.P. Morgan”) in New York, NY, from August 2017 until February 2020.

If you have lost money with former broker Jasmit Singh or J.P. Morgan, contact New York securities arbitration lawyers Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential evaluation of your account.

Key Investor Issues Outlined in FINRA 2021 Exam Priorities – Part One

Published on: February 3, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

Earlier this week, FINRA released its 2021 Report on Risk Monitoring and Examination Activities. The Report replaced two of FINRA’s prior publications – FINRA’s Examination Findings and Observations Report and FINRA’s Risk Monitoring and Examination Priorities Letter. The Report provided an in-depth look at FINRA’s priorities, recommended best practices for broker-dealer members, and regulatory findings. The Report reiterated FINRA’s commitment to protecting senior and vulnerable investors and highlighted several important areas of interest that directly affect retail investors, including:

Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI)
Communications with the Public

Columbus, Ohio Financial Advisor Lisa Stevenson, Formerly of The Huntington Investment Company, BARRED by FINRA

Published on: February 3, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has barred stockbroker Lisa Marie Stevenson (Lisa Marie Gastaldo) from the securities industry. FINRA expelled Ms. Stevenson from the brokerage industry because she refused to provide information and documents connected with FINRA’s investigation into the circumstances given rise to her termination from The Huntington Investment Company in December 2020.

Ms. Stevenson was a financial advisor at The Huntington Investment Company in New Albany, Ohio, from March 2016 until her employment was terminated in December 2020. The Huntington Investment Company fired Ms. Stevenson after she admitted that she received, among other things, a $100,000 gift from a customer in contravention of firm policy and FINRA rules.

If you have suffered financial losses investing with Lisa Stevenson or suspect that Ms. Stevenson did not have your best interest in mind when recommending investments or account transactions, contact New York securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential review of your account .

Arive Capital Markets’ Roy Failla Suspended by New Jersey for Engaging in Dishonest and Unethical Practices in the Securities Business, Including Excessive Trading

Published on: February 1, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The State of New Jersey Bureau of Securities has suspended the registration of stockbroker Roy Joseph Failla for 45-days and fined him $15,000.

The New Jersey regulator alleged that between October 27, 2014, through September 25, 2019, while employed by First Standard Financial Company in New York, NY, Roy Failla excessively and unsuitably traded two customers’ accounts.

Mr. Failla has since been associated with Arive Capital Markets, LLC (“Arive Capital Markets) in Staten Island, NY as a financial advisor and the firm’s Senior Vice President of Business Development. Also, according to public records, Mr. Failla has an indirect ownership interest in Arive Capital Markets.

Former Broker Michael August Pellegrino SUSPENDED by FINRA

Published on: January 26, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has suspended former stockbroker Michael August Pellegrino from the securities industry for two months. On January 26, 2021, Mr. Pellegrino and FINRA entered into a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent (“AWC”) over allegations that Mr. Pellegrino distributed a retail communication to approximately 80 retail investors, promoting an investment in a “short-term, high yield contract” issued by a Florida LLC. The communication contained improper projections of future performance, misleading statements, and omitted material information, in violation of FINRA Rules. At the time, Mr. Pellegrino was registered with FINRA-member Taylor Capital Management Inc. (“TCM”).

In addition to imposing a two-month suspension, FINRA also fined Mr. Pellegrino $10,000.

If you have lost money with former stockbroker Michael August Pellegrino or TCM, contact New York securities arbitration lawyers Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential evaluation of your account.

Former Merrill Lynch Broker in Atlanta, Tyler Delahunt, BARRED by FINRA

Published on: January 26, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has barred financial advisor Tyler Dean Delahunt from the securities industry. Tyler Delahunt was registered with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“Merrill Lynch”) in Atlanta, Georgia, from October 2016 until August 2020. Merrill Lynch terminated Mr. Delahunt’s employment on August 3, 2020, alleging that his conduct involved improper solicitation of clients related to private securities transactions. Merrill Lynch also alleged that Mr. Delahunt participated in financial arrangements involving clients.

If you or a loved one were a customer of Tyler Delahunt and either sustained financial losses or suspect inappropriate activity, contact New York securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential review of your account or annuity contract.

Iorio Altamirano LLP represents investors that have disputes with their financial advisors or brokerage firms, such as Merrill Lynch.