Securities Arbitration Lawyer Blog

Investor Alert: Iorio Altamirano LLP Investigates Merrill Lynch Over Unit Investment Trust (UIT) Early Rollover Practices

Published on: June 28, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

Iorio Altamirano LLP is investigating claims on behalf of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“Merrill Lynch”) customers who invested in Unit Investment Trusts (UITs). If you have lost money with Merrill Lynch, contact New York securities arbitration lawyers Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential review of your legal rights.

On June 25, 2021, Merrill Lynch and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) entered into a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent No. 2017053437701 (“AWC”) over allegations that between January 2011 and December 2015, Merrill Lynch violated NASD and FINRA rules for failing to maintain an adequate supervisory system and written procedures to monitor Unit Investment Trusts transactions.

As part of the AWC, Merrill Lynch was censured and agreed to a fine of $3.75 million. Merrill Lynch also agreed to pay over $8.43 million in restitution to customers.

Broker Eric Burton, Formerly with LPL Financial LLC, Suspended by FINRA – Orland Park, IL

Published on: June 24, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has suspended former LPL Financial LLC broker Eric Burton from the securities industry for 3 months for allegedly falsifying documents that he submitted to LPL in connection with twenty two variable annuity (“VA”) exchanges.

Burton was also fined $5,000.

If you have lost money with Eric Burton, or LPL Financial LLC, contact New York securities arbitration lawyers Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential evaluation of your account.

Farmers Financial Solutions, LLC Sanctioned by FINRA

Published on: June 22, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) and Farmers Financial Solutions, LLC (“Farmers Financial”) entered into a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent No. 2017052173001 on June 21, 2021, after FINRA alleged supervisory failures related to variable universal life insurance contracts (“VUL”) and mutual fund businesses. The firm was censured and fined $1,000.

If you have suffered financial harm as a result of investing in variable universal life insurance contracts or mutual funds with Farmers Financial Solutions, LLC, contact FINRA arbitration lawyers Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential consultation.

Farmers Financial Solutions, LLC

Alabama Financial Advisor, Kevin McCallum, Formerly of LPL Financial, Suspended for One Year for Making Unsuitable Investment Recommendations

Published on: June 22, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has suspended financial advisor Kevin McCallum from the securities industry for one year. Mr. McCallum consented to the suspension after FINRA alleged that from May 2017 through June 2019, while associated with LPL Financial LLC in Birmingham, Alabama, he made unsuitable recommendations to 12 customers, resulting in their overconcentration in a high-risk, publicly-traded business development company (BDC), believed to be Medley Capital Corporation.

Additionally, FINRA alleged that during the same period, Mr. McCallum sent emails to customers about the BDC that contained unwarranted and exaggerated claims, opinions, and forecasts, did not provide fair and balanced treatment of the risks and benefits of the investment, and contained promissory statements in violation of FINRA rules.

In addition to the suspension, Mr. McCallum was ordered to pay a $25,000 fine, disgorge $14,231 of commissions, and pay over $1.2 million in restitution to customers. However, it is unclear whether he will be able to satisfy the restation order and repay customers.

Jackson, Mississippi Investor Wins Arbitration Claim Against E*Trade Securities LLC

Published on: June 21, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

A FINRA arbitrator in Jackson, Mississippi, has found E*Trade Securities LLC liable for failing to execute a trade properly and ordered the online brokerage firm to pay its customer over $31,000 (the “Award”).

According to the Award, the customer, Mr. David White, filed a claim against E*Trade in early February 2021, alleging that the firm failed to execute his order at the original limit price, not the higher trading price that the option was priced at the time.

E*Trade was also ordered to pay interest on the $31,150 in compensatory damages at a rate of 8% per annum from January 27, 2021, until the date of payment of the Award.

Broker John Braddock, Formerly with Lakeridge Capital Inc., Suspended by FINRA – Salida, CO

Published on: June 19, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has suspended former Lakeridge Capital Inc. broker John Braddock from the securities industry for 5 months for preparing and distributing a private placement memorandum that negligently misrepresented and omitted facts relevant to an investment in a private placement. The alleged misconduct is said to have taken place between September 2018 and April 2021.

If you have lost money with John Braddock, or Lakeridge Capital Inc., contact FINRA arbitration lawyers Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential evaluation of your account.

Iorio Altamirano LLP represents investors nationwide that have disputes with their financial advisors or brokerage firms, such as Lakeridge Capital Inc.

Popular Securities, LLC Broker Dennis Cummings Suspended by FINRA – Mayaguez, PR

Published on: June 19, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has suspended Popular Securities, LLC broker Dennis Cummings from the securities industry for 45 business days for instructing his sales assistant to use pre-signed Letters of Authorization (LOA) to effect transfers between customers’ accounts. Cummings’ suspension is scheduled to start on July 19, 2021, and end on September 20, 2021. He was also fined $5,000.

If you have lost money with Dennis Cummings, or Popular Securities, LLC, contact FINRA arbitration lawyers Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential evaluation of your account.

Iorio Altamirano LLP represents investors nationwide that have disputes with their financial advisors or brokerage firms, such as Popular Securities, LLC.

FINRA Files Enforcement Action Against Financial Broker Michael Giovannelli, Formerly of Spartan Capital Securities, for Unauthorized Trades in an Elderly Customer’s Account

Published on: June 18, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

**Update: April 30, 2022** On November 19, 2021, the FINRA Office of Hearing Officers entered a default decision barring Mr. Giovannelli from associating with any FINRA member firm in any capacity for providing falsified documents and false testimony to FINRA staff and engaging in unauthorized trading in a customer account. For the unauthorized trading, Mr. Giovannelli was also ordered to pay $1,494 in restitution, plus interest, to the customer. In light of the bars, the hearing officers did not impose any additional sanctions for Mr. Giovannelli’s discretionary trading without written authorization in four additional customer accounts.

Original Post:

FINRA Files Enforcement Action Against Financial Broker Michael Giovannelli, Formerly of Spartan Capital Securities, for Unauthorized Trades in an Elderly Customer’s Account

Former Folger Nolan Fleming Douglas Incorporated Broker, Marc Lippman, Barred by FINRA – Washington, DC

Published on: June 18, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has barred stockbroker Marc Lippman from the securities industry. Mr. Lippman consented to the bar after FINRA alleged that he provided false information to FINRA during on-the-record testimony regarding whether he was aware that his customer was deceased at the time of entering a securities transaction in the customer’s account. Mr. Lippman was associated with Folger Nolan Fleming Douglas Incorporated in Washington, DC, from December 2009 until January 2021.

If you have suffered financial losses investing with Marc R. Lippman or Folger Nolan Fleming Douglas Incorporated, contact securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential consultation.

Iorio Altamirano LLP represents investors nationwide that have disputes with their financial advisors or brokerage firms, such as Folger Nolan Fleming Douglas Incorporated.

FINRA Files Complaint Against Former Allstate Financial Services, LLC Broker Elizabeth Ann Sollars – Terre Haute, IN

Published on: June 17, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA’s Department of Enforcement has filed a Complaint against former Allstate Financial Services, LLC broker Elizabeth Ann Sollars for failing to provide information and documents and for failing to appear and provide testimony to FINRA pursuant to FINRA Rule 8210.

FINRA requested the information in connection with its investigation into allegations that Sollars misappropriated insurance customer premium payments while registered with her firm.

The Complaint was filed on June 7, 2021.

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