best interest

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.

Financial Advisor Anthony Tricarico Suspended by FINRA for Excessive Trading While Employed at Aegis Capital Corp. – New York, NY

Published on: January 26, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

**Update: November 11, 2021** On November 8, 2021, Aegis Capital Corp agreed to pay nearly $2.7 million in sanctions for supervisory failures related to excessive and unsuitable trading by its brokers from July 2014 through December 2018. Click on the following link to read more: Aegis Capital Corp. Ordered to Pay Nearly $2.7 Million for Supervisory Failures Related to Rampant Excessive and Unsuitable Trading

Customers of Aegis Capital, including customers that have been notified that they may be receiving restitution, should consult with a securities arbitration law firm. If you or a loved one were a customer of Aegis Capital, contact New York securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential consultation and review of your legal rights.

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After Merrill Lynch Has Paid Over $66 Million to Settle Churning Allegations Against Former Broker Charles Kenahan, FINRA Has Barred Kenahan From the Industry.

Published on: January 25, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

Summary:

FINRA has barred financial advisor Charles Kenahan from the securities industry after he refused to cooperate with FINRA’s investigation.
In 2019, Bank of America Merrill Lynch agreed to pay $40 million to settle with Robert Levine, co-founder of Cabletron Systems, over churning allegations.

Fort Lauderdale Financial Advisor Bryan Mazliach BARRED by FINRA For Excessive Trading and Unauthorized Trades

Published on: January 25, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

On January 20, 2021, a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Hearing Officer barred Bryan G. Mazliach from the securities industry for:

Recommending and effecting an unsuitable investment strategy to five customers involving in-and-out, short-term, and excessive trading.
Executing unauthorized trades in the accounts of eight customers.

Iorio Altamirano LLP Joins Congresswoman Maxine Waters in Urging the Biden Administration to Rescind Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI) and Replace it with a Uniform Fiduciary Obligation Standard.

Published on: January 20, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

As Joe Biden takes his place as the 46th President of the United States of America, House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters, D-Calif., urges the Biden Administration to rescind Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI).

In a letter dated December 4, 2020, Rep. Waters outlined dozens of Trump-era regulations promulgated during the Trump administration that should be rescinded or replaced by the new administration.

Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI), which went into effect on June 30, 2020, establishes a standard of conduct for broker-dealers and brokers when they make a recommendation to a retail customer of any securities transaction or investment strategy involving securities. When a broker-dealer makes an investment recommendation, the investor is entitled to a recommendation that is in the investor’s best interest and does not place the interest of the financial professional or financial institution ahead of the retail investors’ interests.

Financial Advisor Christian Lucchetto Suspended by FINRA for Excessive Trading

Published on: January 20, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has suspended financial advisor Christian Frank Lucchetto (CRD No. 4648994) from the securities industry for three months and fined him $5,000.

FINRA alleged that between January 2018 through May 2019, while employed by First Standard Financial Company in Red Bank, NJ, Frank Lucchetto excessively and unsuitably traded a customer’s account, in violation of FINRA Rules 2111 and 2010.

Mr. Lucchetto, who has ten years of experience in the securities industry, has been employed as a financial advisor at the following brokerage firms since 2011:

Sparks, Nevada Financial Advisor, Javelin Mikol San Nicolas, Formerly of Edward Jones, BARRED by FINRA

Published on: January 19, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has barred stockbroker Javelin Mikol San Nicolas from the securities industry. FINRA expelled Mr. San Nicolas from the brokerage industry because he refused to provide information and documents connected with FINRA’s investigation into the circumstances given rise to his termination from Edward Jones in August 2020.

Mr. San Nicolas was a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Sparks, Nevada, from December 2016 until his employment was terminated in August 2020. Edward Jones discharged Mr. San Nicolas over concerns that a client issued cashiers’ checks in the amount of $49,000 to Mr. San Nicolas with proceeds that were withdrawn from the client’s account at Edward Jones. Mr. San Nicolas stated that the checks were for the option of purchasing two Personal Seat Licenses for the Las Vegas Raiders football team, to be transferred to the client’s name later in 2020. At the time of the termination, the client had not received the purported Personal Seat Licenses.

The client filed a complaint with Edward Jones in July 2020. No further details are publicly available regarding this pending complaint.

Berthel Fisher & Company Financial Services, Inc. Customer in Layton, Utah Filed FINRA Arbitration Complaint About REITs and BDCs

Published on: January 14, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

A Berthel Fisher & Company Financial Services, Inc. customer has recently filed a complaint with FINRA Dispute Resolution Services alleging that former broker Robyn D. Simons recommended unsuitable investments in real estate investment trusts (REITs) and business development companies (BDCs). The investments were reportedly purchased between 2014 and 2016. The complaint also alleges that Berthel Fisher & Company Financial Services, Inc. failed to supervise Robyn Simons’ actions. The customer has alleged $200,000 in damages.

This complaint is not the first securities arbitration claim filed against Robyn Simons and Berthel Fisher & Company Financial Services, Inc. arising out of Robyn Simons’ investment recommendations. In 2015, a customer filed a FINRA arbitration complaint alleging that investments made in her accounts between 2013 and 2015 were unsuitable. The customer also alleged that Robyn Simons misrepresented the securities to her at the time of purchase. Reportedly, the investments included a REIT, BDC, Unit Investment Trust (UIT), and equities. According to Robyn Simons’ BrokerCheck Report, Berthel Fisher & Company Financial Services, Inc. settled the matter with the aggrieved customer for $21,500.

Robyn Simons was registered with Berthel Fisher & Company Financial Services, Inc. in Layton, Utah, from February 2008 until September 2017.

Boulder, Colorado Financial Advisor, Formerly of LPL Financial LLC, Suspended by FINRA

Published on: January 13, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has suspended financial advisor Arthur Obermeier from the securities industry for 60 days and fined him $5,000. Mr. Obermeier’s sanctions arise from his execution of trades without his customers’ authorization or consent.

Arthur Obermeier was registered with LPL Financial LLC in Boulder, Colorado, from June 2002 until his employment was terminated in May 2019. LPL Financial LLC fired Mr. Obermeier, alleging that he exercised discretion in clients’ accounts without authorization.

If you have suffered financial losses investing with Arthur Obermeier or suspect that Mr. Obermeier executed trades in your account without authorization, contact New York securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential consultation.

Statesboro, Georgia Financial Advisor Christopher B. Black BARRED by FINRA

Published on: January 13, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has barred stockbroker Christopher B. Black from the securities industry. FINRA handed down the expulsion because Mr. Black refused to provide information and documents connected with FINRA’s investigation into whether Mr. Black entered into undisclosed loan arrangements with a customer. Mr. Black was a financial advisor at LPL Financial LLC in Statesboro, Georgia, from October 2017 until his employment was terminated in April 2020 for violating firm policy for not disclosing the loan arrangements. Mr. Black has also been affiliated with the following business entities: Renasant Financial Services and LPL Business.

Mr. Black has also been the subject of three customer complaints while employed by LPL Financial LLC. First, in April 2020, a customer alleged that Mr. Black recommended the purchase of bonds that were not suitable for the investor. A second customer filed a complaint in July 2020, also alleging misrepresentation and unsuitable recommendations regarding the purchase of bond investments. Third, a customer filed a complaint in October 2020, which alleged that Mr. Black misappropriated funds between August 2019 and April 2020. No further details are publicly available regarding this pending complaint.

Before his employment with LPL Financial LLC, Mr. Black was a financial advisor at Wells Fargo in St. Simons Island, Georgia, from November 2013 until September 2017.