failure to supervise

Former Financial Advisor Eric Vici BARRED from the Securities Industry by FINRA – Melbourne, Florida

Published on: May 17, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has barred stockbroker Eric Vici. from the securities industry. Mr. Vici was expelled from the brokerage industry for refusing to cooperate with a FINRA investigation that originated from a complaint made to FINRA by the executor of a customer’s estate about his handling of the customer’s funds.

Mr. Vici was registered with PFS Investments, Inc. in Melbourne, Florida, from November 2012 until October 2019. He has also been affiliated with Primerica Financial Services, an affiliate of PFS Investments.

If you have suffered financial losses investing with Eric John Vici, PFS Investments, Inc., or Primerica Financial Services, contact New York securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential review of your account.

FINRA Files Enforcement Action Against Broker Adam Belardino, Formerly of MML Investors Services, LLC – Westchester County, New York

Published on: May 13, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s Department of Enforcement has filed a disciplinary proceeding complaint against former broker Adam Belardino. The complaint alleges that Mr. Belardino failed to cooperate with a FINRA investigation, which was initiated in Aril 2019 after Mr. Belardino’ s employment was terminated by MML Investors Services, LLC and disclosed (through a Form U5) that it discharged Mr. Belardino “in connection with [an] investigation into a customer complaint. The Form U5 (Uniform Termination Notice for Securities Industry Registration) also disclosed a complaint from customers alleging that beginning in November of 2018, Mr. Belardino “misrepresented [the customers’] account values, engaged in excessive levels of trading, and failed to comply with requests to have their accounts liquidated and the proceeds distributed. Additional customer complaints were subsequently disclosed, including a customer alleging that “the REITs that were sold to him [by Mr. Balardino] beginning in or around 2014 were unsuitable for his conservative portfolio.”

At the time of the alleged conduct, Mr. Balardino was associated with MML Investors Services, LLC (“MML Investor Services”) in Elmsford, New York. Prior to being a broker at MML Investor Services, Mr. Belardino was associated with MSI Financial Services, Inc. (“MSI Financial Services”), also in Elmsford, New York.

If you or a loved one were a customer of broker Adam Belardino, MML Investor Services, LLC, or MSI Financial Services, Inc., contact securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential review of your legal rights.

Investigative Report: Worden Capital Management LLC’s Owners, Executives, and Brokers Have Concerning Red Flag Disclosures

Published on: May 13, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

This post is part of a series of investigative blog posts that spotlight modern-day boiler rooms that operate under the guise of a reputable brokerage firm. Many of the broker-dealers featured in this series still use boiler room tactics such as cold-calling customers and high-pressure or aggressive sales tactics. Other brokerage firms have a propensity for broker misconduct, such as excessive trading, churning, unauthorized trades, and misrepresentation. Iorio Altamirano LLP is a securities arbitration law firm based in New York City. We represent investors nationwide who have suffered investment losses due to wrongful conduct by financial advisors and brokerage firms. We are investor advocates.

Other Investigative Blog Posts:

Arive Capital Markets, LLC

How to Recover Investment Losses: Frequently Asked Questions

Published on: May 11, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

You worked hard, opened a brokerage or retirement account, and invested your savings with a financial advisor or stockbroker, only to suffer financial losses due to bad investment advice, misleading sales pitches, or brokers that were driven by commissions. Now what?

Can I Sue My Financial Advisor Over Losses?

Yes, you can sue your financial advisor or broker to recover investment losses if the broker did not have your best interest in mind when they made an investment recommendation or offered investment advice. You can also sue your financial advisor or broker if the financial advisor misrepresented or omitted material facts that an investor should have known about the security or investment strategy.

Former Morgan Stanley Broker, Constantinos Maniatis, Suspended by FINRA – Dallas, Texas

Published on: April 29, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has suspended financial advisor Constantinos Maniatis from the securities industry for 30 days. Mr. Maniatis consented to the suspension after FINRA alleged that he engaged in discretionary trading without written authorization in seven customer accounts between May 4, 2018, and February 27, 2019. FINRA also fined Mr. Maniatis $5,000.

The alleged conduct occurred while Morgan Stanley employed Mr. Maniatis in Dallas, Texas. Morgan Stanley discharged Mr. Maniatis in May 2019, alleging misconduct related to a non-discretionary account and diverting of revenue from “assigned rep code.”

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

Another Joseph Stone Capital L.L.C. Broker in Trouble with Regulators: Financial Advisor David Martirosian BARRED by FINRA – New York

Published on: April 29, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has barred stockbroker David Martirosian from the securities industry. Mr. Martirosian was expelled from the brokerage industry for refusing to cooperate with a FINRA investigation into potentially unsuitable and excessive trading and his potential participation in private securities transactions while associated with Joseph Stone Capital L.L.C. (“Joseph Stone Capital”).

Mr. Martirosian, who had only 13 years of experience in the securities industry, had a history of associations disreputable broker-dealers, customer complaints, and tax liens.

Mr. Martirosian was employed by Joseph Stone Capital in New York from July 2016 until April 26, 2021

Tampa Broker, Fred Rock, Formerly of Pruco Securities LLC, Suspended by FINRA

Published on: April 25, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has suspended stockbroker Frederick Rock from the securities industry for five months and ordered him to pay a $5,000 fine. FINRA sanctioned Mr. Rock because he solicited clients to purchase $409,200 worth of securities that were not approved by his firm, Pruco Securities LLC.

Mr. Rock was a financial advisor with Pruco Securities LLC (“Pruco Securities”) in Tampa, Florida, from July 2014 until August 2019.

Iorio Altamirano LLP is interested in speaking with past customers of Mr. Rock or Pruco Securities LLC. Contact securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential evaluation of your investment or retirement account.

Former LPL Financial LLC Broker Elias Hakimian, Suspended by FINRA – Costa Mesa, California

Published on: April 21, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has suspended financial advisor Elias Hakimian from the securities industry for three months. Mr. Hakimian consented to the suspension after FINRA alleged that he borrowed $120,000 from a customer without notice to or obtaining written pre-approval from his employing brokerage firm, LPL Financial LLC, in violation of FINRA Rules 3240 and 2010. FINRA also fined Mr. Hakimian $5,000.

LPL Financial LLC allowed Mr. Hakimian to “voluntarily resign” after a customer alleged that he engaged in churning in the customer’s accounts and invested the customer’s funds in speculative ventures contrary to the customer’s objectives and risk tolerance, in addition to taking loans from the customer.

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.

FINRA Files Enforcement Action Against Former Joseph Stone Capital, LLC. Broker Abdul Rahmani

Published on: April 16, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

**Update: November 8, 2021** On April 15, 2021, FINRA’s Department of Enforcement filed disciplinary proceeding No. 2019063626703 against former Joseph Stone Capital broker Abdul Rahmani. On October 28, 2021, Mr. Rahmani submitted an Offer of Settlement to FINRA’s Department of Enforcement. On November 2, 2021, FINRA’s Department of Enforcement and the National Adjudicatory Council (NAC), a Review Subcommittee of the NAC, or the Office of Disciplinary Affiars (ODA) have accepted Mr. Rahmani’s offer of settlement. Under the terms of the settlement, Mr. Rahmani has consented to a bar from the securities industry.

Original Post:

FINRA Files Enforcement Action Against Former Joseph Stone Capital, LLC. Broker Abdul Rahmani

Former Financial Advisor Michael Dellaporta, Jr. BARRED From the Securities Industry by FINRA – Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Published on: April 14, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has barred stockbroker Michael Dellaporta, Jr. from the securities industry. Mr. Dellaporta was expelled from the brokerage industry for refusing to cooperate with a FINRA investigation into an outside business activity.

Mr. Dellaporta, who was a broker for over forty years, most recently worked at B.B. Graham & Company, Inc. in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, from August 2018 to August 2019. Previously, he was affiliated with Fusion Analytics Securities LLC, from 2015 until 2018, and Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc, from 2010 to 2015.

Since 2009, Mr. Dellaporta has been the subject of numerous customer disputes.