financial advisor negligence

SW Financial Broker, Joseph Lianzo, Suspended by FINRA for Excessively Trading Customers’ Accounts and Placing Unauthorized Trades

Published on: September 3, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has suspended stockbroker Joseph Lianzo from the securities industry for eight months. Mr. Lianzo consented to the suspension after FINRA alleged that from March 2016 through November 2019, while associated with Laidlaw & Company (UK) LTD. and SW Financial, Mr. Lianzo excessively traded four customers’ accounts and placed 13 unauthorized transactions in violation of FINRA Rules 2111 and 2010. As a result of churning and excessive trading, the customers incurred high commissions and fees, and significant realized investment losses.

Customers of Mr. Lianzo, Laidlaw & Company (UK) LTD, or SW Financial should consult with a securities arbitration law firm. If you or a loved one were a customer of Joseph Lianzo, Laidlaw & Company (UK) LTD, or SW Financial LLC, contact New York securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential consultation and review of your legal rights.

Iorio Altamirano LLP represents investors nationwide that have disputes with their financial advisors or brokerage firms, such as Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd or SW Financial.

Former Worden Capital Management LLC Broker, Donald Fowler, BARRED by FINRA for Churning and Excessively Trading Four Customers’ Accounts

Published on: August 26, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has barred stockbroker Donald Fowler from the securities industry. Mr. Fowler consented to the suspension after FINRA alleged that from December 2014 through December 2018, while associated with Worden Capital Management LLC, Mr. Fowler churned and excessively traded four customers’ accounts in violation of FINRA Rules 2111 and 2010. As a result of churning and excessive trading, the customers incurred high commissions and fees, and significant realized investment losses.

Customers of Mr. Fowler or Worden Capital Management LLC should consult with a securities arbitration law firm. If you or a loved one were a customer of Donald Fowler or Worden Capital Management LLC, contact New York securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential consultation and review of your legal rights.

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

SEC Charges John Woods of Southport Capital With Operating $110 Million Ponzi Scheme By Selling Units of Horizon Private Equity, III, LLC

Published on: August 25, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

**Update: September 9, 2022** On September 6, 2022, a group of Oppenheimer customers were awarded over $36 million by a FINRA arbitration panel as compensation for their investment losses in Horizon Private Equity, III, LLC. (“Horizon”). Horizon is an alleged Ponzi scheme operated by John Woods, a broker who was registered with Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. Iorio Altamirano LLP encourages all retail investors to contact our law firm for a free and confidential consultation and to review their legal rights.

Original Post:

SEC Charges John Woods of Southport Capital With Operating $110 Million Ponzi Scheme By Selling Units of Horizon Private Equity, III, LLC

GPB Automotive Portfolio, LP to Sell Prime Automotive as Its Future Remains Uncertain; Investors Encouraged to Act Now

Published on: August 24, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

August 24, 2021 – This morning, investors of GPB Automotive Portfolio LP woke up to more worrisome news, as the Wall Street Journal reported that the GPB Capital Holdings LLC, is looking to sell its largest dealership group, Prime Automotive, raising speculation that the GPB Automotive is running out of cash.

The latest news follows GPB Automotive’s regulatory filings in May 2021 that disclosed that there was substantial doubt that the business would survive, and July 2021 that disclosed that the Partnership was able to obtain a financing agreement with M&T Bank, but that the Partnership only had sufficient liquidity to meet its financial obligations through July 21, 2022.

In its latest regulatory filing, on August 16, 2021, GPB Automotive disclosed that it might sell dealerships to provide operational liquidity. According to the Wall Street Journal, such sales may be priced below fair value and go on the book as losses.

Debasish Hajra, Formerly of Wells Fargo, Suspended by FINRA – Marietta, Georgia

Published on: August 20, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has suspended financial advisor Debasish Hajra from the securities industry for 30 calendar days. Mr. Hajra consented to the suspension after FINRA alleged that, while associated with Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC in Marietta, GA, Mr. Hajra executed nine unauthorized trades with a total principal value of $526,966 in his deceased customer’s account. FINRA also fined Mr. Hajra $5,000.

Customers of Mr. Hajra or Wells Fargo who have suffered financial losses, or suspect that Mr. Hajra did not have their best interest in mind when recommending investments or making account transactions, can contact New York securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential consultation and review of their legal rights.

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

Two Former Woodstock Financial Group, Inc. Brokers Suspended by FINRA for Unsuitable Trades

Published on: August 20, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has suspended stockbrokers Alfonse Stazzone and Maxim Beliakov from the securities industry for four months. The financial advisors consented to the suspension after FINRA alleged that, while associated with Woodstock Financial Group, Inc., they excessively and unsuitably traded a customer’s account between September 2017 and August 2018. FINRA also fined both brokers $5,000 each.

Customers of Messrs. Stazzone and Beliakov or Woodstock Financial Group, Inc. who have suffered financial losses, or suspect that the brokers did not have their best interest in mind when recommending investments or making account transactions, can contact New York securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential consultation and review of their legal rights.

Iorio Altamirano LLP represents investors that have disputes with their financial advisors or brokerage firms, such as Woodstock Financial Group, Inc.

Energy 11, L.P., a Limited Partnership Sold Exclusively by David Lerner Associates, Inc., Not Likely to Resume Distributions to Investors Anytime Soon

Published on: August 20, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

On August 6, 2021, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Energy 11 GP, LLC, the general partner of Energy 11, L.P. (“Energy 11”), sent a letter to investors of Energy 11. Despite the upbeat and optimistic tone of the letter, as well as the representations made by David Lerner Associates, Inc.’s financial advisors to customers, investors have the right to feel concerned about their investments based on Energy 11’s public filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Most notably for investors:

Energy 11 has not made distributions to its limited partners since March 2020.
Energy 11 owes its limited partners 18 months of unpaid distributions, totaling more than $36 million.

GPB Capital Investor Recovers Full Investment Through FINRA Arbitration Award

Published on: August 16, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

On August 13, 2021, a FINRA arbitration panel in New York, New York, ruled in favor of a brokerage customer that invested in GPB Automotive Portfolio LP and GPB Waste Management LP at the recommendation of his financial advisor at Hightower Securities, LLC.

The arbitration panel ordered Hightower Securities, LLC to refund $163,201 to the customer in exchange for a return of the limited partnership interests, essentially making the customer whole. The customer had purchased the limited partnership interests for $170,000 and had previously received $6,799 from the investments as a return of capital.

Iorio Altamirano LLP is investigating claims on behalf of defrauded investors who were victims in the GPB funds scheme. The GPB funds were marketed to independent broker-dealers and investment advisers who would, in turn, sell the GPB funds to their retail investors.

Jason Seale of American Wealth Management, Inc. Suspended by FINRA – Novato, California

Published on: August 16, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has suspended financial advisor Jason Seale from the securities industry for 15 business days. Mr. Seale consented to the suspension after FINRA alleged that, while associated with American Wealth Management, Inc. in Novato, CA, he engaged in discretionary trading without written authorization in four customer accounts between February 2016 and December 2018. FINRA also fined Mr. Seale $5,000.

Customers of Mr. Seale or American Wealth Management, Inc. who have suffered financial losses, or suspect that Mr. Seale did not have their best interest in mind when recommending investments or making account transactions, can contact New York securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential consultation and review of their legal rights.

Iorio Altamirano LLP represents investors that have disputes with their financial advisors or brokerage firms, such as American Wealth Management, Inc.

Former Valic Financial Advisors, Inc. Broker, Enoch Booth, BARRED by FINRA – Columbia, South Carolina

Published on: July 21, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has barred financial advisor Enoch Booth from the securities industry for refusing to cooperate with a FINRA investigation into whether Mr. Booth engaged in unauthorized private securities transactions and outside business activities. FINRA launched the investigation after Valic Financial Advisors, Inc. terminated Mr. Booth’s employment in December 2020 and alleged that Mr. Booth failed to disclose a series of private securities transactions, failed to disclose a self-directed IRA, and provided gift cards to clients in violation of firm policy. Mr. Booth was associated with Valic Financial Advisors, Inc. in Columbia, South Carolina, from May 2001, until December 2020.

When a financial advisor participates in a private securities transaction that is not approved by a firm, it is referred to as “selling away.” The prohibitions on selling away are designed to protect investors by ensuring that all brokers’ activities are reasonably supervised by firms that employ them. Further, securities that are sold away from a firm have not been vetted by the firm.

Customers of Mr. Booth or Valic Financial Advisors, Inc. that have suffered financial losses can contact New York securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential consultation and review of their legal rights.