investment loss lawyer

Iorio Altamirano LLP Files Securities Arbitration Claim Against David Lerner Associates, Inc. Related to Unsuitable Recommendations Made by President and CEO Martin Walcoe

Published on: February 24, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

On behalf of a client, securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP has filed an arbitration claim through FINRA Dispute Resolution Services against David Lerner Associates Inc. (“David Lerner”). The claim alleges that President and CEO Martin Walcoe and David Lerner unsuitably recommended that the customer purchase and hold Puerto Rico municipal bonds and misrepresented and omitted material facts concerning the risk and safety of the bonds. The recommendations and misrepresentations occurred at a time when credit rating agencies were downgrading Puerto Rico municipal bonds and indicated that further credit downgrades were imminent. At the time of the recommendations, Mr. Walcoe was an investment counselor and branch manager.

The claim also alleged that David Lerner also failed to suitably and properly allocate the customer’s brokerage account. Instead, David Lerner concentrated the customer’s account in risky, speculative, and uninsured Puerto Rico municipal bonds.

David Lerner’s recommendations to purchase and hold speculative Puerto Rico municipal bonds and its repeated recommendations to concentrate the customer’s investment accounts into speculative junk bonds were unsuitable and not in the customer’s best interest in light of the customer’s investment objectives and “middle ground” risk tolerance.

At Least Twenty-Four Customers Have Filed Securities Arbitration Complaints Against Robinhood Financial, LLC

Published on: February 17, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

Here is how you can file a claim to recover losses suffered from trading restrictions placed on GameStop, AMC, Blackberry, Nokia, and other stocks.

On February 12, 2021, in a letter addressed to Senator Elizabeth Warren, Robinhood Financial, LLC confirmed twenty-four (24) pending securities arbitrations.

Robinhood’s letter was written in response to an inquiry sent by Senator Warren on February 2, 2021, as to why Robinhood “abruptly changed the rules” for retail investors by restricting the purchase of certain securities.

Investigative Report: Iorio Altamirano LLP Investigation into Arive Capital Markets Reveals Troubling Pasts for Owners, Executives, and Brokers

Published on: February 8, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

This post is the first in 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.

SUMMARY:

In 2017, in collaboration with Columbia Law School, Reuters analyzed FINRA data and identified 48 firms whose brokers have been flagged for serious incidents. In 2021, our firm set out to update that analysis.

Former David Lerner Associates Financial Advisor, Charles Bonilla, Suspended by FINRA for Unsuitable Energy-Sector Securities – Boca Raton, FL

Published on: February 8, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has suspended financial advisor Charles Bonilla from the securities industry for five months, fined him $5,000, and ordered him to disgorge $22,417 in commissions.

FINRA suspended Mr. Bonilla for recommending energy-sector securities to customers without having a reasonable basis to believe those investments were suitable. Mr. Bonilla was a broker with David Lerner Associates, Inc. in Boca Raton, FL when the alleged conduct occurred.

If you have suffered financial losses investing with Mr. Bonilla or suspect that Mr. Bonilla did not have your best interest in mind when recommending investments, including energy-sector mutual funds or limited partnerships, contact New York securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential review of your account.

Investor Alert: Iorio Altamirano LLP Continues to Investigate Robinhood, Webull, T.D. Ameritrade, Interactive Brokers, Charles Schwab, and Other Brokerage Firms for Market Manipulation and Breach of Contract

Published on: February 1, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

Iorio Altamirano LLP is investigating claims of market manipulation and breach of contract after Robinhood Markets, Webull Financial LLC, T.D. Ameritrade, Charles Schwab, E*Trade Financial Corp., Interactive Brokers Group, and other online brokerage platforms halted the ability of its clients to purchase GameStop (NYSE: GME), AMC (NYSE: AMC), Novavax, Inc. (NASDAQ: NVAX), Express (NYSE: EXPR), Blackberry (NYSE: BB), Bed Bath & Beyond (NASDAQ: BBBY), Koss Corp. (NASDAQ: KOSS) and Nokia (NYSE: NOK) stock on January 28, 2021.

According to reports, after the popular online brokerage firms implemented the trading restrictions, GameStop ($GME) dropped 44%, and AMC ($AMC) lost 57%. The trading restrictions, which appear to have sent the share prices of targeted companies plunging, set off a firestorm of criticism, including Congress members.

New York Attorney General Letitia James released the following statement on January 28, 2021: “We are aware of concerns raised regarding activity on the Robinhood app, including trading related to the GameStop stock. We are reviewing this matter.”

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.

Investor Alert: Iorio Altamirano LLP Investigates Robinhood, T.D. Ameritrade, Charles Schwab, and Other Brokerage Firms for Market Manipulation

Published on: January 28, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

Iorio Altamirano LLP is investigating claims of market manipulation and breach of contract after Robinhood Markets, T.D. Ameritrade, Charles Schwab, and other brokerage firms halted the ability of its clients to purchase GameStop ($GME), AMC ($AMC), Blackberry ($BB), and Nokia ($NOK) stock.

To read our most recent blog post on this investigation, please click here.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, which regulates brokerage firms like Robinhood, T.D. Ameritrade, and Charles Schwab, requires that broker-dealers make every effort to execute a marketable customer order that it receives fully and promptly.

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.

Original Post:

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.