investor protection

Former Transamerica Financial Advisors Wenru Liang and Jenny Xinfang Feng Suspended by FINRA – Columbia, MD

Published on: February 16, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has suspended financial advisors Wenru Liang (“Liang”) and Jenny Xinfang Feng (“Feng”) from the securities industry for a six-month period. Neither is currently associated with any FINRA member.

FINRA found that Liang and Feng engaged in unethical conduct between April 2017 and August 2020 by designating themselves as beneficiaries on an elderly customer’s variable annuity policy. The customer was not related to Liang or Feng. FINRA also found that they had misrepresented their relationship with the customer to the annuity company and attempted to conceal their conduct from their firm, Transamerica Financial Advisors, Inc. (“Transamerica”).

In addition to their six-month suspension, Liang and Feng were also fined $7,500 each.

Broker Spotlight: Michael Hernandez of Arive Capital Markets – Brooklyn, New York

Published on: February 15, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

Michael Joseph Hernandez is a stockbroker with Arive Capital Markets LLC (“Arive Capital Markets”) in Brooklyn, New York. Mr. Hernandez has a history of associations with disreputable broker-dealers and at least one customer complaint, employment termination, and regulatory sanction.

If you have lost money with broker Michael Hernandez or Arive Capital Markets, contact New York securities arbitration lawyers Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential evaluation of your account.

Arive Capital Markets

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.

Key Investor Issues Outlined in FINRA 2021 Exam Priorities – Part Two

Published on: February 5, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

We are continuing our discussion of FINRA’s 2021 Report on Risk Monitoring and Examination Activities. In Part Two, we will focus on FINRA’s comments and findings related to Variable Annuities, Outside Business Activities, and Private Securities Transactions and Private Placements. These are all areas of interest that directly affect retail investors, and in which FINRA found deficiencies following its examination of member-firms.

If you are interested in FINRA’s comments regarding Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI), Communications with the Public, and Best Execution, you can read Part One of our discussion here.

Variable Annuities

Arive Capital Markets Broker, Lon Faccini, Facing Two Pending Disputes Alleging Excessive Trading, Churning, Misrepresentation, and Unsuitability

Published on: February 5, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

Lon Charles Faccini Jr. is a stockbroker with Arive Capital Markets LLC (“Arive Capital Markets”) in Brooklyn, NY, with a history of customer complaints and associations with disreputable broker-dealers.

Mr. Faccini has been the subject of seven customer complaints, which include two pending disputes. The pending disputes are securities arbitration claims filed by customers of Mr. Faccini. At least one of the customers was also a client of Arive Capital Markets. The Arive Capital Markets customer alleged excessive trading, churning, and unsuitability. The second customer alleged misrepresentation and unsuitability.

If you have lost money with broker Lon Faccini or Arive Capital Markets, contact New York securities arbitration lawyers Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential evaluation of your account.

Former J.P. Morgan Securities Broker Jasmit Singh SUSPENDED by FINRA – New York, NY

Published on: February 3, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has suspended former broker Jasmit Singh from the securities industry for seven months over allegations that Mr. Singh participated in private securities transactions and engaged in outside business activities without providing prior written notice to his firm. In addition to the suspension, FINRA fined him $10,000 and ordered him to disgorge $5,500 in finder’s fees.

Mr. Singh was registered as an Investment Banking Representative with J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (“J.P. Morgan”) in New York, NY, from August 2017 until February 2020.

If you have lost money with former broker Jasmit Singh or J.P. Morgan, contact New York securities arbitration lawyers Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential evaluation of your account.

Key Investor Issues Outlined in FINRA 2021 Exam Priorities – Part One

Published on: February 3, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

Earlier this week, FINRA released its 2021 Report on Risk Monitoring and Examination Activities. The Report replaced two of FINRA’s prior publications – FINRA’s Examination Findings and Observations Report and FINRA’s Risk Monitoring and Examination Priorities Letter. The Report provided an in-depth look at FINRA’s priorities, recommended best practices for broker-dealer members, and regulatory findings. The Report reiterated FINRA’s commitment to protecting senior and vulnerable investors and highlighted several important areas of interest that directly affect retail investors, including:

Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI)
Communications with the Public

Columbus, Ohio Financial Advisor Lisa Stevenson, Formerly of The Huntington Investment Company, BARRED by FINRA

Published on: February 3, 2021 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has barred stockbroker Lisa Marie Stevenson (Lisa Marie Gastaldo) from the securities industry. FINRA expelled Ms. Stevenson from the brokerage industry because she refused to provide information and documents connected with FINRA’s investigation into the circumstances given rise to her termination from The Huntington Investment Company in December 2020.

Ms. Stevenson was a financial advisor at The Huntington Investment Company in New Albany, Ohio, from March 2016 until her employment was terminated in December 2020. The Huntington Investment Company fired Ms. Stevenson after she admitted that she received, among other things, a $100,000 gift from a customer in contravention of firm policy and FINRA rules.

If you have suffered financial losses investing with Lisa Stevenson or suspect that Ms. Stevenson did not have your best interest in mind when recommending investments or account transactions, 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.”

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.