On July 18, 2018, the SEC filed a lawsuit in the District of Connecticut naming Temenos Advisory, Inc. (“Temenos”) and George L. Taylor (“Taylor”) as Defendants and essentially alleging that Defendants made improper recommendations of certain private placement investments to their investment advisory clients. A copy of the SEC Complaint…
Investor Lawyers Blog
American Finance Trust (AFIN) Lists on NASDAQ- Revealing Heavy Investor Losses
American Finance Trust, Inc. (“AFIN” or the “Company”) listed its shares on Nasdaq Global Select Market (“Nasdaq”) on July 19, 2018, with trading opening at $13.15 a share with. AFIN sold shares to public at $25.00 a share,. While the trading price of AFIN may fluctuate, it appears that…
Massachusetts Securities Regulator Targets Brokerages in Private Placement Sales
As recently reported by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), investments in so-called private placements have experienced a substantial upswing in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. In fact, according to a May 7, 2018 WSJ article entitled, A Private-Market Deal Gone Bad: Sketchy Brokers, Bilked Seniors and a Cosmetologist,…
Former Financial Advisor Kyusun Kim Barred From Securities Industry by FINRA
As recently reported, former broker Kyusun Kim (a/k/a Kyu Sun Kim, a/k/a Kenny Kim) (CRD# 2864085) has consented to a “sanction and to the entry of findings [by FINRA] that he made unsuitable recommendations to numerous senior customers, who were retiring or had retired that they concentrate their retirement assets…
Former NY Life Broker Joel Flaningan Allegedly Sold Unregistered Woodbridge Investments
Investors in Woodbridge upon the recommendation of former financial advisor Joel Vincent Flaningan (“Flaningan”) (CRD# 5664958) may be able to recover their losses in FINRA arbitration. According to FINRA BrokerCheck, Mr. Flaningan was discharged from employment with NYLife Securities LLC (“NYLife”) (CRD# 5167) on or about May 10, 2018, in…
SEC Files Complaint against Suspended Broker John Piccarreto, Jr. in Connection With $102 Million Ponzi Scheme
On June 19, 2018, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filed a Complaint against various individuals and entities — including former financial advisor John Charles Piccarreto, Jr. (CRD# 6276418) of San Antonio, TX — in furtherance of the SEC’s efforts to “stop an ongoing fraudulent scheme in which the Defendants…
Alan H. New Allegedly Sold Unregistered Woodbridge Investments While Employed By NYLife Securities
Investors in Woodbridge Units or Notes, as further defined below, who purchased a Woodbridge investment based upon a recommendation by former financial advisor Alan Harold New (CRD# 2892508) may be able to recover losses through securities arbitration. Publicly available information through FINRA BrokerCheck indicates that Alan New was formerly affiliated…
Mass. Regulator: MetLife Allegedly Failed To Contact Retirees About Benefits
On June 25, 2018, the Enforcement Section of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Securities Division (“Division”) filed an Administrative Complaint (“Complaint”) against Respondent MetLife, Inc. (“MetLife”) in connection with alleged violations of the Massachusetts Uniform Securities Act (the “Act”). Specifically, the Division has alleged that MetLife, through a line of business…
Financial Advisor Matthew Eckstein Charged with Grand Larceny and Fraud by Nassau County District Attorney
Syosset, NY-based stockbroker Matthew Eckstein was recently charged with three counts of second-degree grand larceny, third degree grand larceny, and two counts of first-degree scheme to defraud by the Nassau County District Attorney. These charges stem from Mr. Eckstein’s business as a financial advisor in Garden City, NY, and more…
Former Securities America Broker Hector May Submits to Asset Freeze by the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York
Investors who suffered losses due to the alleged misconduct of Rockland County financial advisor Hector A. May (CRD# 323779) may be able to recover their losses in arbitration before FINRA. A resident of Orangeburg, NY, Mr. May was most recently affiliated with the independent broker-dealer Securities America, Inc. (CRD# 10205)…