Investor Lawyers Blog
On December 12, 2012, Massachusetts securities regulators announced that they are suing LPL Financial in connection with sales of risky investments known as non-traded REITs. LPL Financial has been charged with improper sales practices and inadequate supervision of registered representatives who sold non-traded REITs.
These charges are in connection with the sales of $28 million in non-traded REITs between 2006 and 2009, which were sold to nearly 600 clients in Massachusetts. According to the Massachusetts Securities Division, 569 of those transactions had regulatory violations, including violations of prospectus requirements, violations of Massachusetts concentration limits and violations of LPL’s compliance practices.
Inland American Real Estate Trust Inc. accounted for the largest amount of sales of all the REITs listed in the complaint. With real estate assets amounting to $11.2 billion, this REIT was the largest non-traded REIT in the industry.