Soreide Law Group is investigating claims involving Independent Financial Group, LLC (IFG) and its financial advisor, Wenjinn (James) Chang, out of the firm’s Rockville, Maryland office regarding recommendations to investors to purchase concentrated investments in AFIN. Mr. Chang has been registered with IFG since 2012. Mr. Chang was previously registered with Ameritas from 2004-2012, AXA […]

Wells Fargo’s Francisco Ortiz Suspended For Falsifying Wire Request Francisco Jose Ortiz (CRD #4677135, Miami, Florida), who was a registered representative of Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC between June 5, 2013 and June 16, 2015, was required by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) to pay a $5,000.00 fine and suspend acting as a broker or […]

Massachusetts Regulator Investigates Firms Selling Private Placements Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, William Francis Galvin, announced in a public statement on July 2, 2018 that his office will be conducting an inquiry into ten brokerage firms within the state of Massachusetts that sell private placements out of concern that the investments are being sold […]

Janney Montgomery Scott Sued For Unsuitable Trading for broker Barry Falk Barry Falk (CRD #870874, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida), who has been a registered representative of Janney Montgomery Scott LLC since December 19, 2002, disclosed on Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) BrokerCheck that his activities have prompted customers to collectively bring a civil suit in […]

CHRISTOPHER LEE HIBBARD (CHRIS HIBBARD) CRD#: 3176484, a financial advisor formerly with Merrill Lynch of Louisville, Kentucky, was barred by FINRA February 7, 2018, from acting as a broker or otherwise associating with a broker/dealer firm following an internal investigation which also found he had allegedly made unauthorized transactions. According to FINRA’s BrokerCheck, Merrill Lynch […]

Raymond James Settles Customer Arbitration for broker Mitchell Silverman Mitchell Louis Silverman (CRD #500504, Boca Raton, Florida), who has been a financial advisor of Raymond James & Associates, Inc. since May 3, 2002, disclosed via Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) BrokerCheck that his activities are the subject of a customer investment-related arbitration dated May 17, […]

Merrill Lynch Customer Files $10,000,000 Arbitration Claim Alleging Misrepresentations Hector J. Gonzalez (CRD #5330726, Miami, Florida), who has been a registered representative of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“Merrill Lynch”) since June 21, 2010, disclosed via Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) BrokerCheck that his sales practices have caused a customer to file an […]

Ameriprise Ordered To Pay Customer after Fraud allegations Michael Anthony Lipscomb (CRD #2286249, Orlando, Florida), who has been a registered representative of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. (“Ameriprise”) since August 27, 2014, disclosed via Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) BrokerCheck that his activities are the subject of a customer-initiated investment-related arbitration dated November 29, 2017. The […]

ALEX GERARDO HERRERA CRD#: 3204779, a former registered representative from UBS FINANCIAL SERVICES of Coral Gables, Florida, was barred by FINRA, August 8, 2018. Herrera consented to the sanction and to the entry of FINRA’s findings that he refused to provide information requested by FINRA in connection with its investigation of his possible participation in […]