FLORIDA INVESTORS, KNOW YOUR RIGHTS! Do you know that all Florida investors have the right to bring claims against their brokers or financial advisors to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, also know  as FINRA?  Know your rights under the Florida Investment Protection Act 517.301.                     The following is from the: 2011 Florida Statutes   517.301 Fraudulent transactions; falsification […]

The following information is from FINRA’s website under “Disciplinary Actions, April, 2012:”   William Edward Herlihy (CRD #4005879, Registered Principal, Deltona, Florida)  submitted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent in which he was fined $50,000 and suspended from association with any FINRA member in any capacity for six months. The fine must be paid […]

The following information is from FINRA’s website under “Disciplinary Actions, April, 2012:”   Banc of America Investment Services, Inc. dba Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (CRD #7691, New York, New York)  submitted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent in which the firm was censured and fined $55,000. The firm has already paid […]

The following information is from FINRA’s website under “Disciplinary Actions, April, 2012:” Success Trade Securities, Inc. (CRD #46027, Washington, DC) and Fuad Ahmed (CRD #2404244, Registered Principal, Washington, DC) submitted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent in which the firm was censured and fined $100,000. Ahmed was fined $10,000, suspended from association with any […]

In a March, 2012, article for InvestmentNews.com, Dan Jamieson writes that industry observers are wondering why the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. (FINRA)has issued a proposal to disclose licensing exam scores on its BrokerCheck system. Finra has requested comments regarding disclosing more through the disciplinary reporting system, including exam scores, broker termination information and more historical data. Jamieson […]

  In a recent New York times article, Greg Smith writes about his experience with Goldman Sachs as an executive director and head of the firm’s United States equity derivatives business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Here are some excerpts from his article that highlight Goldman Sachs intention to make money off their clients […]

In a March 1st, 2012, article from InvestmentNews.com, Dan Jamieson writes that Finra is considering giving up its proprietary lock on BrokerCheck data, opening the way for a higher level of scrutiny of brokers' disciplinary information, observers said. Finra, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc., earlier this month requested comments on the idea of giving private […]

In a February 17th., 2012, article for InvestmentNews.com, Bruce Kelly writes that a broker formally affiliated with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, Berthel Fisher & Co. Financial Services Inc. and LPL Financial LLC was arrested in Oregon this month for allegedly stealing $584,000 from three investors. The now ex-broker, James Scott McKee, was charged Feb. 9 […]

Pacific West Securities, Inc., a sizable independent broker-dealer with about 290 affiliated reps and advisers, is shutting down due to thin margins and high costs of doing business, with the reps moving to a broker-dealer in Cetera Financial Group, writes Bruce Kelly in a Dec. 6, 2011, ariticle for InvesmentNews.com. Kelly writes that Pacific West Securities […]