The following information is from FINRA's website under "Disciplinary Actions, March, 2012:   Spartan Securities Group, LTD (CRD #104478, Clearwater, Florida)   submitted a Letterof Acceptance, Waiver and Consent in which the firm was censured, fined $52,500 and required to revise its WSPs regarding its supervisory system, procedures and qualifications;order handling; best execution; anti-intimidation/coordination; trade […]

The following information was obtained on FINRA’s website’s ‘Disciplinary Actions, March, 2012.”   Council (NAC) imposed the sanctions following appeal of an Office of Hearing Officers (OHO) decision. The sanctions were based on findings that Beloyan, acting on the firm’s behalf, drafted and distributed emails in which he recommended the purchase of securities, and those recommendations […]

If your stockbroker over concentrated your portfolio in Thornburgh stock, you should be aware that this article was posted on the SEC's website: "On March 13, 2012, the Securities and Exchange Commission filed securities fraud charges in the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico against Larry Goldstone, the former chief executive […]

The financial industry has been anticipating this time in history ever since the Baby Boom generation began. There are more people who will be turning more money over to stockbrokers than at any other time in history.  We have watched the abuse investors have taken. Take for example, the investors in Worldcom or Enron. They soon learned that things are […]

  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 an article from InvestmentNews.com, we learn that enforcement actions and fines by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc., or Finra,  jumped sharply in 2011, with the latter rising to $68 million, from $45 million in 2010, a new study shows. Much of that surge came from penalties for improper advertising. Finra filed 1,488 disciplinary […]

The following information was obtained on FINRA’s website’s ‘Disciplinary Actions, February 2012.”   Revere Securities Corp. (CRD #14178, Boca Raton, Florida)   submitted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent in which the firm was censured, fined $15,000 and required to revise its WSPs (Written Supervisory Procedures)  regarding OATS (Order Audit Trail System) reporting.   […]

The following information was obtained on FINRA’s website’s ‘Disciplinary Actions, February 2012.”   Olaf F. Gamlen (CRD #5292529, Registered Representative, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida)   submitted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent in which he was fined $5,000 and suspended from association with any FINRA member in any capacity for 10 business days. The […]

The following information was obtained on FINRA’s website’s ‘Disciplinary Actions, February 2012.”   Neal Seth Smalbach (CRD #1459854, Registered Principal, Palm Harbor, Florida)   submitted an Offer of Settlement in which he was barred from association with any FINRA member in any capacity.   Without admitting or denying the allegations, Smalbach consented to the described […]