The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority's (FINRA) 2013 fines and disciplinary actions are short of the 2012 totals. During the first half of 2013, FINRA reported $23 million of fines in its monthly "Disciplinary and Other FINRA Actions." However, during the first half of 2012, FINRA reported fines of broker-dealers and associated persons at $39 million, […]

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority's (FINRA) 2013 fines and disciplinary actions are short of the 2012 totals. During the first half of 2013, FINRA reported $23 million of fines in its monthly "Disciplinary and Other FINRA Actions." However, during the first half of 2012, FINRA reported fines of broker-dealers and associated persons at $39 million, […]

A Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration panel ordered a former employee of Merrill Lynch, Deutsche Bank, and Oppenheimer & Co. to pay nearly $11 million to an investor who alleged his broker, Karl Hahn, misrepresented securities and made excessive trades. The investor’s case against the former broker Karl Hahn, stems from transactions involving covered […]

Crystallex has commenced a proceeding under chapter 15 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware in order to ensure that relevant CCAA orders are enforced in the United States. Many stock brokers recommended CRYXF to their clients as an undervalued mining company that is poised […]

On Feb. 6th., 2013, LPL Financial, LLC, was ordered by Massachusetts Security Division to pay restitution of more than $2 million to investors who bought shares of nontraded real estate investment trusts (REITs) and a $500,000 administrative fine, which involved investors who bought shares of several different nontraded REITs in violation of state limitations, and […]

In a FINRA NTM 13-07 posted last Thursday on its website, FINRA asked for comment on an updated proposal that would keep the 5% guideline in place. The action follows complaints about an earlier proposal to eliminate the 5% rule for markups and markdowns. In other words, any FINRA broker/dealer can make up to 5% […]

There are many real estate investors attracted to Tenant-In-Common (TICs) for the purported tax savings through the like kind exchange provisions in the IRS code Section 1031, which allows for the investor a deferral of capital gains. Up until 2013, the capital gains rate was only 15%. Investors need to calculate the net amount of […]

Tenant in Common (TIC) investments, or 1031 exchanges, are a form of real estate ownership in which multiple investors own fractional interests in a property. Many brokers and brokerage firms sold billions of these products to investors across the country allegedly charging high fees, and doing little or no due diligence. They were investments with […]

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc., also known as FINRA, is proposing to tighten its definition of “public” arbitrator. FINRA would like to exclude people associated with a mutual fund or hedge fund from its pool of public arbitrators and require others to wait for two years after ending an industry affiliation before being classified […]