ROBERT MONTES Barred By FINRA The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) announced July 24, 2019 that it barred Morgan Stanley securities broker Robert Montes (CRD#: 835488, Palm Harbor, Florida). Evidently, Montes, who worked for Morgan Stanley from 2014 until 2019,  flat out refused to cooperate with FINRA who investigated him for his possible misuse of […]

MICHAEL GARRIS Suspended By FINRA The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) announced July 22, 2019 that it issued Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC (“Wells Fargo”) broker Michael Garris (CRD#: 1540384, Los Angeles, California) a one-year suspension beginning August 5, 2019, and a $5,000 fine for unauthorized trading. Notably, Garris who worked at Wells Fargo from […]

JESSE HOLOVACKO Fraud Conviction Affirmed The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit affirmed Merrill Lynch financial advisor Jesse Holovacko’s (CRD#: 5112298, Edison, New Jersey) convictions of 6 counts of wire fraud and 1 count of investment advisor fraud, according to an unpublished Opinion filed July 22, 2019 in U.S.A. v. Jesse Holovacko, […]

STEPHEN CARVER Cause Your Investment Losses? The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) confirms that at least three investors filed disputes over the sales practices of Stephen Carver (CRD#: 2230161, Peoria, Illinois). The disputes, which come from investors of both LifeMark Securities Corp, LPL Financial, and Cetera Advisors LLC, are summarized below: LifeMark Securities Corp. Client’s […]

JAMES BOOTH Barred From Securities Industry Investor Alert! The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) barred LPL Financial LLC securities broker James Booth (CRD#: 1906145, Norwalk, Connecticut) for conversion. Evidently, Booth executed a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent (“AWC”) #: 2019062787101 on June 26, 2019, which FINRA accepted July 1, 2019. This AWC contains findings […]

BRENDA SMITH Barred By FINRA The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) announced that it barred CV Brokerage Inc. financial and operations principal and securities broker Brenda Smith (CRD#: 4348518, West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania). Apparently, Smith, whom CV  Brokerage Inc. disaffiliated with June 14, 2019, executed a Letter of Acceptance, Wavier and Consent (the “AWC”) #: 2017052325901 […]

SUMMIT BROKERAGE SERVICES Reprimanded By FINRA The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA”) announced that it sanctioned Summit Brokerage Services Inc. (CRD#: 34643, Boca Raton, Florida). Evidently, Summit failed to supervise securities brokers’ investment recommendations to prevent excessive trading. The securities firm also failed to supervise securities brokers’ use of consolidated reports. Summit “accepted” that it […]

WALTER CLARK Sell You Unsuitable Investments? The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) reports on BrokerCheck that clients have disputed the sales practices of Wilmington Capital Securities broker, Walter Clark (CRD#:1803139, Columbia Maryland). Notably, since March 8, 2018, three clients brought disputes about the broker. Those claims come after FINRA permanently barred Clark from acting as […]

JEFFREY SCHWEBACH Suspended By FINRA The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) announced that it issued Independent Financial Group (“IFG”) broker Jeffrey Schwebach (CRD#: 1606537, Dell Rapids, SD) an 8 month suspension for selling away (engaging in securities transactions outside the scope of the broker’s employment). Notably, Schwebach submitted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent […]