In an InvestementNews.com article from January20,2012, Dan Jamieson writes that in a regulatory notice, Finra outlined characteristics of what it calls “complex products,” which could include structured notes, inverse or leveraged exchange-traded funds, hedge funds and securitized products such as asset-backed securities. Finra stated that brokerage firms should have formal written procedures covering everything from […]

Soreide Law Group, PLLC, is currently investigating the following Equipment Leasing/Income/Equity Fund investments. If your stock broker or financial advisor recommended any of the following investments, and you sustained a significant loss of your investment. call 888-760-6552 for a free consultation.   - Equipment Leasing/Income/Equity Funds -   Commonwealth Opportunity Fund II, LLC Cypress Equipment Fund […]

Soreide Law Group is investigating the following Private Equity Fund investments. If your stock broker or financial advisor recommended any of the following investments and you sustained a significant loss of your investment. Call 888-760-6552 for a free consultation.   - Private Equity -   HMS Income Fund, Inc. (BDC) Master Private Equity Fund, LP Sierra […]

Former Ameriprise broker, Jason May (CRD# 4255401), in Delray Beach and Boynton Beach, Florida, has been barred for life by FINRA for failing to respond to FINRA requests for information after he was suspended for 60 days.   Our investigation has uncovered that Mr. May may have encouraged his clients to take out loans through a […]

Elevation, LLC (CRD #140341, Charlotte, North Carolina)   submitted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent in which the firm was censured and fined $10,000.   Without admitting or denying the findings, the firm consented to the described sanctions and to the entry of findings that it commenced an options business, engaged in options transactions […]

Evan Taber (CRD #1892751, Registered Representative, Plantation, Florida)   was barred from association with any FINRA member in any capacity.   This sanction was based on findings that Taber intentionally converted or misappropriated customer funds. These findings stated that Taber discussed with a customer an investment that would yield a 15 percent rate of return […]

Alan Stuart Pattee (CRD #3002976, Registered Representative, Lake Worth, Florida)   has submitted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent in which was barred from association with any FINRA member in any capacity. Without admitting or denying the findings, Pattee consented to the described sanction and to the entry of findings that he forged homeowner […]

In an InvestmentNews.com article by Bruce Kelly, he writes that failed private placements issued by Medical Capital Holdings Inc. and Provident Royalties LLC have forced dozens of broker-dealers to close, be sold or seek bankruptcy protection. Failed real estate tenant-in-common syndicator DBSI Inc. is threatening to have the same result, with DeWaay Financial Network LLC […]

In a December 6, 2011, article from Bloomberg News, we learn that Bank of America Corp. (BAC) reached a $315 million settlement with class action plaintiffs who sued its Merrill Lynch unit over claims tied to mortgage-backed securities, according to a filing in Manhattan federal court. Merrill Lynch was sued starting in December, 2008, by asset- […]