In a recent Reuters article, they write that FINRA, or The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, is examining major brokerages regarding potential conflicts of interest and financial incentives associated with the sale of complex securities, said the Wall Street regulator's chief. Richard Ketchum, FINRA's chairman and chief executive, said that FINRA is looking "very closely" at […]

Broker-dealers' falling short in due diligence when selling complex, illiquid products has been a focus of FINRA examinations and fines since the market collapse of 2008, writes Bruce Kelly of InvestmentNews.com. FINRA recently fined and sanctioned a handful of broker-dealers that sold two series of private placements that imploded in 2009 — Medical Capital Holdings […]

David Marasek (CRD #2866848, Registered Representative, Boca Raton, 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. Without admitting or denying the findings, Marasek consented to the described sanctions and to the entry of […]

Clifford Jagodzinski, formerly of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (MSSB), claims he was fired for blowing the whistle on one of the firm's newest wealth managers, Harvey Kadden. According to the complaint, filed in U.S. District Court in the Southern District of New York, Kadden “was flipping preferred securities in a manner that was generating […]

LaeRoc Funds are real estate 'private placements' sold by various broker/dealers. LaeRoc Funds, a real estate investment firm, manages over $650 million in assets. LaeRoc 2005-2006 Income Fund, L.P., is trying to raise enough money to pay off debt due to the decline in real estate ventures. June, 2011, the Fund issued a cash call […]

Soreide Law Group is currently investigating Alpine Total Dynamic Dividend Fund (AOD). There were nearly 220 million shares sold to the public with a Closed-End Fund trading 31.45% above its Net Asset Value. It may soon be no longer one of the more favored of the Alpine funds. Alpine has recently disclosed that they have […]

The Securities and Exchange Commission alleged three former brokers at JP Turner & Co. in Atlanta, traded excessively in accounts of seven clients from January, 2008, through December, 2009. Regulators reported that these three brokers churned their client's accounts and received $845,000 in commissions and fees for themselves and the brokerage. Unfortunately, their customers lost […]

The Soreide Law Group is currently investigating claims on behalf of Kovack Securities clients who invested in options with Whitney Thatcher in the firm's Henderson, Nevada office. If you have suffered substantial losses due to Mr. Thatcher’s options recommendations, you may have a claim for recovery. Give us a call to discuss your potential claim. […]

Soreide Law Group would like to list some simple tips for investors. It is heartbreaking to hear some of the stories we hear almost on a daily basis. We caution would-be investors with some simple reminders when thinking of investing. Often, people who do not wish to invest in 'risky' products, are put in just […]