Soreide Law Group is investigating possible investor claims against securities broker Brent Devon Hablutzel (CRD:  4749339, Greenwood Village, CO). Specifically, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) BrokerCheck discloses that investors disputed the sales practices of the securities broker, who worked for Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner Smith Incorporated. Evidently, one or more investors alleged that Hablutzel engaged […]

Morgan Stanley Clients Voice Complaints Regarding Jim Drigger's Investment Recommendations Investors appear to have filed disputes involving securities broker James Yang Driggers (“Jim Driggers”) (CRD#: 1359593, Sarasota, Florida). Specifically, Driggers, who worked for Morgan Stanley from 2008 to 2021, is involved in disputes where clients allege sales practice violations. Let’s take a closer look at […]

Reverse convertibles, are often called "trigger notes," "phoenixes," or "auto-callables." These structured products promised high yields of 6% to 12% or more, but trigger a conversion to Apple common stock if the price falls, usually on average 15% to 20%. With Apple down more than 25% from its high of last fall in 2012, many […]

In an article for InvestmentNews.com, on February 1st, 2012, Mark Schoeff Jr. writes that in a market defined by low interest rates, investors are searching for higher returns. But brokers better be careful how they try to deliver those results, according to their primary regulator. In a 16 page letter posted on its website, the Financial Industry […]

WASHINGTON — In an article posted on FINRA's website it was announced that the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has fined Santander Securities of Puerto Rico $2 million for deficiencies in its structured product business, including unsuitable sales of reverse convertible securities to retail customers, inadequate supervision of sales of structured products, inadequate supervision of accounts […]

Darla Mercado of InvestmentNews.com, recently wrote that Finra's variable annuity (VA) suitability rule should be old news to broker-dealers, but firms that want to avoid an arbitration land mine ought to review their procedures. Mercado writes this warning came directly from Andrew A. Favret, associate vice president and regional chief counsel at the Financial Industry Regulatory […]

In an article from InvestmentNews.com, Mark Schoeff Jr., writes that broker-dealers have been engaging in sales practices for structured securities products that hurt retail investors, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) report released in July. The article goes on to say that in an examinations of 11 broker-dealers, the SEC found that the firms […]

Securities Attorney, Lars Soreide, of Soreide Law Group, PLLC, would like all investors to take note of the warnings coming from both FINRA, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, and the SEC, the Securities and Exchange Commission this past week. FINRA has warned all investors to watch for structured products that are callable, promise principal protection or have returns […]

In an article from InvestmentNews.com, on July 25, 2011, Dan Jamieson writes that FINRA has warned investors about chasing yield with structured products, junk bonds and floating-rate bank-loan funds. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) issued an investor alert about the risks found in these and other products. The alert was prompted by "significant recent inflows" […]