Category Archives: Unauthorized Trading

Cetera Advisors, Cetera Financial Group, Churning, Failure to Supervise, FINRA, Finra Investigation of Stockbroker, Stockbroker Malpractice, Summit Brokerage Services, Unauthorized Trading, Undisclosed compensation, Unsuitable Investments

Summit Brokerage Services Sanctioned for Churning Accounts-Boca Raton, FL

July 2019-Boca Raton, FL

Wealthmangement.com reports that Summit Brokerage Services, an independent broker dealer headquartered in Boca Raton, FL,  will close it doors and roll its business up into an affiliated broker dealer, Cetera Advisor Network.

Summit Brokerage reports having 450 advisors and $17.5 billion in client assets.

According to FINRA records, Summit Brokerage discloses 15 prior regulatory matters. Most recently in July 2019, Summit Brokerage was censured by FINRA, fined $325,000 and ordered to pay restitution to customers of $558,296, plus interest, to resolve various allegations related to supervision of the firm’s brokers. The supervisory deficiencies include a broker who excessively traded customer accounts which generated over $650,000 in commissions.

If you have losses in an account at Summit Brokerage Services, call for a no charge consultation to discuss your options.

Rex Securities Law , with offices in Boca Raton, FL,  and  Austin, TX,   provides representation to  investors  nationwide who are seeking recovery of investment losses due to the negligence or fraud of stockbrokers and broker dealers. If you have questions about how your account has been handled, call to speak with an experienced securities attorney.

Most cases handled on a contingent fee basis meaning that you do not pay legal fees unless we are successful.

Nationwide Representation

Rex Securities Law

TollFree: 877-224-3199

Florida-561 391 1900 

Texas-512-329-2870

Churning, Discretionary Trading, Elder Financial Abuse, Failure to Supervise, FINRA, Independent Financial Group, Misrepresentation, Sandlapper Securities, Stockbroker Discharged, Stockbroker Malpractice, StockBroker Misconduct, Unauthorized Trading, Unsuitable Investments

Kyusun Kim-Former Independent Financial Group Broker-Barred from FINRA-Discloses 19 Settled Customer Suits- Greenville, SC

June 2019- Greenville, SC

According to publicly available records, former Independent Financial and Sandlapper Securities  financial advisor Kyusun Kim,  discloses 19 settled and 4 pending customer disputes  and a termination from employment.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) is the agency that licenses and regulates stockbrokers and brokerage firms. FINRA requires brokers and brokerage firms to report customer complaints and disputes as well as regulatory sanctions. In addition brokers are required to disclose certain financial matters such as personal bankruptcies, judgments and liens.

In June 2018 FINRA (FINRA case 2017052705001) permanently barred Kim from the securities industry to resolve allegations that he made unsuitable recommendations to numerous senior customers, who were retiring or had retired. Kim recommended that these customers concentrate their retirement assets and liquid net worth in speculative and illiquid securities, according to FINRA.   Kim failed to disclose to his customers the risks associated  and as a result of these recommendations, Kim’s customers suffered substantial losses.

From December of 2007 until June 2013, 15 customers of Independent Financial Group brought cases alleging that Kim  forged signatures, made unsuitable recommendation, misrepresentation, violated state and federal securities laws, committed elder abuse, and other wrongful conduct.   These cases were collectively settled for over $3 million.

Between December 2016 and February 2018, four customers of Independent Financial Group filed cases alleging wrongful conduct, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of written contract, violations of federal and state securities laws in connection with investments,  unsuitable investments, breach of oral and written contract. Total damages on these pending cases exceed 1 million.

Kim  was employed by Sandlapper Wealth Management  from March 2016 until August of 2018 when he was discharged.   Kim was employed with Independent Financial Group in San Diego, CA from February of 2006 until March of 2016.

If you have losses in an account handled by Kyusun Kim, call to learn how you may be able to recover damages through FINRA arbitration.

Rex Securities Law , with offices in Boca Raton, FL,  and  Austin, TX,   provides representation to  investors  nationwide who are seeking recovery of investment losses due to the negligence or fraud of stockbrokers and broker dealers. If you have questions about how your account has been handled, call to speak with an experienced securities attorney.

Most cases handled on a contingent fee basis meaning that you do not pay legal fees unless we are successful.

Nationwide Representation

Rex Securities Law

TollFree: 877-224-3199

Florida-561 391 1900 

Texas-512-329-2870

APW Capital, Discretionary Trading, Failure to Supervise, Merrill Lynch, Misrepresentation, Oppenheimer, Options, Stockbroker Discharged, Stockbroker Malpractice, Unauthorized Trading, Unsuitable Investments

Michael Lackwood-Former Oppenheimer Broker-Subject of Recently Filed Customer Suit

May 2019 – Dallas, TX

We recently filed a FINRA arbitration claim on behalf of a resident of Carrollton, Texas, against Oppenheimer & Co. , which seeks damages for the mishandling of an investment account by former Oppenheimer financial advisor Michael A. Lackwood.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) is the agency that licenses and regulates stockbrokers and brokerage firms. FINRA requires brokers and brokerage firms to report customer complaints and disputes as well as regulatory sanctions. In addition brokers are required to disclose certain financial matters such as personal bankruptcies, judgments and liens.

Suit Alleges Lackwood Made Unauthorized & Risky Trades

The arbitration suit alleges that Lackwood made unsuitable recommendations including short term trading and a risky option trading strategy that resulted in substantial losses. The claim seeks damages of between $100,000-$500,000.

According to FINRA records, Lackwood was registered with Oppenheimer from 9/2011-7/2018. He is currently registered with APW Capital whose main office is located in Rockaway, NJ. Earlier in his career Lackwood was employed by Merrill Lynch where he was discharged in 8/2011 for conduct in connection with loans made by certain clients to other Merrill clients and to third parties. Lackwood discloses a business affiliation with Spring Delta Asset Management in New York.

If you have questions about an investment account handled by Michael Lackwood contact us for a no charge consultation to learn about your legal options for recovery of damages.

Rex Securities Law , with offices in Boca Raton, FL,  and  Austin, TX,   provides representation to  investors  nationwide who are seeking recovery of investment losses due to the negligence or fraud of stockbrokers and broker dealers. If you have questions about how your account has been handled, call to speak with an experienced securities attorney.

Most cases handled on a contingent fee basis meaning that you do not pay legal fees unless we are successful.

Nationwide Representation

Rex Securities Law

TollFree: 877-224-3199

Florida-561 391 1900 

Texas-512-329-2870