Category Archives: Unauthorized Trading

Capital Financial Services, Failure to Supervise, Finra Investigation of Stockbroker, Questar Capital Corporation, Stockbroker Discharged, Stockbroker Malpractice, StockBroker Misconduct, Unauthorized Trading, Unsuitable Investments

Steven Knuttila-Former Capital Financial Services Broker-Discloses 2 Regulatory Events, 23 Customer Suits and a Termination-Perham, MN

March  2019 – Perham, MN

According to public records of Steven Roland Knuttila (CRD#3039112)  a  stockbroker previously employed by Capital Financial Services, Inc., disclose 2 regulatory events, 16 pending customer disputes, 23 prior 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 of 2018 Knuttila consented to the sanction and to the entry of findings that he refused to appear for FINRA on-the-record testimony relating to an investigation into allegations that he made unsuitable recommendations to customers.     As a result of this Knuttila has been permanently been barred from the securities industry by FINRA.

In April of 2018,  a regulatory action was initiated by the state of Minnesota alleging that Knuttila sold unsuitable investments to numerous clients.   Sanctions include a $40,000 in monetary penalties.  

From September 2010 until September 2018, twelve customer disputes were filed by customers of Questar Capital Corporation and Capital Financial Services, Inc. alleging various wrongdoing by Knuttila including  negligence, violations of the MN Uniform Securities Act, common law fraud, misrepresentation, breach of contract, unsuitable recommendations,  and breach of fiduciary duty.   The total paid out to settle these prior customer disputes was in excess of $1.78 million.

There are currently 16 pending customer suits  filed by customers of Questar Capital Corporation and Capital Financial Services, Inc. alleging various wrongdoing by Knuttila, including  unsuitable sales of alternative investments, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, common law fraud, negligent hiring, poor investment advice, fraud, deceit, misrepresentation and omission of facts.   The alleged damages in these cases total more than $1.86 million .

Knuttila was with Capital Financial Services, Inc. from 6/2012-12/2017.   He also is the President and owner of Knuttila Financial Services. Prior to that he was with Questar Capital. In May of 2012, Knuttila was terminated from employment by Questar Capital Corporation after allegations that he failed to follow firm procedures regarding the reporting of customer complaints and he failed to follow firm procedures regarding the use of discretion.  

If you have questions about an account handled by  Steven Knuttila, contact us for a no charge consultation to learn how you may be able to recover damages from his employer 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

Failure to Cooperate with Regulatory Investigation, Failure to Supervise, FInancial Exploitation of the Elderly, Finra Investigation of Stockbroker, Lack of Due Diligence, Misrepresentation, Stockbroker Discharged, Stockbroker Malpractice, Unauthorized Trading, Unsuitable Investments, Voya (formerly ING)

James T. Flynn-Former VOYA Financial Broker-Subject of Numerous Customer Suits Involving REITs-Greenville, SC

March 2019-Greer , SC

Our law firm recently filed several FINRA arbitrations against former VOYA Financial Advisors broker James T. Flynn. The claims by his former customers allege that Flynn made unsuitable recommendations and over concentrated the customers’ accounts in real estate investment trusts and other alternative, non liquid investments.

Flynn’s FINRA records  currently disclose  a recent regulatory suspension, 7 pending customer dispute, 18 prior customer disputes, 2 terminations from employment, a chapter 13 bankruptcy filing in 2013 and 3 outstanding judgment/liens.

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 September  2018, Flynn was permanently barred from the industry by FINRA for failing to respond to FINRA’s request for information in connection with a FINRA investigation.

Settlements with Flynn customers include:

In 12/2018 a customer of VOYA Financial was paid $50,000 to resolve allegations that Flynn made unsuitable investment recommendations beginning in 2014.

In 11/2018 a customer of VOYA Financial was paid $90,000 to resolve allegations that Flynn transferred assets from a 401K account into illiquid and unsuitable investments in violation of securities statutes.

In June 2018 a Voya Financial customer was paid $75,000 to resolve allegations that Flynn recommended unsuitable  alternative investments for the clients IRA and joint account.

In February 2018 a customer of Voya Financial Advisors was paid $32,912 to resolve allegations that a real estate investment trust (REIT) purchased in June 2015 was not suitable and that the customer was not aware of the risks involved or that the REIT wasn’t actively traded.

In September 2017 a customer of Voya Financial Advisors sought damages of $115,000, alleging that he questioned the suitability of real estate investment trusts (REITs) purchased in 2014 and 2015 and the replacement of a variable annuity policy. Voya paid the customer $167,673 to resolve the case in 9/2017.

In another recently resolved matter,  a customer of Voya Financial and Brookstone Securities alleged damages in connection with a $575,000 investment in annuities and real estate investment trusts (REITs). The customer alleged that they should not have been allowed to invest all of their retirement funds in unsuitable investments. In 8/2017, Voya paid the customer $196,788 to resolve the matter.

In February 2017  Flynn was discharged from Voya Financial Advisors who made the following allegation in connection therewith: “The representative provided misleading information to the Firm during a complaint investigation” related to a variable annuity.

Most recently, in 2/2018, Flynn was discharged from IFS Securities. The firm made the following allegation in connection with Flynn’s discharge: “Client alleges trading ahead of authorization.”.

Flynn discloses outstanding Federal Tax Liens of $256,165 and $18,837 and a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in 2013.

Jim Flynn, who is not currently registered, was employed by  IFS Securities from 2/2017-2/2018. . He was registered with Voya Financial Advisors 5/2013-2/2017, Capital Investment Group in Greer, SC, 7/2011-6/2013 and Brookstone Securities 9/2006-7/2011. Flynn discloses a business affiliation with Flynn Insurance Group and Flynn Wealth Management in Greenville, South Carolina.

If you have losses or questions about an account  handled by James  (Jim) T. Flynn , contact us for a no charge consultation to learn how you may be able to recover damages through FINRA arbitration. If you have information you believe would be helpful to our ongoing investigation of Jim Flynn, we would appreciate hearing from you.

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

HilltopSecurities (formerly Southwest Securities), Southwest Securities (now Hilltop Securities), Stockbroker Malpractice, StockBroker Misconduct, Unauthorized Trading, Unsuitable Investments, Wedbush Securities

Mark Augusta- Hilltop Securities Broker- Discloses 15 Customer Disputes, 4 Pending Customer Disputes and a Termination from Employment – Del Mar, CA

March 2019 – Del Mar, CA

According to publicly available records Mark Fred Augusta  (CRD#1333913) ,  a  stockbroker who is currently registered with Hilltop Securities, Inc.,  disclose  15 prior customer disputes, 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 March 2016, Mark Augusta was the subject of   FINRA Case 16-0847, brought by a customer of Wedbush Securities, who asserted violations of state and federal securities laws and FINRA/SEC Rules;  breach of fiduciary duty; unsuitable recommendations; failure to supervise; constructive fraud, common law fraud and fraud by material misrepresentations/omissions; unjust enrichment; unauthorized trading and elder financial abuse.   A FINRA arbitration panel awarded the customer $1,866,473.

In March of 2018, a Wedbush Securities , Inc. customer filed FINRA case 18-00975 alleging breach of fiduciary duty, constructive fraud, fraud by material misrepresentations/omissions, breach of written contract and elder abuse.   The case was settled for $73,900.

In February 2019,  a Wedbush Securities customer alleged unauthorized and unsuitable investments with damages of $398,832.   The case is pending.

Augusta is currently employed with Hilltop Securities.   He was previously employed with Wedbush Securities, Inc., from  January 2011 until May 2015   when he voluntarily resigned after after a customer complaint was filed against him.    Other places of Augusta’s employment were Stone & Youngberg, Piper, Jaffray & Co. and Miller & Schroeder Financial, Inc. 

If you have questions about an investment account handled by Mark Augusta,  contact us for a no charge consultation to learn about your legal 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

Ameriprise Financial, Failure to Supervise, InvestaCorp Inc, Misrepresentation, Stockbroker Malpractice, StockBroker Misconduct, Unauthorized Trading, Unsuitable Investments

Darren Jurick-Former Ameriprise Financial Services Broker- Discloses Customer Suits- Boca Raton, FL

March  2019- Boca Raton, FL

According to publicly available records Darren G. Jurick,  a  previously registered stockbroker who was last employed by Investacorp and previously employed with Ameriprise Financial Services , disclose a pending customer dispute and 2 prior customer disputes.

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 2/2019 a customer of Ameriprise Financial filed FINRA case 19-0591 alleging that Jurick recommended unsuitable investments, including Ferrellgas Partners. The customer seeks $100,000 in this currently pending matter.

In January of 2016, an Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., customer filed FINRA case # 05-03420 alleging unsuitable investment recommendations were made by Jurick.   She also alleged that margin borrowing was improperly used and that risks associated weren’t explained to her and that security purchases were executed without her authorization. That case was settled for $25,000.

Jurick was employed with Investacorp, Inc. from August  2016 until April 2018. He has not been registered since leaving Investacorp.  Before that he was with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. from November 2012 until August 2016.

Jurick discloses business affiliations with Singer Wealth Management, Singer Wealth Advisors and Jurick Financial Services. 

If you have suffered  losses in an account handled by Darren G. Jurick , contact us for a no charge consultation to learn how you may be entitled 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