Category Archives: Morgan Stanley

Finra Investigation of Stockbroker, Forgery, Morgan Stanley, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, Stockbroker Discharged, Stockbroker Malpractice, StockBroker Misconduct

Benjamin Leitman-Former Morgan Stanley Broker-Discloses Regulatory Event and Termination-New York

December 2020- New York, NY

According to publicly available records Benjamin Leitman (CRD#5698076), a  former stockbroker who is currently unregistered, discloses a regulatory event 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 May 2020 FINRA, in  case #2019061903401,  alleged that Leitman falsely signed customer names on account documents of his member firm and also a letter of authorization seeking the disbursement of customer funds.   The findings stated that while transferring accounts from a broker-dealer to his firm, Lietman affixed the purported signature of a customer onto a contract account document.  Leitman further added a social security number and crossed out numbers for a social security number on the firm account application that the customer had already signed in order to facilitate the processing of the document.   According to FINRA, Leitman affixed the purposed signature of another customer to a corporate document and added social security numbers to the document.   Leitman subsequently provided a second letter of authorization actually singed by the other customer authorization.   Leitman falsely signed the documents as an accommodation to the customers.   FINRA sanctions were a 45 day suspension and a $5,000 fine.

In February 2019 Leitman was discharged from his employment with Morgan Stanley after allegations about his practices in processing documents, including signing and initialing certain documents for clients.

Lietman worked with Morgan Stanley from November of 2018 until his termination 2/2019.   Before that time he had worked with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith and AXA Advisors.   

If you had an account with Benjamin Leitman that suffered losses, you may be entitled to collect damages from his prior employer. Call 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

Finra Investigation of Stockbroker, Fraud, Morgan Stanley, Outside Business Activities, Stockbroker Discharged, Stockbroker Malpractice, StockBroker Misconduct, Theft, Wells Fargo

Herbert “Elias” Hafen-Former Morgan Stanley Broker-Pleads Guilty to Fraud- New York, NY

November  2019- New York, NY

The FINRA records of  Herbert “Elias” Hafen ,  a  financial advisor previously employed by  Morgan Stanley, disclose a prior regulatory event,  a pending criminal matter, a pending civil matter, a prior customer dispute 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 2/2019  Hafen failed to respond to FINRA request for information in connection with a FINRA investigation and was permanently barred from the securities industry.

In September 2019 Hafen pled guilty to investment adviser fraud. Sentencing is scheduled for January 2020.

The Securities and Exchange Commission filed a complaint against Hafen in 9/2019 alleging that from July 2011-April 2018 Hafen defrauded clients of the financial institutions he worked for at that time. VIctims were promised 6% interest in an investment that had little risk. In reality there was no investment and Hafen used the money for personal expenses. Of the $1.6 million he raised from victims only about $650,000 was returned.

In 5/2019, a Morgan Stanley Smith Barney customer was paid $430,000 to resolve allegations that Hafen  misappropriated funds.

In 8/2018 Hafen was discharged from Wells Fargo Clearing Services  after he admitted to entering into financial arrangements with clients that were not approved by the firm.

Hafen was registered with Wells Fargo Clearing Services  from March to September of 2018.  Prior to that he was employed by Morgan Stanley Smith Barney from 6/2009-4/2018.

If you have losses in an account  handled by Herbert “Elias” Hafen , contact us for a no charge consultation 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

Failure to Supervise, Morgan Stanley, Stockbroker Malpractice, StockBroker Misconduct, Summit Brokerage Services, Unsuitable Investments

Robert Berg-Summit Brokerage Services Broker-Discloses Customer Dispute Alleging Aggressive Trading- Danbury, CT

March 2019 – Danbury, CT

According to publicly available records  Robert Eugene Berg   (CRD#1218879) ,  a  stockbroker who is currently registered with Summit Brokerage Services,  disclose 1 pending 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 August 2002,  a Morgan Stanley customer filed case 02-04711 alleging fraud, conversion, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract and excessive concentration.   The case settled for $28,604.

In December 2018, a customer with Summit Brokerage Services, filed FINRA case 18-04448 alleging aggressive and speculative investment recommendations and is seeking damages of $75,000.   This case is still pending.

Berg has been employed with Summit Brokerage Services since May of 2014.   He was with Morgan Stanley from August 2006 until 2014. He discloses an affiliation with Berg Wealth Management in Danbury.

If you have questions about an investment account handled by Robert Berg,  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