Category Archives: Securities

Failure to Cooperate with Regulatory Investigation, Failure to Supervise, Finra Investigation of Stockbroker, Morgan Stanley, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, Options, Stockbroker Malpractice, StockBroker Misconduct

Matthew Singer- Former Morgan Stanley Broker-Customer Suits Over Option Investments- Aventura, FL

August 2018 – Aventura, FL

The FINRA records of  Matthew Singer,  a  broker previously employed by Morgan Stanley Smith Barney disclose 3 prior customer disputes and a regulatory event.

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 of 2018,  without admitting or denying the findings, Singer consented to sanctions and entry of findings that he refused to appear for FINRA on-the-record testimony in connection with its investigation into whether Singer made unsuitable options recommendations to customers.   In March of 2018, Singer was permanently barred from the securities industry.

In December of 2016,  a client of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney,  filed FINRA Case 16-1063 and alleged unauthorized trading and misrepresentation with respect option investments from May 2015 to January 2016.    The case settled for $60,000.

In October of 2015, a client of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, filed FINRA case 15-2767 alleging  that  Singer recommended investments were recommended that were not suitable for their level of risk.   The case was settled for $365,000.

If you have losses in an account  handled by Matthew Singer , 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

Alternative Investments, Failure to Supervise, Fraud, Private Placements, Reg D Offerings(private placements), Theft, UBS

John Maccoll Charged With Stealing Nearly $4 Million from UBS Customers-Birmingham, MI

August 2018-Birmingham, Michigan

The FINRA records of  John C. Maccoll,  a  stock broker who was last employed by UBS Financial Services ,  disclose that he was recently discharged by UBS after failing to cooperate with a FINRA investigation alleging that he misappropriated money from a client.

According to a complaint filed in Federal court by the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) , Maccoll defrauded at least 15 of his brokerage clients out of $4 million. Maccoll used high pressure tactics to convince his customers to invest, by telling them there was only a short window of opportunity.

According to the SEC complaint about $400,000 was used by Maccoll to make Ponzi-like payments to some of the customers to keep the scheme alive. The balance was used for Maccoll’s personal benefit.

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.

Maccoll’s FINRA record discloses 11 prior customer disputes that were resolved by cash payments. Some of these prior cases were for unsuitable investments, including annuities and private placements.

There are two pending customer arbitrations by UBS customers seeking damages in excess of $1 million related to annuities and private placements.

Maccoll was employed by UBS Financial from 1/2006-3/2018.

If you have losses in an account handled by John C. Maccoll call for a no charge consultation to discuss your 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

Annuities, Lack of Due Diligence, LPL Financial, Misrepresentation, National Planning Corp., Stockbroker Malpractice, United Planners Financial Services, Unsuitable Investments

Dexter L. Thomas Investigation Update-Dallas, TX

August  17, 2018  UPDATE–Dallas, TX

We are currently investigating former National Planning Corp. broker Dexter L. Thomas on behalf of a number of residents of the Dallas/North Texas  area who allege damages to their accounts  for various reasons, including:

  • Unsuitable annuity investments
  • Churning of accounts
  • Unsuitable Loans

We Would Like to Hear From You

If you have information you believe will assist us in our investigation, please contact us by phone or using the contact form on this page and we will call you. We express our thanks to the many concerned individuals who have already reached out to us to share what they know about this rapidly developing situation.

Dexter Thomas Suicide- We have been informed by several former individuals who had accounts with Thomas that he committed suicide on August 4, 2018.

According to FINRA records, Dexter Leroy Thomas, was last registered with United Planners Financial Services of America and operated Dexter Thomas Financial Services in Dallas.  His FINRA record discloses  a pending customer dispute and 2 prior final 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 the currently pending matter, FINRA Case 18-0601,  a customer of National Planning Corp. alleges that Thomas violated FINRA rules and standards of conduct, violated the Texas Securities Act, made unsuitable recommendations and engaged in manipulative and deceitful conduct. Damages of $94,353 are sought in that case.

 Thomas was briefly employed by LPL Financial from 11/2017-12/2017. Prior to that he was employed by National Planning Corp. from 9/2006-11/2017.  

NATIONAL PLANNING CORP.  

According to FINRA records, National Planning Corporation (NPC)requested termination of their FINRA registration on July 9, 2018. On that same date NPC requested terminations of registration in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Indiana, Maine, Nevada, Texas and Wyoming.

On July 24, 2018, NPC was hit with  very significant sanctions by FINRA related to the sale of annuities. FINRA found that NPC received over $152 million from the sale of variable annuities, including $56 million from the sale of L-share variable annuities which were sold to customers without investigating the suitability of the product for the customer.

FINRA has fined NPC $650,000. In addition, NPC has agreed to disgorgement of up to $6 million to affected customers.

National Planning Corp. has also been known as Jackson National Financial Services and NPC of America.

No Charge Consultation

If you have questions about an investment account handled by Dexter Thomas , questions about annuities you may have been sold, or other financial matters involving Thomas, contact us 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

Concentrated Positions, Energy Securities, Oil & Gas Investment, UBS, Wells Fargo

Walter M. Stucker-Former UBS Broker- Named In $600K Suit Over Energy Investments-Ft. Worth, TX

August 2018-Ft. Worth, Texas

The FINRA records of  Walter M. Stucker,  a  stock broker who is currently employed by Wells Fargo Clearing 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 currently pending FINRA arbitration 18-1155 a customer of UBS Financial Services alleges that Stucker unsuitably concentrated their portfolio in the energy sector and misrepresented the risks associated. The customer seeks damages of $600,000.

Stucker was employed by UBS Financial from 4/2008-5/2017. He is currently employed by Wells Fargo.

If you have losses in an account handled by Walter M. Stucker call for a no charge consultation to discuss 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

REITs, StockBroker Misconduct

How to Recover Losses on American Finance Trust, Inc. (AFIN)

August 2018

If you invested  in American Finance Trust, Inc. (AFIN) in 2013 and paid $25 per share, you may be surprised to know that it is currently trading at under $15.

In a report just issued by investment bank Robert A. Stanger & Co. the listing of this former non-traded REIT has turned into an ugly “belly flop”. In June 2018 the company announced a estimated per share net asset value of $23.56. This represents a loss of about $1 billion of the company’s equity value.

Investors purchasing AFIN five years ago at $25 a share have lost 40% of their investment.

If you have suffered significant losses on an investment in AFIN, call for a no charge consultation to learn about you may be able to recover damages from the broker dealer who recommended the investment.

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