Category Archives: Securities

Concentrated Positions, Energy Securities, Failure to Supervise, FINRA, Finra Investigation of Stockbroker, Misrepresentation, Mutual Funds, NYLife Securities, Oil related investments, Stockbroker Malpractice, Unsuitable Investments

David Colflesh-Former NYLife Securities Broker-Subject of Multiple Customer Suits Over Mutual Funds-Tarkio, MO

October 2018- Tarkio, Missouri

The FINRA records of  David R. Colflesh ,  a  former stock broker who is not currently registered and who was last employed by NYLife Securities ,  disclose  a regulatory suspension and 18 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 October 2018 FINRA suspended Colflesh for 18 months and fined him over $34,000 to resolve allegations that he recommended non diversified mutual funds (in energy, oil and gas)  to customers without having a reasonable basis for believing they were suitable, as he had not adequately educated himself about the funds. FINRA found that Colflesh knew his recommendations exceeded his firm’s limits on concentrations of risky stocks.

In 17 prior customer disputes NYLife paid cash settlements totaling about $750,000 to former customers of Colflesh who suffered losses on unsuitable mutual funds.

David Colflesh was employed by NYLife Securities from 9/1983-11/2016 and operates Colflesh Financial Services Inc. in Maryville, MO.

If you have losses in an account handled by David Colflesh  , call for a no charge consultation to learn about your options for recovery of damages from NYLife Securities.

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, Michigan Securities Regulator, Promissory Notes, Selling Away, Signator Investors, Unregistered Securities, Unsuitable Investments

David Ferwerda-Former Signator Investors Broker-Sanctioned Over Woodbridge Mortgage Fund Sales-Grand Rapids, MI

October 2018- Grand Rapids, MI

The FINRA records of  David Carl Ferwerda ,  a  former stock broker who is not currently registered and who was last employed by Signator Investors ,  disclose  a regulatory bar from the securities industry and a termination from employment related to his alleged involvement in the sales the allegedly fraudulent Woodbridge Mortgage Investment Funds.

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 October 2018 FINRA permanently barred Ferwerda from the securities industry for his failure to provide FINRA with requested documents and information in connection with an investigation of Ferwerda’s participation in sales of notes related to the Woodbridge Group of Companies and 1 Global Capital LLC.

Ferwerda was employed by Signator Investors from 9/2012-3/2018 when he was discharged by Signator Investors for his involvement in the sale of unapproved outside investments in violation of firm policy. The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs is currently investigating this matter.

Woodbridge-A $1.2 billion Ponzi According to SEC

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission announced charges and an asset freeze against a group of unregistered funds and their owner who allegedly bilked thousands of retail investors, many of them seniors, in a $1.2 billion Ponzi scheme.

According to the SEC’s complaint, unsealed in federal court in Miami, Florida, Robert H. Shapiro and a group of unregistered investment companies called the Woodbridge Group of Companies LLC, formerly headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, defrauded more than 8,400 investors in unregistered Woodbridge funds.

“We allege that through aggressive tactics, Woodbridge and Shapiro swindled seniors into a business model built on lies, which the SEC’s Miami Regional Office staff moved to halt,” said Stephanie Avakian, Co-Director of the SEC’s Enforcement Division.

“Our complaint alleges that Woodbridge’s business model was a sham,” said Steven Peikin, Co-Director of the SEC’s Enforcement Division. “The only way Woodbridge was able to pay investors their dividends and interest payments was through the constant infusion of new investor money.”

“Our complaint further alleges that Shapiro used a web of layered companies to conceal his ownership interest in the purported third-party borrowers,” said Eric I. Bustillo, Director of the SEC’s Miami Regional Office.  “Shapiro used the scheme to line his pockets with millions of investor dollars.”

If you have losses in an account handled by David Ferwerda on investments in Woodbridge or other unsuitable investments , call for a no charge consultation to learn about your options for recovery of damages from Signator Investors.

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, Churning, Failure to Supervise, LPL Financial, SII Investments Inc., Stockbroker Malpractice, StockBroker Misconduct, Unsuitable Investments

Gary Lee Miller-Former LPL Financial Broker-Discloses Customer Dispute Involving Annuities- Eau Claire, WI

October 2018 – Eau Claire, WI

According to publicly available records Gary Lee Miller   (CRD#2669776) ,  a  former stockbroker who was last employed by LPL Financial ,  disclose a settled customer dispute.

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 January of 2017, a customer of SII Investments and LPL Financial,  filed FINRA case #17-032  alleging that Miller recommended frequent switching of unsuitable variable annuities.    That case was settled for $275,000.

Gary Lee Miller worked for SII Investments from  October of 1998 until October of 2014 and was employed by LPL Financial from October 2014 until May of 2016. Miller also discloses a business affiliation with Mutual Financial Group and Mutual Insurance Group.

If you have questions about an investment account handled by Gary Lee Miller, 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

Annuities, Chalice Capital Partners, LPL Financial, Misrepresentation, Stockbroker Malpractice, StockBroker Misconduct, Unsuitable Investments

Raymond Benjamin-Former LPL Financial Broker -Discloses Pending Customer Dispute-Augusta, GA

September 2018- Augusta, GA

According to publicly available records , Raymond S. Benjamin,  a  stockbroker who was previously with LPL Financial and is now works for  Chalice Capital Partners disclose a pending customer dispute.

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 5/2018 a customer with LPL Financial alleged that a variable annuity purchase was an unsuitable recommendation since the contract contained sub-par rates of return and excessive expenses and was unfit for a defined benefit plan.   The customer further alleged that Benjamin misrepresented the terms of the contract and breached his fiduciary duty and allegedly coerced the customer into purchasing the contract.    Damages of $271,048 are sought.

Raymond Benjamin worked for LPL Financial from July 2010 until August 2018.  He has since been employed with Chalice Capital Partners since 8/2018. Benjamin discloses a business affiliation with Firethorn Wealth Partners in Augusta, GA.

If you have questions about an investment account handled by Raymond Benjamin, 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

Aegis Capital Corp, Limited Partnerships, Misrepresentation, National Securities Corporation, REITs, Stockbroker Discharged, Stockbroker Malpractice, StockBroker Misconduct, Unsuitable Investments, Worden Capital Management

Mark Kolta-Former National Securities Corp Broker-Subject of Two Customer Suits Involving Real Estate Investments-New York

September 2018-New York

According to publicly available records Mark Sam Kolta ,  a   stockbroker who formerly worked for National Securities Corp.  and who  is currently registered with Worden Capital Management, disclose 2 currently pending customer disputes, 12 prior final 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 currently pending FINRA arbitration 18-2394 a customer of National Securities Corp. alleges that Kolta made misrepresentations and sold them an unsuitable real estate security. The customer seeks damages of #120,000.

In another currently pending FINRA arbitration (#18-2017) a customer of National Securities Corp. alleges that Kolta made an unsuitable recommendation to invest in a real estate security and made misrepresentations in connection with the sale. The customer seeks damages of $450,000.

In 2011 Kolta was discharged by a former employer, Chase Investment Services, who makes the following allegation on Kolta’s FINRA record: “Registered rep advised customers of another brokerage firm in the trading of options during his employment with the firm without the firms knowledge or permission.”

Mark Kolta was employed by National Securities Corp. from 9/2013-6/2017. He was with Aegis Capital Corp for a short time from 6/2017-2/2018 and has currently been employed by Worden Capital Management since 4/2018.

If you have questions about an account in an account handled by Mark Kolta , contact us for a no charge consultation to discuss 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