Category Archives: Securities

Alternative Investments, Stockbroker Malpractice, StockBroker Misconduct, Triad Advisors, Unsuitable Investments

Mark Alex Reffett- Former Triad Advisors Broker- Discloses $1.5 Million Customer Dispute- Atlanta, GA

November 2020- Atlanta, GA

According to publicly available records, former Triad Advisors broker Mark Alex Reffett  discloses 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 April of 2020, a customer of Triad Advisors, –a previous employer of Reffett-  filed FINRA case #20-01341 alleging claims of unsuitable investment strategy in alternative investments beginning in 2014 and continuing through 2016 with alleged damages of $1,575,881.   The case is still pending.

Reffett was  employed by Triad Advisors from 6/2013-3/2017.  He is currently registered with ACG Wealth, Arkadios Capital and EPG Wealth Management. Reffett discloses business affiliations with Stratford Capital LLC and RCM Capital Holdings.  

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

Alternative Investments

Investors owning non publicly traded alternative investments, such as real estate investment trusts (REITs) and oil and gas partnerships may not have been aware of the meaning of illiquid when  the investments were recommended to them by a financial advisor or stockbroker.

These  investments generated high commissions for the firm and broker and were typically sold to unsuspecting with the promise of a steady dependable stream of income, a promise of steady or increasing value and with little discussion of the fact that the investment cannot be sold on any conventional exchange should a need for cash arise.

Many investors made the decision to purchase these investments without a clear understanding of the risks associated with them. Many purchased them not aware that they are illiquid.

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, Failure to Supervise, FINRA, Finra Investigation of Stockbroker, Misrepresentation, Stifel Nicolaus & Co., Stockbroker Malpractice, StockBroker Misconduct, UIT (Unit Investment Trust), Unsuitable Investments, Wells Fargo

Kurt Gunter-Former Stifel Nicolaus Broker-Sanctioned Over UIT Sales-Austin, TX

November 2020- Austin, TX 

According to his FINRA record  Kurt Jason Gunter a financial advisor currently employed by Wells Fargo Clearing Services has recently been sanctioned by FINRA for unsuitable sales of unit investment trusts (UITs).

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 November 2020 Gunter, without admitting or denying the findings, agreed to a three month suspension and a fine of $10,000 to resolve FINRA’s allegations that from July 2013-December 2016 he engaged in an unsuitable pattern of short-term trading of UITs in customer accounts at Stifel Nicolaus.

In addition, FINRA found that Gunter signed switch letters that were sent to customers that contained inaccurate or missing information about the costs they were incurring as a result of early rollovers of UITs.

Unit Investment Trusts are designed to be long term investments and short term trading is generally improper. According to FINRA findings, Gunter recommended that his customers roll over UITs more than 100 days prior to maturity on more than 270 occasions. As a result customers incurred unnecessary sales charges and the recommendation was unsuitable in view of the frequency and cost of the transaction.

On average, according to FINRA, the switch letters that contained inaccurate information understated the sales charges incurred by customers by about $2,500.

Kurt Gunter was employed by Stifel Nicolaus from 6/2013-8/2017. Since 8/2017 he has been employed by Wells Fargo Clearing Services in Bee Cave, TX.

If you had an account with Kurt Gunter that suffered losses, or if you were a victim of his short term UIT switching  scheme,  you may be entitled to collect damages from his prior employer.

Call for a no charge consultation with an experienced securities attorney.

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

Energy Securities, Failure to Supervise, Oil and Gas Partnerships, Oil related investments, Stockbroker Malpractice, StockBroker Misconduct, Unsuitable Investments, Wells Fargo

Richard DeYoung, Jr.-Wells Fargo Broker-Discloses $750,000 Customer Award

October 2020- The Woodlands, TX

According to publicly available records Richard DeYoung, Jr. (CRD#863849), a stockbroker with  Wells Fargo Clearing Services,  discloses that a FINRA arbitration panel awarded substantial damages to a Wells Fargo customer who claimed that he had been sold speculative, unsuitable investments.

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 FINRA case #17-01426 a Well Fargo customer whose account was handled by DeYoung alleged the following causes of action:  unsuitability, common law negligence, breach of contract, respondeat superior, control person and aider liability and failure to supervise. The investments at issue included Breitburn Energy Partners and Linn Energy.   After a full evidentiary hearing, the arbitration panel awarded damages of $750,000, plus interest and costs.

If you had an account with Richard Deyoung 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

Alternative Investments, Failure to Supervise, Private Placements, Raymond James, Stockbroker Malpractice, StockBroker Misconduct, Unsuitable Investments

John T. Howard-Raymond James Broker-Discloses $1.13 Million Award & Pending Customer Dispute-Birmingham, AL

February 2020- Birmingham, AL

The FINRA records of John Troy Howard (CRD#2264121)  , a broker with Raymond James & Associates, Inc. discloses a prior arbitration award and 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 March 2008 a customer of  Morgan, Keegan & Company, Howard’s previous employer, filed FINRA case #08-00667 alleging breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of common law duties of care, good faith and best execution, breach of common law duty of not to engage in unauthorized transactions and negligence.  Damages awarded were $1,134,601.

In 9/2019 a  Raymond James & Associates, Inc. customer  filed FINRA case #19-02833 , alleging breach of fiduciary duty, negligence, breach of contract, violations of the Alabama Securities, and violations of the Securities and Exchange Act by Howard.   The customer seeks damages of $160,000.

Howard  has worked for Raymond James & Associates, Inc.  since 2/2013.    Before that he was with Morgan, Keegan & Company and  AmSouth Investment Services.    

If you have questions about an account handled by John Troy Howard  call for a no charge consultation with an experienced securities attorney .

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.

International Representation

Rex Securities Law

TollFree: 877-224-3199

Florida-561 391 1900 

Texas-512-329-2870