Category Archives: Alternative Investments

Alternative Investments, Cetera Advisors, Cetera Financial Group, REITs, Stockbroker Malpractice, StockBroker Misconduct, Summit Brokerage Services, Unsuitable Investments, VSR Financial Services

Robert Edward Burns- Cetera Broker-Discloses Customer Disputes-Greenwood Village, CO

January 2020- Greenwood Village, CO

The FINRA records of Robert Edward Burns, a stockbroker employed by  Cetera Advisor Networks , disclose a pending customer dispute and  a prior 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 August 2018 a  customer of Burns’ prior employer ,VSR Financial Services, Inc.; Summit Brokerage Services, was paid $150,000 in FINRA case #18-02447 to  resolve allegations that Burns made unsuitable investments in real estate securities and UDF IV.

In pending FINRA case #19-02163,  a VSR Financial Services, Inc.; Summit Brokerage Services, customer alleges overconcentration and unsuitable investments in alternative products as well as alleging that the firm failed to do due diligence on the alternative investments and is seeking $500,000 in damages.

For more information regarding the recovery of losses on alternative investments purchased from the now defunct VSR Financial Services, see this. 

Burns  has been employed by Cetera Advisors since September of 2019.   From September of 2016 until September of 2019, he was with Summit Brokerage Services and from September of 2016 until November 2016 he was with VSR Financial Services.

If you have questions about an account  handled by Robert Edward Burns Summit Brokerage, VSR Financial or Cetera Advisor Networks call for a no charge consultation to learn more 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.

International Representation

Rex Securities Law

TollFree: 877-224-3199

Florida-561 391 1900 

Texas-512-329-2870

Alternative Investments, Coastal Equities, Failure to Supervise, FINRA, Finra Investigation of Stockbroker, Limited Partnerships, Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), Stockbroker Discharged, Stockbroker Malpractice, Unsuitable Investments

Luke M. Johnson-Coastal Equities Broker-Discloses Customer Suits & Termination From Employment-Scottsdale, AZ

January 2020-Scottsdale, AZ

We are investigating  former Coastal Equities Inc. broker Luke Michael Johnson on behalf of an Arizona resident who alleges that she was sold an unsuitable investment in GPB Capital Holdings. GPB Capital Holdings is currently under investigation by the Securities & Exchange Commission and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).

GPB Capital Holdings‘ affiliates include:

  • GPB Holdings LP
  • GPB Holdings I
  • GPB Holdings II
  • GPB Automotive Portfolio LP
  • GPB Waste Management LP
  • Armada Waste Management
  • GPB NYC Development LP

GPB Holdings II and GPB Automotive have both seen substantial declines in value over recent months.

According to publicly available records Luke M. Johnson, discloses 6 pending customer disputes, 3 prior customer disputes and 3 terminations 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 FINRA Case 18-4125 a customer of Coastal Equities/ Coastal Investment Advisors alleged that Johnson made unsuitable recommendations of alternative investments and limited partnerships. That case was settled for $225,000.

In FINRA Case 18-2266 a customer of Coastal Equities alleged that Johnson recommended unsuitable real estate securities causing losses. That case was settled for $140,000.

In pending FINRA Case 19-1548, a customer of Coastal Equities is seeking damages of $750,000 and alleges that Johnson made misrepresentations and omissions in  soliciting the sale of private placement investments.

In five other pending cases, the customers of Coastal Equities are seeking unspecified damages for mismanagement of their portfolios.

Luke Johnson is not currently registered with any broker dealer. He was  employed by Coastal Equities from 4/2012 until 12/2019. He does business under the name of Legend Capital Group in Scottsdale, AZ.

Johnson was discharged by Coastal Equities in 11/2019. Coastal makes the following allegation on Johnson’s FINRA record: “Registered Representative failed to follow firm policy to timely forward a customer complaint to his superior and compliance, and by inconsistently stating a customer’s liquid net worth on client disclosure documents.”

If you have an account handled by Luke M. Johnson that you believe has been mishandled, contact us 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, Geneos Wealth Management, InvestaCorp Inc, Next Financial Group, Stockbroker Malpractice, Unsuitable Investments

Frank Richardson-Investacorp & Post Oak Capital Group-Subject of $500K Customer Suit Over REITs-Houston, Texas

December 2018-Houston, TX

According to publicly available records   William Franklin (“Frank”) Richardson, Jr.  , a  stockbroker who is currently registered with Investacorp Inc. disclose a  currently pending customer dispute involving investments in real estate investment trusts (REITs) and limited partnerships.

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 11/2018 a customer of Investacorp filed FINRA arbitration 18-03731 alleging that recommendations to purchase direct investments, limited partnerships and non-publicly traded real estate investment trusts (REITs) were unsuitable. The customer is seeking damages of $500,000.

Frank Richardson has been registered with Investacorp since 1/2012. His previous employment includes Geneos Wealth Management and NEXT Financial Group. Richardson discloses a business affiliation with Post Oak Capital Group in Houston, TX. 

In a prior customer dispute a customer of NEXT Financial alleged that Richardson was negligent in calculating required minimum distribution (RMD) which resulted in resetting of an annuity amount. That case was settled for $34,920. 

If you have losses in an account in an account handled by Frank Richardson , 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

Aegis Capital Corp, Alternative Investments, Discretionary Trading, Failure to Supervise, Stockbroker Malpractice, Unauthorized Trading, Unsuitable Investments

Dominick J. Diorio, Jr.-Aegis Capital Broker-Discloses Settlement of Customer Suit-Melville, NY

June 2018-Melville, New York

The FINRA records of Aegis Capital Corp. broker Dominick J. Diorio, Jr. disclose a pending customer dispute and two 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 FINRA Case 17-2321 a customer of Aegis Capital residing in Florida alleged that from 12/2012-7/2017 Diorio engaged in unsuitable investment strategy involving real estate securities and alternative investments. The case was settled in 5/2018 for $837,500.

In currently pending FINRA Case 18-408 a customer of Aegis Capital alleges that Diorio made unsuitable investment recommendations and traded the account without authority. The customer is seeking damages of $769,690.

Dominick has been employed by Aegis Capital since 7/2011.

If you have questions about an account handled by Dominick Diorio, 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