Category Archives: REITs

Annuities, Arkadios Capital, Concentrated Positions, Failure to Supervise, Misrepresentation, Reg D Offerings(private placements), REITs, Stockbroker Malpractice, Unsuitable Investments

Enrique Lopez-Former LPL Financial Advisor-Subject of $2 Million Customer Suit-McAllen, Texas

January 2020-McAllen, Texas

The FINRA records of  Enrique Lopez,  a  broker who is currently employed by  Arkadios Capital  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 the currently pending FINRA case 19-1608 a customer of Lopez’s prior employer, LPL Financial is seeking damages of $2 million and alleges that between 2014 and 2016 Lopez misrepresented and recommended unsuitable concentrated investments in real estate investment trusts (REITs). In additon the customer allege that Lopez recommended an unsuitable annuity switch.

In a prior case, FINRA 17-904,  a customer of LPL Finanical was paid $1.5 million to resolve allegations that Lopez violated the Texas State Securities Act and made unsuitable recommendations.

Enrique Lopez worked for LPL Financial from 3/2008-8/2018, at which time he moved his practice to Arkadios. Lopez discloses business affiliations with Cristobal Eden Partners and Texas Regional Bank in McAllen, Texas.

If you have losses in an account  handled by Enrique Lopez , contact us for a no charge consultation to discuss your legal options for recovery.

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, at no cost to you.

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, 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

Arete Wealth Management, Berthel Fisher and Company, Oil & Gas Investment, REITs, StockBroker Misconduct, Unsuitable Investments

Alvery Bartlett- Former Berthel, Fisher & Co. Broker-Discloses Customer Suits Seeking $10M+-St. Louis, MO

September 2019 – St. Louis, MO

According to publicly available records  Alvery Anthony Bartlett, Jr. (CRD#13975), a stockbroker who is currently employed by Arete Wealth Management and who previously worked for Berthel, Fisher & Company Financial Services (BFCFS) disclose one prior prior and 3 currently pending customer disputes.

The Financial 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 December of 2014, a Berthel Fisher customer filed FINRA case #14-03867 alleging they were sold unsuitable investments and that they were victims of misrepresentation.    The case settled for $25,000 with $5,000 of the settlement being paid by Bartlett.

In currently pending FINRA Case 19-1843, a customer of Berthel Fisher is seeking damages of between $1.7 million and $3 million and alleges that Bartlett sold the client unsuitable investments, including Oil & Gas deals, REITs and business development companies. The customer alleges that Berthel Fisher and Bartlett failed to perform adequate due diligence.

In currently pending civil case #A -18-767962 filed in Clark County, Nevada state court , a customer of Berthel Fisher alleges that they were sold unsuitable oil and gas limited partnerships, private placements and hedge funds and is seeking damages of  $6.6 million.

In another currently pending matter, FINRA case #17-03515,  filed in 1/2018 , a Berthel Fisher customer that they were sold unsuitable oil and gas limited partnerships and real estate investments and is seeking damages of $3.9 million.

Alvery Bartlett was with Berthel, Fisher & Company Financial Services, Inc. from 1/1992-8/2016. He has been employed by Arete Wealth Management since 8/2016. Bartlett discloses business affiliations with Alvery Bartlett Fund Management, Alvery Bartlett Fund Distribution, Alvery Bartlett Wealth Management, Alvery Bartlett Group, all located in St. Louis, MO.

If you have questions about an investment account handled by Alvery Bartlett, 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, Capital Financial Services, Failure to Supervise, REITs, Stockbroker Malpractice, StockBroker Misconduct, Unsuitable Investments

William Gordon-Capital Financial Services Broker-Discloses12 Customer Suits-Clearwater, FL

February 2019 – Clearwater, FL

According to publicly available records  William B. Gordon  (CRD# 2127800) ,  a   registered stockbroker currently employed by Capital Financial Services  disclose a prior regulatory event, a pending customer dispute and 12 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 2009, an Investors Capital Corporation customer filed FINRA case #09-01323 alleging negligence, breach of fiduciary duty and common law fraud in connection with the purchase of certain investments, including REITs.    The customer was awarded damages of  $150,970.

Eleven other Investors Capital Corporation customers filed customer complaints against Gordon with allegations ranging from  unsuitable investments, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, negligence to fraud.   Total settlements paid to the customers was in excess of $1.1 million.

In pending FINRA case 19-0204,  a customer of Capital Financial Services, Inc.,  alleges unsuitability, misrepresentation and omissions and breach of fiduciary duty in connection with REIT and annuity investments. The customer is seeking damages of  $200,000.

Gordon was employed by Investors Capital Corp. from 1998 until November of 2010.   He has been employed with Capital Financial Services, Inc. since 11/2010.

If you have losses in an account handled by William Gordon, contact us for a no charge consultation to learn how you may be entitled 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

Centaurus Financial, Failure to Supervise, REITs, StockBroker Misconduct, Unsuitable Investments

Bill Burks-Centaurus Broker-Discloses Pending Customer Dispute-Flower Mound, TX

January 2019, Flower Mound, TX

According to publicly available records William “Bill”  Burks II , (CRD# 2944992) , a  stockbroker who is registered with Centaurus Financial,  discloses a pending customer dispute and 6 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 a pending matter, in May 2018 a customer of Centaurus Financial  alleged that  a recommendation made by Burks to invest in a real estate investments was unsuitable and the associated liquidity risks were not fully explained.   The customer seeks damages of $415,000.  

In a prior customer dispute in 2011, a customer of Centaurus Financial alleged that Burks made inappropriate recommendations. To resolve the matter Centaurus cancelled two non publicly traded REIT investments totalling $955,291 and arranged for the reversal of five variable annuity withdrawals of over $1  million. 

Burks has been employed with Centaurus Financial since August 2000.   

If you have losses in an account in an account handled by Bill Burks  contact us for a no charge consultation to learn how you may be able to recover damages from his employer 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