Tag Archives: Wells Fargo Advisors problem

Churning, Stockbroker Malpractice, Unauthorized Trading, Unsuitable Investments, Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo Advisors Fined by Regulator for Account Churning

January 2020

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) assessed a fine of $175,000 and censured Wells Fargo Advisors for failing to supervise their financial advisor who churned the account of an 88 year old client.

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 Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent No. 2017053034301 FINRA made the following findings:

  • The financial advisor place more than 2,000 trades in the accounts of the senior citizen
  • The customer paid over $300,000 in commissions and fees
  • Although the customer’s accounts were flagged 40 times due to the excessive trading, the firm did not reasonably address the problem

Ultimately the customer was paid $1 million in restitution and the financial advisor was was discharged.

NASD and FINRA rules require broker dealers like Wells Fargo to establish and maintain a  system to supervise the activities of their financial advisors.

Churning

The most basic type of churning comes from excessive trading by a broker to generate commissions.  When there are excessive commissions with no noticeable portfolio gains, churning might have occurred.

If you have an account with a brokerage firm that has been excessively traded or unexplained losses, call to learn more.

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

Broker Discloses Criminal Event, Discretionary Trading, Elder Financial Abuse, Failure to Supervise, FInancial Exploitation of the Elderly, Finra Investigation of Stockbroker, Metlife Securities, Misrepresentation, Newbridge Securities Corp., Stockbroker Discharged, Stockbroker Malpractice, Theft, Unauthorized Trading, Wells Fargo

Brian Berger-Former Newbridge Securities Broker-Sentenced for Fraud-Boca Raton, FL

April 2018-Boca Raton, FL

The FINRA records of former stockbroker Brian M. Berger disclose a pending regulatory matter and two prior regulatory matters, a criminal conviction, 4 customer disputes and a termination from employment.

In 7/2015 Berger  entered into a Letter of Acceptance Waiver and Consent (AWC) with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) to resolve allegations that he failed to cooperate with a FINRA investigation into allegations that he had misappropriated funds from elderly customers while registered with Wells Fargo Advisors and MetLife Securities.As a result, Berger   was  barred from the securities industry.

There is an SEC administrative proceeding pending in connection with the misappropriation of funds.

In 2/2017, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida in Miami, Berger pleaded guilty to wire fraud and was sentenced to 18 months and ordered to pay restitution of $372,643.

Over $300,000 has been paid in settlements to former customers of Berger.

According to FINRA records, Berger was registered with Wells Fargo Advisors in Boca Raton from 7.2010-7/2014 and with MetLife Securities from 7/2014-4/2015. After that he was briefly registered with Newbridge Securities from 4/2015-6/2015.

If you have questions about an account handled by Brian Berger, call 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

Failure to Supervise, Morgan Stanley, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, Stockbroker Malpractice, Wells Fargo

Richard T. Lucker-Former Morgan Stanley Broker-Discloses $14M Customer Dispute-El Paso, TX

April 2017-El Paso, Texas

The FINRA records of  Richard T. Lucker ,  a  stockbroker who is currently  employed by  Wells Fargo Clearing Services  disclose a pending dispute in which a customer seeks damages in excess of $14 million.

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 Case 17-0311 , a customer of Lucker’s former employer Morgan Stanley Smith Barney alleges damages of $14,447,501 for failure to supervise with the management of her account.

Lucker , regional manager at Wells Fargo Advisors, has been employed by Wells Fargo since 3/2014. Prior to that he was registered with Morgan Stanley from 6/2009-2/2014. He previously resided in Tucson, AZ, Billings, MT, and Bellevue, WA.

 

If you have losses in an account in an account handled by Richard T. Lucker  , 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