Investor Lawyers Blog

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) recently fined one of the United States’ largest independent broker-dealers, Cadaret Grant. Grant must pay a $200,000 fine in addition to restitution to investors because of improper sales practices of variable annuities to elderly investors. According to investment fraud lawyers, improper sales of variable annuities are a common cause…

On March 19, 2012, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) announced its decision to fine Citi Financial Services LLC for charging excessive markups and markdowns and related supervisory violations. In addition to a $600,000 fine, FINRA ordered Citi Financial to pay $648,000 in restitution and interest to wronged customers. Over 3,600 customers were charged excessive…

Victims of Elliot Kravitz, an LPL Financial Corp. independent client investment representative, are seeking the help of investment fraud lawyers in recovering their losses. Kravitz pleaded guilty recently to one count of wire fraud, according to the Cincinnati Business Courier. The wire fraud was in connection with an investment scheme. In this scheme, nine of…

Investment fraud lawyers are currently representing individuals who suffered losses as a result of their investments in an American Investment Exchange TIC or other real estate co-ownerships investments. In many cases, brokers improperly recommended the purchase of tenant in common investments that were too risky for the investor’s portfolio and/or investment objectives. American Investment Exchange…

Securities arbitration lawyers are currently consulting with investors who suffered losses because of their association with Arthur Lin. A former LPL Financial representative, Lin has been accused of selling “…$5,360,000 in unregistered promissory notes issued by Malarz Equity Investments LLC to at least 20 investors, including 15 LPL customers,” according to Securities and Exchange Commission…

With promissory note scams on the rise, investors need to know both how to spot them and when they need to contact a stock fraud lawyer if they suspect fraud has occurred. Promissory notes are a type of debt sometimes used by companies in order to raise money. Through the note, the company promises to…

Investment fraud lawyers are investigating possible Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) claims against broker-dealers who improperly recommended the purchase of Ziegler Healthcare Real Estate Funds (ZHREF). ZHREF is one of many risky private equity funds that have been improperly recommended and could result in loss recovery through securities arbitration. A series of four private equity…

Securities fraud attorneys are investigating possible claims for shareholders of First Solar. First Solar shareholders may have sustained significant investment losses as a result of overconcentration in First Solar stock shares. In July 2008, First Solar shares traded at more than $300 each. However, after a significant decline, First Solar is now trading at around…

According to a new study, in 2011 the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s (FINRA) enforcement actions and fines were significantly higher than in 2010. Enforcement actions rose from $45 million in 2010 to $68 million in 2011. Of that $68 million, the largest portion was for improper advertising penalties. Furthermore, the FINRA sanctions survey stated that…

Individuals who suffered significant losses as a result of a Triple Net TIC investment may be able to recover losses through securities arbitration with a securities fraud attorney. In many cases, brokers may have committed broker fraud by unsuitably recommending these investments to investors. TICs, or tenancies-in-common, are investments in which multiple investors are sold…