Articles Posted in GWG Holdings

Iorio Altamirano LLP, a nationally recognized securities arbitration law firm, helps an elderly woman recover her irreplaceable savings invested in GWG L Bonds.

NEW YORK, NY — Iorio Altamirano LLP announces that it has helped a 75-year-old retiree recover the entire amount that she invested in GWG L Bonds that her broker-dealer recommended. The law firm filed a FINRA arbitration claim against the broker-dealer in early March 2022, alleging that the speculative, high-risk, and illiquid GWG L Bonds were unsuitable for the elderly woman, who had no prior investment experience and was living on a fixed income. The claim also alleged that the broker-dealer made material misrepresentations and omissions about the features and risks of the GWG L Bonds and GWG Holdings, Inc., the company that issued the L Bonds. GWG Holdings, Inc. is now in Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Iorio Altamirano LLP (gwglawyer.com) also represents numerous other investors who have filed individual arbitration claims against the brokerage firm that sold them GWG L Bonds. Collectively, the claims seek to recover over $2.5 million in losses and damages.

Iorio Altamirano LLP, a securities arbitration law firm based in New York, NY, is investigating potential lawsuits and securities arbitration claims against Aegis Capital Corp. for its sale of L Bonds issued by GWG Holdings, Inc. (GWGH).  Upon information and belief, Aegis Capital Corp. was a part of Emerson Equity LLC’s network of broker-dealers who sold the speculative, high-risk, and illiquid GWG L Bonds.  Iorio Altamirano LLP has spoken to several retail investors who purchased GWG L Bonds through the recommendation of brokers registered with Aegis Capital Corp.

On April 20, 2022, GWG Holdings, Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, allowing GWG Holdings to propose a reorganization plan.  On May 17, 2022, the Nasdaq Stock Market announced that it would delist the common stock of GWG Holdings, Inc.

Many GWG L Bond investors, who have not received interest or maturity payments since January 2022, are skeptical that they will see a return of their invested capital. Investment News has reported that one anonymous GWG L bond investor estimates that the GWG L Bonds may now be worth 20 to 30 cents on the dollar.

After filing Chapter 11 bankruptcy last month and failing to file its annual report with the Securities and Exchange Commission earlier this year, GWG Holdings, Inc. will now be delisted from Nasdaq.   On May 17, 2022, the Nasdaq Stock Market announced that it would delist the common stock of GWG Holdings, Inc.  Since April 29, 2022, the stock has been suspended and has not been traded.

New York securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP is investigating potential legal claims related to investments in L Bonds offered by GWG Holdings, Inc. (GWGH). To read about the investigation’s findings, including a crucial event timeline, please visit our website:  www.gwglawyer.com.

GWG Holdings, Inc.’s bankruptcy filing revealed for the first time that the ongoing SEC investigation includes an examination of sales practices of the GWG L Bonds by the brokerage firms that sold the securities, including Emerson Equity and its network of regional broker-dealers.  According to the bankruptcy filing,  the United States Securities and Exchange Commission issued subpoenas and documents to individual brokerage firms selling GWG L Bonds.  As of the bankruptcy filing, GWG  Holdings, Inc.’ had over $1.62 billion in outstanding GWG L Bond obligations, mostly owed to retail investors.

**Update:  June 16, 2022** On June 15, 2022,  the United States Securities and Exchange Commission filed a lawsuit against Western International Securities, Inc., and several of its brokers, in California Central District Court in connection with approximately $13.3 million in L bonds sold to retail customers.  The firm is accused of failing to perform due diligence regarding the inherent risks associated with L Bonds. The brokers included in the suit are Steven Graham, Andy Gitipityapon, Thomas Swan, Nancy Cole, and Patrick Egan. 

The complaint alleges that although the prospectus for the June 2020 offering stated that L Bonds were only suitable for customers with “substantial financial resources,” Western International did not set any criteria or thresholds for its customers to invest in L Bonds. Western International Securities also did not restrict the sale of L Bonds to customers with certain risk profiles or investment objectives.

The complaint also alleges that the named brokers misunderstood important issues regarding GWG Holdings, Inc. and the GWG L Bonds, including that GWG significantly changed its business model beginning in 2018 and that GWG L Bonds were not directly collateralized by life insurance policies. As a result, the brokers recommended GWG L Bonds to retail customers without a reasonable basis to believe that the investments were in the customers’ best interest.

After months of working with legal and financial advisors to try and restructure outside of court, on April 20, 2022, GWG Holdings, Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. The bankruptcy filing is a significant and troublesome development for GWG L Bond investors who invested substantial portions of their life savings into GWG L Bonds. According to GWG’s latest filing with the SEC, GWG has more than $1.6 billion in aggregate principal outstanding to GWG L Bond investors. A Chapter 11 bankruptcy will allow GWG Holdings to propose a reorganization plan.

Investment News has reported that one anonymous GWG L bond investor estimates that the GWG L Bonds may now be worth 20 to 30 cents on the dollar.  Despite the unwelcomed news, GWG L bond investors are not without recourse. Many retail investors, including those represented by securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP, are filing securities arbitration claims against brokerage firms that sold these speculative, high-risk, and illiquid financial products.  These actions are separate and in addition to the bankruptcy proceedings.

GWG Holdings’ bankruptcy filing revealed for the first time that the ongoing investigation by the United States States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) includes an examination of sales practices of the GWG L Bonds by the Selling Group, including  Emerson Equity LLC and its network of regional broker-dealers.  According to the recent bankruptcy filing, the SEC issued subpoenas and document requests to individual brokerage firms beginning in late-2021.

**Update:  April 20, 2022** GWG Holdings, Inc. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas.  As a result of the bankruptcy filing, all accrued principal and interest payment obligations owed to GWG L Bond investors have been halted as the case proceeds through bankruptcy court.  Chapter 11 Bankruptcy cases can take anywhere from 17 months to five years for larger and more complex cases. GWG L Bond investors are encouraged to immediately contact law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential consultation and to review their legal rights.

**Update:  April 4, 2022** According to the Wall Street Journal, GWG Holdings, Inc. is preparing to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the coming days.

Original Post:

New York securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP is investigating the sales practices of broker Mark Williams connected with his recommendation of L Bonds issued by GWG Holdings, Inc. to senior and elderly customers. From November 2015 until March 2021, Mr. Williams was registered as a broker with Centaurus Financial, Inc. in Carmel, CA.

Iorio Altamirano LLP has been contacted by numerous senior and elderly retail investors who were recommended and sold GWG’s L Bonds by Mr. Williams. GWG’s L Bonds are speculative, high-risk, and illiquid securities that were sold as private placement offerings.  Brokerage firms received a commission of up to 5% of the principal amount sold.

On January 15, 2022, GWG Holdings Inc. missed interest and principal payments to L bond investors. The company is also reportedly seeking rescue financing in an effort to avoid bankruptcy after facing a series of accounting issues, financial stress, and an SEC investigation. In addition, GWG’s independent auditor resigned at the end of 2021, and the company has disclosed that its 2021 financials are not likely to be completed on time. These are just a few recent developments that have GWG L Bond investors concerned.

Investor advocate law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP is investigating potential securities arbitration claims against Centaurus Financial, Inc. for its sale of L Bonds issued by GWG Holdings, Inc. Upon information and belief, Centaurus Financial, Inc. was a part of Emerson Equity LLC’s network of broker-dealers who sold the speculative, high-risk, and illiquid “L Bonds” issued by GWG Holdings. 

On April 20, 2022, GWG Holdings, Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Despite the unwelcomed news, GWG L Bond investors can file individual arbitration claims to recover losses from the brokerage firm that sold them these speculative bonds.  Brokerage firms, like Centaurus Financial, Inc., are required to make investment recommendations that are suitable and in the best interest of their customers.  Brokerage firms and financial advisors must also disclose all material facts and risks of a security when making a recommendation. When a firm or advisor fails to meet these standards of conduct, they can be held liable for damages.

Firms and brokers are also required to conduct reasonable due diligence on products they offer before recommending them to any clients. There are serious concerns that some broker-dealers failed to understand the material risks and features of GWG L Bonds.  For example, in April 2020, Centaurus Financial raised the cap on how much the firm would allow customers to purchase despite GWG’s significant departure from the life settlements business and its foray into a risker alternative asset business, making it a much larger credit risk. The limit was raised from $100,000 to $150,000, or no more than 10% of the customer’s net worth (excluding primary residence), whichever is less.  August Iorio, a managing partner of Iorio Altamirano LLP, was recently quoted in Investment News about Centaurus Financials’ remarkable decision.

Prominent securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP is investigating the sales practices of broker Tony Barouti connected with his recommendation of L Bonds issued by GWG Holdings, Inc. to senior and elderly customers.  Mr. Barouti is registered as a broker with Emerson Equity LLC in Los Angeles, CA, and is the CEO of Barouti Financial Services, LLC.

Iorio Altamirano LLP has been contacted by numerous senior and elderly retail investors who were recommended and sold GWG’s L Bonds by Mr. Barouti.  GWG’s L Bonds are speculative, high-risk, and illiquid securities that were sold as private placement offerings.  Brokerage firms received a commission of up to 5% of the principal amount sold.

On January 15, 2022, GWG Holdings Inc. missed interest and principal payments to L bond investors. The company is also reportedly seeking rescue financing in an effort to avoid bankruptcy after facing a series of accounting issues, financial stress, and an SEC investigation. In addition, GWG’s independent auditor resigned at the end of 2021, and the company has disclosed that its 2021 financials are not likely to be completed on time.  These are just a few recent developments that have GWG L Bond investors concerned.

New York securities arbitration law firm Iorio Altamirano LLP is investigating potential securities arbitration claims against Emerson Equity LLC and its network of broker-dealers for their sale of L Bonds issued by GWG Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: GWGH).

On January 15, 2022, GWG Holdings Inc., a company known for selling life-insurance bonds, missed interest and principal payments to L bond investors. The company is also reportedly seeking rescue financing in an effort to avoid bankruptcy after facing a series of accounting issues, financial stress, and an SEC investigation.

GWG’s L Bonds are speculative, high-risk, and illiquid securities that were sold as private placement offerings.

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