financial investment lawyers

Dee Dee Brooks BARRED by FINRA – Huntington Beach, California

Published on: December 7, 2020 | by Iorio Altamirano

In June 2020, FINRA permanently barred financial advisor Dee Dee Brooks (CRD #2559233) from the securities industry. Ms. Brooks was a financial advisor at Signator Investors, Inc. in Huntington Beach, California. FINRA’s disciplinary action arose from Ms. Brook’s solicitation of two private securities transactions, Woodbridge Group of Companies LLC (“Woodbridge”) and Future Income Payments, LLC. Both Woodbridge Group of Companies LLC and Future Income Payments, LLC were purportedly Ponzi schemes.

This blog has previously written about Future Income Payments, LLC.

FINRA alleged that between July 2016 and December 2017, Dee Dee Brooks participated in undisclosed and unapproved private securities transactions totaling $1.77 million. Specifically, FINRA alleged:

INVESTIGATION: Long Island Resident Mark Alan Lisser Charged with Defrauding Investors

Published on: December 1, 2020 | by Iorio Altamirano

**Update: 5/13/2021** On May 12, 2021, Long Island investment advisor, Mark Lisser, pleaded guilty in federal court to securities fraud conspiracy. As part of his plea, Mr. Lisser admitted to lying to customers about investments in shares of several companies prior to the initial public offering of those companies. As a result of his scheme, Mr. Lisser stole more than $700,000 of investors’ funds to make payments to companies controlled by Knightsbridge Private Partners LLC employees, pay salaries and sales commissions, pay his personal credit card bill, and make payments on a mortgage.

Original Post:

INVESTIGATION: Long Island Resident Mark Alan Lisser Charged with Defrauding Investors

Former Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Inc. Financial Advisor Kurt Gunter Suspended by FINRA for Short-Term Trading of Unit Investment Trusts in Customer Accounts

Published on: November 23, 2020 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has suspended financial advisor Kurt Jason Gunter (CRD No. 2747789) from the securities industry for three months and fined him $10,000.

FINRA alleged that between July 2013 through December 2016, Kurt Gunter engaged in an unsuitable pattern of short-term trading of Unit Investment Trusts in customer accounts. FINRA also alleged that Mr. Gunter signed switch letters that were sent to customers that contained inaccurate or missing information about the costs that the customers’ incurred due to early rollovers of Unit Investment Trusts.

Kurt Gunter was a stockbroker at Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Inc. from June 2013 through August 2017. He was registered with Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Inc.’s branch offices in St. Louis, Missouri, and Austin, Texas.

Neemit M. Shah Suspended for Six Months for Recommending Future Income Payments, LLC – Glen Allen, Virginia

Published on: November 23, 2020 | by Iorio Altamirano

In October 2020, FINRA suspended financial advisor Neemit M. Shah (CRD #4812480) for six months from the securities industry and ordered him to pay a $5,000 fine. These sanctions arose from Mr. Shah’s solicitation of Future Income Payments, LLC. This blog has previously written about Future Income Payments, LLC.

FINRA alleged that between March 2016 and April 2016, Neemit Shah participated in private securities transactions totaling $408,000, without prior disclosure and approval from his employer at the time, MML Investors Services, LLC. Specifically, FINRA alleged:

From March through April 2016, Shah solicited investors to purchase $408,000 in securities of Future Income Payments, LLC.

Micah W. Patterson Was Suspended for One Month for Soliciting Future Income Payments, LLC – Centerville, Utah

Published on: November 23, 2020 | by Iorio Altamirano

In June 2020, FINRA suspended financial advisor Micha W. Patterson (CRD #5562392) for one month from the securities industry and ordered him to pay a $5,000 fine. These sanctions arose from Mr. Patterson’s solicitation of Future Income Payments, LLC. This blog has previously written about Future Income Payments, LLC.

FINRA alleged that between June 2017 and November 2017, Micah Patterson participated in private securities transactions totaling $30,644 without prior disclosure and approval from his employer at the time, MML Investors Services, LLC. Specifically, FINRA alleged:

From June through November 2017, Patterson solicited an investor to purchase $30,644 in securities of Future Income Payments, LLC.

INVESTIGATION: Former Edward Jones Financial Advisor Matthew Jennings Barred by FINRA– Johnston, Iowa

Published on: November 21, 2020 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has barred financial advisor Matthew Jennings (CRD# 6762685) from the securities industry for refusing to cooperate with a FINRA investigation. Mr. Jennings was fired by Edward Jones in August 2019 due to concerns that he introduced clients to investments not offered through the firm. This type of conduct is often referred to as “selling away.”

What is “selling away?”

“Selling away” is when a financial advisor solicits a customer to participate in a private securities transaction that is not offered or approved by the brokerage firm where the financial advisor is employed or registered.

Former Merrill Lynch Broker Douglas Stopkey Suspended by FINRA for 30 Days Over Unauthorized Trading and Mismarked Orders in Senior Customer Accounts

Published on: November 19, 2020 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has suspended financial advisor Douglas William Stopkey from the securities industry for a 30-day period, which began on November 16, 2020, and runs through December 15, 2020. Douglas Stopkey was registered with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith in Richmond, VA, from March 1992 until September 2018, when he was terminated. Since then, he has been registered with Davenport & Company LLC in Richmond, VA.

If you have lost money with Douglas Stopkey, contact New York securities arbitration lawyers Iorio Altamirano LLP for a free and confidential evaluation of your account.

Douglas Stopkey and FINRA entered into a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent (“AWC”) on October 26, 2020, over allegations related to Stopkey’s conduct between January 2016 and June 2018. Specifically, FINRA alleged:

David T. Phillips Suspended for Nine Months for Future Income Payments, LLC Solicitation – Gilbert, Arizona

Published on: November 18, 2020 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has suspended stockbroker David T. Phillips (CRD #3094195) for nine months from the securities industry and ordered him to pay a $5,000 fine. These sanctions arose from Mr. Phillips’ solicitation of Future Income Payments, LLC. This blog has previously written about Future Income Payments, LLC.

FINRA alleged that between May 2017 and April 2018, David Phillips participated in private securities transactions totaling $876,636, without prior disclosure and approval from his employer at the time, ProEquities, Inc. Specifically, FINRA alleged:

Between May 2017 and April 2018, Mr. Phillips solicited eight investors to purchase $876,363 in securities of Future Income Payments, LLC.

Troy R. Baily Suspended for Recommending Future Income Payments, LLC – Omaha, Nebraska

Published on: November 17, 2020 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has suspended stockbroker Troy R. Baily (CRD #4458930) for six months from the securities industry and ordered him to pay a $5,000 fine. These sanctions arose from Mr. Baily’s solicitation of Future Income Payments, LLC. This blog has previously written about Future Income Payments, LLC.

FINRA alleged that between February and May 2017, Troy Baily participated in private securities transactions totaling $210,000, without prior disclosure and approval from his employer at the time, Sagepoint Financial, Inc. Specifically, FINRA alleged:

Between February and May 2017, Mr. Baily solicited investors to purchase $210,000 in securities of Future Income Payments, LLC.

Lonna R. Dehn Ristvedt Suspended for Soliciting Customers to Buy Future Income Payments, LLC – Fargo, North Dakota

Published on: November 17, 2020 | by Iorio Altamirano

FINRA has suspended stockbroker Lonna Rae Dehn Ristvedt (CRD #2277778) for four months from the securities industry and ordered her to pay a $5,000 fine. These sanctions arose from Ms. Dehn Ristvedt’s solicitation of Future Income Payments, LLC. This blog has previously written about Future Income Payments, LLC.

FINRA alleged that in June 2015, Lonna Rae Dehn Ristvedt participated in private securities transactions totaling $163,320 without prior disclosure and approval from her employer at the time, National Planning Corporation. Specifically, FINRA alleged:

In June 2015, Ms. Dehn Ristvedt solicited two investors to purchase $163,320 in securities of Future Income Payments, LLC.