A former veteran financial consultant with an extensive tenure at SagePoint Financial Inc., now known as Osaic Wealth Inc., was recently permanently excluded from the sector. This decision came after the consultant was let go by Osaic in December due to alleged violations of industry norms related to the sale of promissory...

California, long standing as a champion of employee freedom and the right to compete, distinguishes itself from many other states with its robust pro-competition laws, thus strengthening employee rights.

The beginning of 2024 marked a significant stride for employees with the introduction of two pivotal amendments to the California...

In the complex world of investment products and investment advice, disputes can arise that challenge the trust between investors and financial institutions. A current case against Centaurus Financial, Inc. and filed by a group of eleven investors brings to light the legal battles that can emerge from real estate investments gone wrong. 

David Sheldon Wells (CRD # 6774493) “voluntarily resigned” from Fifth Third Securities, Inc. in July 2021 after admitting to misappropriating funds from three clients. In a resignation letter to his employer, Wells confessed to using his clients' money for "very risky" options trading. 

On September 20, 2022, the United...

Howard Hao-Chung Hsieh (CRD # 4947882) is a stockbroker and FINRA-registered investment advisor with Cetera Investment Advisors in the firm’s Irvine, CA branch office. 

FINRA BrokerCheck lists several pending claims against Hao-Chung Hsieh:

On December 27, 2022, a customer alleged Hao-Chung Hsieh made an...

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney FA Notes Holding Holdings LLC (MSSBFAN), a subsidiary of Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc., and an affiliate of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (MSSB) and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Financing LLC (MSSBF) (collectively, Morgan Stanley) offered promissory note loans to employees and prospective employees as an inducement to...

Reif Law Group., P.C., is investigating claims of breach of financial duty, financial elder abuse, constructive fraud, breach of contract, and unfair business practice claims against Vereit, Inc., formerly known as American Realty Capital Partners, and formerly known as Cole Capital Partners, LLC, plus Vereit Operating Partnership, L.P. (collectively, Vereit), EFA Asset...

Last updated June, 2024

Last updated March 30, 2023

Former Independent Financial Group Stockbroker and Investment Adviser John P. Mendes Barred From the Securities Industry for Insider Trading Violations

John P. Mendes (CRD #5409060) was a previously registered FINRA broker and investment adviser associated with Independent Financial Group. On...

Last updated March 20, 2023

Former Morgan Stanley Investment Advisor Allen Israel Hershberg Charged with Soliciting Unapproved Investments

Allen Israel Hershberg (CRD#: 1112312), of Beverly Hills, California, was “permitted to resign” from Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, LLC’s Beverly Hills office in July 2022 due to...

Last updated March 30, 2023

Former Southport Capital Founder and Former Oppenheimer & Co. Financial Advisor John Justin Woods Charged in $100 Million Horizon Private Equity Ponzi Scheme John Justin Woods...

Last updated March 30, 2023

Cetera Investment Services LLC Stockbroker Leo Chen Charged with Unsuitable Investment Recommendations

Leo Li-Yuan Chen (CRD#: 4169619) is a stockbroker and FINRA-registered investment advisor associated with Cetera Investment Services since 2012. Chen, currently working out of Cetera’s San Gabriel, CA...

Last updated March 30, 2023

Former Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo Investment Advisor Shawn Good Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Customers of $7 Million

Shawn Edward Good (CRD#: 2022168), formerly with Morgan Stanley, pleaded guilty on September 15, 2022 to defrauding clients of more than $7...

Last Updated March 30, 2023

Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. Investment Advisor Gregory Baines Iglow Charged with Claims of Unsuitability, Fraud, Breach of Contract, and Other Misconduct

Gregory Baines Iglow (CRD # 2783963) is a FINRA-registered broker and investment advisor with Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. and was formally employed by RBC Dain Rauscher Inc.,...

Last updated October 14, 2024

Cetera Advisor Networks LLC Broker Lawrence Ira Goldstein Charged with Approximately $1.6 Million in Customer Claims

Lawrence Ira Goldstein (CRD #  3223787) is a FINRA-registered broker and investment advisor with Cetera Advisor Networks in Los Angeles and was formally...