Articles Posted in FINRA investigation

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Zachary BrodtPublicly available records published by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and accessed on March 6, 2018 indicate that Arizona-based First Financial Equity Corporation broker/adviser Zachary Brodt has been named in a pending FINRA investigation. Fitapelli Kurta is interested in speaking to investors who have complaints regarding Mr. Brodt (CRD# 5228473).

Zachary Brodt has spent eleven years in the securities industry and has been registered First Financial Equity Corporation in Scottsdale, Arizona since 2016. Previous registrations include Raymond James & Associates in Scottsdale, Arizona (2014-2016); Accelerated Capital Group in Scottsdale, Arizona (2012-2014); Meridian United Capital in Scottsdale, Arizona (2008-2012); and GF Investment Services in Scottsdale, Arizona (2007-2008). He has passed three securities industry examinations: Series 63 (Uniform Securities Agent State Law Examination), which he obtained on April 11, 2007; Series 65 (Uniform Investment Adviser Law Examination), which he obtained on August 25, 2006; and Series 7 (General Securities Representative Examination), which he obtained on January 26, 2007. He is a registered broker and investment adviser with six US states: Arizona, California, Georgia, Nevada, New York, and Texas.

According to his BrokerCheck report, Zachary Brodt has been named in a pending FINRA investigation.

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William WhitePublicly available records published by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and accessed on February 5, 2018 indicate that former North Carolina-based InterCarolina Financial Services broker/adviser William White has been named in a pending FINRA investigation and is currently not affiliated with any broker-dealer firm. Fitapelli Kurta is interested in speaking to investors who have complaints regarding Mr. White (CRD# 1049339).

William White has spent 14 years in the securities industry and was most recently registered with InterCarolina Financial Services in Greensboro, North Carolina (2003-2017). He has no previous registrations. He has passed two securities industry examinations: Series 63 (Uniform Securities Agent State Law Examination), which he obtained on September 5, 2003, and Series 7 (General Securities Representative Examination), which he obtained on September 3, 2003. He is currently not affiliated with any broker-dealer firm.

According to his BrokerCheck report, he has been named in a FINRA investigation and has received four unsatisfied tax liens.

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James ClayPublicly available records provided by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and accessed on January 8, 2018 indicate that former Tennessee-based Cuso Financial Services broker/adviser James Clay has been named in a FINRA complaint and is currently not affiliated with any broker-dealer firm. Fitapelli Kurta is interested in speaking to investors who have complaints regarding Mr. Clay (CRD# 5748560).

James Clay has spent 7 years in the securities industry and was most recently registered with Cuso Financial Services in Clarksville, Tennessee (2014-2017). Previous registrations include US Bancorp Investments in Clarksville, Tennessee (2012-2014) and Edward Jones in Clarksville, Tennessee (2010-2012). He has passed two securities industry examinations: Series 66 (Uniform Combined State Law Examination), which he obtained on March 5, 2010, and Series 7 (General Securities Representative Examination), which he obtained on February 18, 2010. He is currently not registered with any state or firm.

According to his BrokerCheck report, he has been named in a pending FINRA complaint and was discharged from a former employer in connection to alleged rule violations.

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Jodie LaMarrePublicly available records provided by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and accessed on January 8, 2018 indicate that former Florida-based Janney Montgomery Scott broker/adviser Jodie LaMarre has been named in a FINRA investigation into alleged rule violations and is currently not affiliated with any broker-dealer firm. Fitapelli Kurta is interested in speaking to investors who have complaints regarding Ms. LaMarre (CRD# 2127928).

Jodie LaMarre has spent 25 years in the securities industry and was most recently registered with Janney Montgomery Scott in Sarasota, Florida (2015-2017). Previous registrations include Robert W. Baird & Company in Sarasota, Florida (2008-2015); Wachovia Securities in Sarasota, Florida (2003-2008); Prudential Securities in New York, New York (1997-2003); AG Edwards & Sons in St. Louis, Missouri (1992-1997); and Merrill Lynch in New York, New York (1991-1992). She has passed four securities industry examinations: Series 65 (Uniform Investment Adviser Law Examination), which she obtained on August 19, 1997; Series 63 (Uniform Securities Agent State Law Examination), which she obtained on April 27, 1992; and Series 7 (General Securities Representative Examination), which she obtained on December 9, 1991. She is currently not registered with any state or firm.

According to her BrokerCheck report, she has received two customer complaints and was recently named in a FINRA investigation into alleged rule violations.

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InvestacorpPublic records published by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and accessed on December 15, 2017 indicate that Florida-based brokerage firm Investacorp, a subsidiary of Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services, has been sanctioned by FINRA in connection to alleged rule violations. Fitapelli Kurta is interested in speaking to investors who have complaints regarding Investacorp (CRD# 7684).

According to a report by Investment News, the firm was censured in connection to allegations it failed to have proper procedures in place to detect the sales of high priced mutual fund shares, by certain of its representatives, to customers who were eligible for certain discounts.

The relevant disclosure on Investacorp’s BrokerCheck report states additionally that FINRA alleged the firm “disadvantaged certain retirement plan and charitable organization customers” who could have purchased class A shares in certain funds without a front-end sales charge, but who instead were sold either Class A shares with such a charge, or Class B or C shares with back-end charges and increased fees and expenses. These sales allegedly disadvantaged the customers in question by causing them to pay more than they were in fact required, according to FINRA. FINRA’s findings also state that Investacorp failed in its duty to supervise the application of sales charge waivers for eligible sales of mutual funds. While the firm relied on its representatives to determine whether the sales charge waivers applied, it allegedly failed to put in place written policies or procedures that wold help these representatives make such determinations. For example, FINRA states, Investacorp “failed to establish and maintain written procedures to identify applicable sales charge waivers in fund prospectuses for eligible customers.” It also allegedly failed to properly notify and train its advisors with respect to the availability of waivers for certain customers, and did not adopt proper controls to detect cases in which waivers were not provided to eligible customers.

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John Carl

Publicly available records published by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and accessed on December 7, 2017 indicate that New York-based Janney Montgomery Scott broker/adviser John Carl has been named respondent in a FINRA investigation into alleged rule violations. Fitapelli Kurta is interested in hearing from investors who have complaints regarding Mr. Carl (CRD# 2905059).

John Carl has spent twenty years in the securities industry and has been registered with Janney Montgomery Scott in Saratoga Springs, New York since 2015. Previous registrations include Morgan Stanley in Saratoga Springs, New York (2009-2015); Morgan Stanley & Company in Saratoga Springs, New York (2009); Wachovia Securities in Latham, New York (2003-2009); Prudential Securities in New York, New York (2000-2003); and Salomon Smith Barney in New York, New York (1997-2000). He has passed four securities industry examinations: Series 65 (Uniform Investment Adviser Law Examination), which he obtained on September 8, 1997; Series 63 (Uniform Securities Agent State Law Examination), which he obtained on August 25, 1997; Series 31 (Futures Managed Funds Examination), which he obtained on January 12, 2010; and Series 7 (General Securities Representative Examination), which he obtained on August 11, 1997. He is a registered broker and investment adviser with 18 US states and territories: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas and Vermont. He is registered with three self-regulatory organizations (SROs): FINRA, the Nasdaq Stock Market, and the New York Stock Exchange.

According to his BrokerCheck report, John Carl has been named in a FINRA investigation into alleged rule violations.

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Michael OlindePublic records published by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and accessed on December 6, 2017 indicate that Louisiana-based Capital Financial Services broker/adviser Michael Olinde was terminated from a former employer in connection to alleged rule violations and is involved in a pending FINRA investigation. Fitapelli Kurta is interested in speaking to investors who have complaints regarding Mr. Olinde (CRD# 3063204).

Michael Olinde has spent 19 years in the securities industry and has been registered with Capital Financial Services in Baton Rouge, Louisiana since July 2017. Previous registrations include LPL Financial in Baton Rouge, Louisiana (2009-2017); Mutual Services Corporation in Baton Rouge, Louisiana (2008-2009); AIG Financial Advisors in Baton Rouge, Louisiana (2008); American General Securities Incorporated in Baton Rouge, Louisiana (2002-2008); and Franklin Financial Services Corporation in Houston, Texas (1998-2002). He has passed three securities industry examinations: Series 63 (Uniform Securities Agent State Law Examination), which he obtained on July 16, 2007; Series 6 (Investment Company Products/Variable Contracts Representative Examination), which he obtained on June 25, 1998; and Series 26 (Investment Company Products/Variable Contracts Principal Examination), which he obtained on May 7, 2001. He is a registered broker and investment adviser with eleven US states and territories: Alabama, California, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas and Virginia.

According to his BrokerCheck report, he has been named in an ongoing FINRA investigation and was recently discharged from a former employer in connection to alleged rule violations.

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Jack McBridePublicly available records provided by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and accessed on September 7, 2017 indicate that Michigan-based Wunderlich Securities broker/adviser Jack McBride has received customer disputes and was recently named in a FINRA investigation. Fitapelli Kurta is interested in hearing from investors who have complaints regarding Mr. McBride (CRD# 2517946).

Jack McBride has spent 22 years in the securities industry and has been registered with Wunderlich Securities in Birmingham, Michigan since 2014. Previous registrations include Ameriprise Financial Services in Farmington Hills, Michigan (2009-2014) and Ameriprise Advisor Services in West Bloomfield, Michigan (1994-2009). He has passed four securities industry examinations: Series 65 (Uniform Investment Adviser Law Examination); Series 63 (Uniform Securities Agent State Law Examination); Series 7 (General Securities Representative Examination); and Series 8 (General Securities Sales Supervisor Examination [Options Module & General Module]). He is a registered broker and investment adviser with 17 US states and territories: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Vermont and Wisconsin.

According to his BrokerCheck report, he has received two customer complaints, was recently named in two FINRA investigations, and was discharged from a former employer.

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Joe Buckner

Publicly available records provided by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) on May 19, 2017 indicate that former Texas-based Brazos Securities broker/adviser Joe Buckner has been sanctioned by FINRA and barred from acting as a broker or otherwise associating with firms that sell securities to the public. Fitapelli Kurta is interested in speaking to investors who have complaints regarding Mr. Buckner (CRD# 2187957).

Joe Buckner has spent 21 years in the securities industry and was most recently registered with Brazos Securities in Dallas, Texas (1996-2015). Previous registrations include Maplewood Investment Advisors in Dallas, Texas; La Jolla Capital Corporation in San Diego, California; and Merrill Lynch in New York, New York. He is currently not registered with any state or firm.

According to his BrokerCheck report, he has received one FINRA sanction and one pending customer complaint, and has been named in a pending regulatory investigation.

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Leslie Markus

Publicly available records provided by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) on April 25, 2017 indicate that Pennsylvania-based Lincoln Investment broker/adviser Leslie Markus, also known as George Markus, has been named in a FINRA investigation. Fitapelli Kurta is interested in speaking to investors who have complaints regarding Mr. Markus (CRD# 2688964).

Leslie Markus has spent 21 years in the securities industry and has been registered with Lincoln Investment in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania since 2015. Previous registrations include Ameriprise Financial Services in Center Valley, Pennsylvania; Cadaret Grant & Company in Syracuse, New York; Multi-Financial Securities Corporation in North East, Maryland; American Capital Corporation in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania; Tower Square Securities in El Segundo, California; and Guardian Investor Services in New York, New York. He is a registered broker and investment adviser with seven US states: California, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia.

According to his BrokerCheck report, Leslie Markus was discharged from a former employer and has been named in a pending FINRA investigation.

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