John Scott Simoncic of Carlsbad, California submitted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent (AWC) to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in which he was barred for willfully violating Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Exchange Act Rule 10b-5 and FINRA Rules 2020, 2111 and 2010.
From May 2014 until November 2016 Simoncic was registered with Financial West as a General Securities Representative and Supervising Principal. According to FINRA, while registered with Financial West, Mr. Simoncic was responsible for churning, engaging in excessive trading, and making unsuitable recommendations in five accounts held by two customers. FINRA stated that the customers gave Mr. Simoncic de facto control over the accounts and relied upon him completely to advise the accounts. Mr. Simoncic allegedly charged the customers commissions and fees totaling $79,000, earning 88 percent of his gross commission solely from the accounts, and caused the customers to exceed losses of $105,000.
Without admitting or denying FINRA’s findings, Simoncic consented to the sanctions and is barred from association with any FINRA member in all capacities.
Stockbrokers have been known to engage in many practices that may violate industry and firm rules, practices, and procedures. In order to protect investors from stockbroker misconduct, FINRA rules require brokerage firms to establish and implement a supervisory system. The implementation of these industry rules requires supervisors to monitor their employees to ensure compliance with federal and state securities laws, securities industry rules and regulations, and the brokerage firm’s own policies and procedures. If broker-dealers and/or their supervisors fail to establish and implement these protective measures, they may be liable to investors for damages which flow from the broker’s misconduct. Therefore, investors who have suffered losses stemming from unsuitable recommendations, churning and/or other misconduct by their broker can file claims to recover damages against broker-dealers, like Financial West, which should consistently oversee its brokers’ activities in order to prevent the above-described misconduct.
Have you suffered losses in your Financial West account due to unsuitable recommendations and/or churning by your broker? Was John Scott Simoncic your stockbroker? If so, call Robert Pearce at the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. for a free consultation. Mr. Pearce is accepting clients with valid claims against Financial West stockbrokers who may have engaged in broker misconduct and caused investors’ losses.
The most important of investors’ rights is the right to be informed! This Investors’ Rights blog post is by the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A., located in Boca Raton, Florida. For over 40 years, Attorney Pearce has tried, arbitrated, and mediated hundreds of disputes involving complex securities, commodities and investment law issues. The lawyers at our law firm are devoted to protecting investors’ rights throughout the United States and internationally! Please visit our website, www.secatty.com, post a comment, call (800) 732-2889, or email Mr. Pearce at pearce@rwpearce.com for answers to any of your questions about this blog post and/or any related matter.
Robert Wayne Pearce
Robert Wayne Pearce of The Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. has been a trial attorney for more than 40 years and has helped recover over $125 million dollars for his clients. During that time, he developed a well-respected and highly accomplished legal career representing investors and brokers in disputes with one another and the government and industry regulators. To speak with Attorney Pearce, call (800) 732-2889 or Contact Us online for a FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION with Attorney Pearce about your case.
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