Richard Seefried, of Spokane, Washington, submitted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent (AWC) to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in which he was fined and suspended for unsuitable recommendations of convertible notes.
FINRA found that while employed with Spencer Edwards, Inc., Richard Seefried failed to adequately investigate representations made by the issuer of convertible promissory notes. According to the FINRA AWC, Mr. Seefried failed to investigate discrepancies in materials provided by the issuer of the notes and failed to investigate the background of the officers of the issuer, who had prior litigation alleging securities fraud. Mr. Seefried made unsuitable recommendations to two of his customers, sold $200,000 of the notes and received commission of $13,600.
Without admitting or denying FINRA’s findings, Richard Seefried was assessed a deferred fine of $10,000, suspended for 30 days, and ordered to pay $13,600, plus interest, in deferred disgorgement of commissions received. The suspension was in effect from December 4, 2017 through January 2, 2018.
Stockbrokers have been known to engage in many practices that may be in violation of 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 require 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 by their broker can bring forth claims to recover damages against broker-dealers, like Spencer Edwards, which should consistently oversee its brokers’ activities in order to prevent the above-described misconduct.
Have you suffered losses in your Spencer Edwards account? Did you suffer losses due to a broker’s unsuitable recommendations? 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 Spencer Edwards stockbrokers who may have engaged in stockbroker 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.