#bakersfield - Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce

Bakersfield, California Attorney Who Sues Stockbrokers For Unsuitable Investment Recommendations

Did Cynthia Diane Cowden Cause You Investment Losses? Cynthia Diane Cowden of Bakersfield, California submitted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority in which she was barred form association with any FINRA member in all capacities. The sanction is based on findings that she allegedly provided false testimony and recommended unsuitable high-risk, speculative investments in violation of FINRA Rules 8210, 2111 and 2010. From January 2013 through August 2020, Cynthia Diane Cowden was associated with NPB Financial Group under multiple registrations. According to the FINRA findings, Cowden allegedly recommended unsuitable investments to three senior customers totaling $481,200. The findings state that the investments were unsuitable given the customers investment objective, circumstances, financial needs and the illiquidity and high-risk level exceeded their risk tolerance. In addition, the findings also state that Cowden allegedly provided false testimony regarding the investments during an on-the-record testimony to FINRA. Although Cynthia Diane Cowden is not currently registered or associated with a FINRA member firm, she remains subject to FINRA’s jurisdiction. FINRA Rule 2111(a) requires that firms and associated persons have a “reasonable basis to believe that a recommended transaction or investment strategy involving a security or securities is suitable for the customer, based on the information obtained through the reasonable diligence of the [firm] or associated person to ascertain the customer’s investment profile,” which includes “the customer’s age, other investments, financial situation and needs, tax status, investment objectives, investment experience, investment time horizon, liquidity needs, [and] risk tolerance.” A recommendation may also be unsuitable if it results in an undue concentration in a particular security or category of securities. FINRA Rule 2010 requires associated persons to observe “high standards of commercial honor and just and equitable principles of trade” in the conduct of their business. A violation of FINRA Rule 2111 is also a violation of Rule 2010. FINRA Rule 8210 requires member firms and associated persons to provide information and documents to FINRA during the course of an investigation. Do You Need a California FINRA Securities Arbitration Attorney? Are you a Bakersfield, California investor who has suffered significant losses in your stock brokerage and investment accounts? Did they recommend unsuitable securities transactions or strategies? Suitability claims can be based upon the stockbroker or investment advisor’s fiduciary duty, duty to use reasonable care, or FINRA Rule 2111. If you believe that your stockbroker or investment advisor made unsuitable recommendations, you need a skilled securities arbitration attorney who knows all the investments, investment strategies and stockbroker tricks of the trade. Free Initial Consultation With Experienced Attorneys Serving Bakersfield, California Residents in FINRA Securities Arbitrations Involving Unsuitable Investment Claims At The Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. we represent investors in all kinds of securities, commodities and investment law disputes in FINRA, AAA and JAMS arbitration and mediation proceedings. Attorney Pearce and his staff represent investors throughout California, and across the United States on a CONTINGENCY FEE basis which means you pay nothing – NO FEES-NO COSTS – unless we put money in your pocket after receiving a settlement or FINRA arbitration award. Se habla español For dedicated representation by Attorney Pearce with over 40 years of experience and success in all kinds of securities, commodities and investment law disputes serving California citizens, contact the firm by phone at 561-338-0037, toll free at 800-732-2889 or via e-mail.

Dec 15, 2020

California Stockbroker Fraud Attorney

Did Ronald Paul Rafaloff Cause You Investment Losses? Ronald Paul Rafaloff, a former registered representative with the Bakersfield, California branch of Liberty Partners Financial Specialists, LLC submitted an AWC in which he consented to, but did not admit to or deny the FINRA findings that he converted $168,000 of an elderly customer’s investment funds for his personal use and benefit. According to FINRA, Ronald Rafaloff’s only client, a 74 year old retiree, invested $405,000 of her retirement money into three speculative business entities for which Mr. Rafaloff claimed to provide consulting services for. In actuality, the businesses were founded and controlled by Mr. Rafaloff. In order to persuade his elderly client to invest, Mr. Rafaloff allegedly promised annual returns of 30-40% and a repayment of her principal in three years. He also allegedly provided the elderly investor with written guarantees against losses, agreeing to personally make payments to the investor if the business entities should default. FINRA found that none of the companies held sufficient funds to cover the return of principal or the high rates of returns promised by Mr. Rafaloff.Once the elderly investor demanded payment from Mr. Rafaloff of her investment principal, he refused to make any payments to her. Consequently, Ronald Paul Rafaloff was barred from association with any FINRA member in any capacity. Do You Need A California Stockbroker Fraud Attorney? California has thousands of stock brokerage firms and investment advisory offices. With so many stock brokerage firms and investment advisory offices, comes the potential for their stockbrokers, financial advisors, and other representatives to engage in one or more kinds of stockbroker fraud. They could make misrepresentations about investing in securities (stocks, bonds, options, mutual funds, REITs, Junk Bonds, Hedge Funds, Structured Products, etc.) they are selling. Unsuitable recommendations of the strategies they recommend (margin, short selling, option) is another kind of stockbroker fraud. They can engage in many other kinds of stockbroker fraud and stockbroker misconduct which violates Federal and California securities laws and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) rules and stock brokerage firms policies and procedures. Experienced Stockbroker Fraud Lawyers Who Handle FINRA Arbitrations Throughout California and Nationwide. Are you a California investor who has suffered significant losses in your stock brokerage and investment accounts? Did your California stockbroker or investment advisor, misrepresent facts about the securities, investments or strategies they were recommending or otherwise mismanage your investment account? If so, you need representation by an experienced, highly-rated and nationally recognized FINRA arbitration lawyer — an attorney who knows FINRA rules and procedures and how to handle these FINRA arbitration cases as well as other complex legal issues. By hiring a top rated stockbroker fraud attorney like Robert Wayne Pearce with over 40 years of experience on both sides of the table in FINRA arbitration proceedings, you will clearly see that Attorney Pearce doesn’t just handle cases—he aggressively represents investors and is one of the best securities attorneys to recover your investment losses for all types of stockbroker fraud and stockbroker misconduct in FINRA arbitration proceedings! At The Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A., we represent investors with securities misrepresentation claims and many other kinds of securities law and investment disputes in FINRA arbitration and mediation proceedings. We handle a wide range of practice areas besides securities misrepresentation and stockbroker fraud claims such as stockbroker breach of fiduciary duty, stockbroker negligence, failure to supervise stockbrokers, and unsuitable recommendations by stockbrokers. Attorney Pearce and his staff represent investors throughout California, and across the United States on a CONTINGENCY FEE basis, which means you pay nothing – NO FEES-NO COSTS – unless we put money in your pocket after receiving a settlement or FINRA arbitration award. Se habla español Free Initial Consultation With An Experienced Stockbroker Fraud Lawyer Serving California Residents in FINRA Arbitrations The Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. are highly experienced lawyers who successfully handle securities misrepresentation, stockbroker fraud, stockbroker misconduct and other investment disputes in FINRA arbitration proceedings, and who work tirelessly to secure the best possible result for you and your case. For dedicated representation by an attorney with over 40 years of experience and success in all kinds of securities law and investment disputes in FINRA arbitrations serving California citizens, contact the firm by phone at 561-338-0037, toll free at 800-732-2889 or via e-mail.