#tampa - Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce

Dec 9, 2021

Tampa, Florida Private Placement Investment Dispute Attorney

Did Frederick Joseph Rock Cause You Investment Losses? Frederick Joseph Rock of Tampa, Florida submitted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent (AWC) to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in which he was fined $5,000 and suspended from association with any FINRA member for a capacity of five months. The sanctions were based on findings that that he participated in private securities transactions in violation of FINRA Rules 3280 and 2010. The suspension was in effect from May 3, 2021, through October 2, 2021. In July 2014, Frederick Joseph Rock joined Pruco Securities, LLC and became registered as a General Securities Representative (GS). According to FINRA’s findings, Rock allegedly solicited 17 investors to purchase private-placement investments in a start- up company developing waste-to-energy technology totaling $409,200. The FINRA findings state that in addition to recommending the stocks, Rock also helped the investors complete stock purchase agreements and collected their stock purchase agreements and investment checks to provide to the company. The findings further state that although Rock had not received compensation for the sales, he did not provide notice or seek approval from Pruco before participating in the transactions. Frederick Joseph Rock is not currently associated with any FINRA member firm and remains subject to FINRA’s jurisdiction. FINRA Rule 3280(e) generally defines a private securities transaction as any securities transaction outside the regular scope of an associated person’s employment with a member. FINRA Rule 3280(b) states that “[p]rior to participating in any private securities transaction, an associated person shall provide written notice to the member with which he is associated describing in detail the proposed transaction and the person’s proposed role therein and stating whether he has received or may receive selling compensation in connection with the transaction.” Rule 3280(c) states that when an associated person has received or may receive selling compensation, the member firm shall provide written approval or disapproval of the associated person’s participation in the proposed private securities transaction. A violation of Rule 3280 is also a violation of FINRA Rule 2010, which requires associated persons, in the conduct of their business, to observe high standards of commercial honor and just and equitable principles of trade. Do You Need a Florida Private Placement Investment Attorney? Are you a Florida investor who has suffered significant losses in your stock brokerage and investment accounts? Did your Florida stockbroker or investment advisor misrepresent or mislead you about an investment in a Private Placement or make an unsuitable recommendation that you invest in a Private Placement like GPB Capital Holdings or EquiAlt or otherwise mismanage your investment account? If so, you will need to have representation by an experienced, highly rated and nationally recognized FINRA securities arbitration law attorney—an attorney who understands these highly complex and risky Private Placement investments. You need an experienced lawyer who knows FINRA rules and procedures inside and out and how to handle these FINRA arbitration cases and other complex legal issues. Free Initial Consultation With Experienced Private Placement Investment Attorneys Serving Tampa, Florida Residents In FINRA Arbitration Proceedings 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 Florida, 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 Florida citizens, contact the firm by phone at 561-338-0037, toll free at 800-732-2889 or via e-mail.

Dec 23, 2020

Tampa, Florida FINRA 8210 Defense Lawyers

Did Neil James Buono Cause You Investment Losses? You may have read that Neil James Buono of Tampa, Florida was permanently barred by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) from working in the securities industry because he failed to comply with FINRA Rule 8210. Neil James Buono joined Pruco Securities, LLC in March 2017, and registered as a Series 6 Investment Company and Variable Contracts Products Representative (IR). In October 2018 the firm filed a Uniform Termination Notice for Securities Industry Registration (Form U5) disclosing Buono’s voluntary resignation. According to the FINRA findings, Buono had allegedly created email accounts for two customers and signed their electronic signatures without their knowledge all while receiving unentitled compensation. FINRA then began an investigation regarding the allegations and sent multiple request to Buono to appear for on-the-record testimony. The findings stated that Buono later responded in an email that he acknowledged and received all the request and would not appear for the on-the-record testimony at any given time. Although Neil James Buono is no longer registered with any FINRA member firm, he remains subject to FINRA’s jurisdiction. FINRA Rule 8210 authorizes FINRA, for purposes of an investigation, complaint, examination, or proceeding authorized by the FINRA By-Laws or rules, to require a member, person associated with a member, or person subject to FINRA’s jurisdiction to provide information orally with respect to any matter involved in an investigation, complaint, examination or proceeding. Rule 8210 also specifies that no member or person shall fail to provide information or testimony pursuant to this rule. A violation of FINRA Rule 8210 also violates F1NRA Rule 2010. Do You Need a Florida FINRA Defense Attorney? Unfortunately, Neil James Buono might have avoided that FINRA 8210 bar from the securities industry with a skilled and experienced FINRA 8210 defense attorney. It is important, early on, to have a FINRA defense attorney advise you on how not to make matters worse and resolve the dispute with the least amount of sanctions which could range from censures to fines, suspensions, permanent bars, and/or referrals to federal or state prosecutors. You will need an experienced FINRA defense lawyer who not only has knowledge of FINRA rules and procedures, the securities laws and the appropriate sanction for the alleged misconduct but also has an excellent reputation and credibility with the FINRA attorneys to negotiate the best outcome. Free Initial Consultation With FINRA 8210 Defense Attorney Serving Financial Advisors Throughout Tampa, Florida And Nationwide The Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. understands what is at stake in FINRA securities law matters and works tirelessly to secure the best possible result for you and your case. Attorney Pearce’s FINRA defense skills are highly regarded throughout Florida and across the nation. For dedicated representation by an attorney with over 40 years of experience and success in all kinds of FINRA disputes serving Florida citizens, contact the firm by phone at 561-338-0037, toll free at 800-732-2889, or via e-mail.

Dec 14, 2020

Tampa Florida Investment Fraud Attorney Who Represents Investors

Did Jeff Hogan Cause You Investment Losses? Tampa Florida-based investor Jeff Hogan requested compensatory damages in the amount of $131,066 from FINRA-member TD Ameritrade, claiming negligence and breach of contract involving options trading. Unfortunately, Mr. Hogan did not hire Attorney Pearce and only received a small fraction of his losses, approximately $14,500. Many Tampa investors face circumstances in which negligence and poor counsel from their financial advisors and attorneys cost them large sums of money. Mr. Hogan’s case is not unique. Too many times, Mr. Pearce has heard complaints about poor investment and legal advice when it’s too late to help those investors. Do You Need an Investment Fraud Lawyer? We are top rated lawyers and highly ranked attorneys by our peers in Martindale Hubble and Thomson Reuters SuperLawyers who represent investors in investment fraud cases in court, by the Financial Industry Authority (FINRA), American Arbitration Association (AAA) and JAMS alternative dispute resolution forums serving Tampa Florida investors. This state has thousands of stock brokerage firms and investment advisory offices. With so many stock brokerage firms and investment advisor offices, comes the potential for their stockbrokers, financial advisors, and other representatives to engage in all kinds of stockbroker misconduct which violates Federal and Florida securities laws and FINRA rules and stock brokerage firms policies and procedures. Experienced Investment Fraud Lawyers Throughout Tampa Florida and Nationwide. Are you a Tampa Florida investor who has suffered significant losses your stock brokerage and investment accounts? Did your Tampa Florida stockbroker or investment advisor, misrepresent facts, fail to disclose facts making the statements made false and misleading, recommend unsuitable investments or strategies, excessively trade or churn or otherwise mismanage your investment account? Depending upon the terms of your arbitration agreement you will need to have representation from an experienced, highly-rated and nationally recognized FINRA, AAA or JAMS arbitration securities law attorney—an attorney who knows court, FINRA, AAA or JAMS rules and procedures inside and out and how to handle these court, FINRA, AAA or JAMS arbitration cases and other complex legal issues. By hiring a top rated attorney like Robert Wayne Pearce with over 40 years of experience practicing securities law on both sides of the table in court and FINRA, AAA and JAMS arbitration proceedings, you will clearly see that Attorney Pearce doesn’t just handle cases—he aggressively represents investors and one of the best lawyers to recover your investment losses for all types of stockbroker misconduct in court and FINRA, AAA and JAMS arbitration proceedings! At The Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A., we represent investors in all kinds of investment fraud, securities law, and investment disputes in court and FINRA, AAA and JAMS arbitration and mediation proceedings. We handle a wide range of practice areassuch asfraud and misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty, failure to supervise, and unsuitable recommendations. Attorney Pearce and his staff represent investors throughout Tampa Florida 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 Experienced Investment Fraud Lawyers Serving Tampa Florida Residents The Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. are highly experienced attorneys who successfully handle investment fraud, securities law matters, and investment disputes in court and FINRA, AAA and JAMS 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 court and FINRA, AAA and JAMS arbitrations serving Tampa Florida citizens, contact the firm by phone at 561-338-0037, toll free at 800-732-2889 or via e-mail.

Nov 12, 2020

Former Oppenheimer & Co. Stockbroker Brian Douglas Engstrom Suspended for Unsuitable Recommendations

Brian Douglas Engstrom of Tampa, Florida submitted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent (AWC) to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in which he was fined and suspended for allegedly making unsuitable recommendations in violation of NASD Rule 2310 and FINRA Rules 2111 and 2010. In 2002, Brian Douglas Engstrom joined Oppenheimer & Co. as a General Securities Representative and a General Securities Sales Supervisor. According to the FINRA findings, Engstrom allegedly engaged in an unsuitable pattern of short-term trading of early rollovers of Unit Investment Trusts (UITs). The findings stated that Engstrom made recommendations to his customers to roll over UITs prior to their maturity date in order to purchase a subsequent series on 1,000 separate occasions. The findings also stated that each new UIT had similar investment objectives and strategies as the prior series which resulted in each customer incurring unnecessary sales charges. Engstrom’s customers received reimbursement of these excess sales charges from his member firm in connection with FINRA’s separate settlement with it. A UIT is a SEC-registered investment company that offers investors shares or “units” in a fixed portfolio of securities via a one-time public offering. A UIT terminates on a specified maturity date, often after 15 or 24 months, at which point the underlying securities are sold and the resulting proceeds are paid to the investors. UITs impose a variety of upfront sales charges and a registered representative who recommended the sale of a customer’s UIT before its maturity date and used the sale proceeds to purchase a new UIT would cause the customer to incur greater sales charges than if the customer had held the UIT until maturity. Without admitting or denying FINRA’s findings, Brian Douglas Engstrom was assessed a deferred fine of $5,000 and suspended from association with any FINRA member in all capacities for three months. The suspension was in effect from April 20, 2020, through July 19, 2020. 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 and/or other misconduct by their broker can file claims to recover damages against broker-dealers, like Oppenheimer & Co., which should consistently oversee its brokers’ activities in order to prevent the above-described misconduct. Have you suffered losses in your Oppenheimer & Co. account due to unsuitable recommendations by your broker? Was Brian Douglas Engstrom 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 Oppenheimer & Co. 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.