The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) announced today that it has fined Berthel Fisher & Company Financial Services, Inc. and its affiliate, Securities Management & Research, Inc., of Marion, Iowa, a combined $775,000 for supervisory deficiencies, including Berthel Fisher’s failure to supervise the sale of non-traded real estate investment trusts (REITs), and leveraged and inverse […]
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) announced today that its Board of Governors approved a rule proposal that would prohibit firms and associated persons from conditioning settlements of customer disputes on, or otherwise compensating customers for, an agreement not to oppose a request to expunge information from an associated person’s Central Registration Depository (CRD) record. […]
The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) today issued a Risk Alert on the due diligence processes that investment advisers use when they recommend or place clients’ assets in alternative investments such as hedge funds, private equity funds, or funds of private funds. The alert describes current industry trends […]
Three major associates of Nicholas Cosmo, the mastermind of a $400 million Ponzi scheme, were arraigned on an indictment Wednesday charging them with conspiracy, as well as mail, wire and securities fraud, officials said. The three — Jason Keryc, 34, of Wantagh; Anthony Ciccone, 39, of Locust Valley; and Diane Kaylor, 36, of Bethpage — […]
The Securities and Exchange Commission obtained a final judgment against a former registered representative who misappropriated material nonpublic information from his customer and used it to trade Burger King Holding, Inc.’s (“Burger King”) securities and tip others before the company’s September 2, 2010 announcement that it was being acquired by a New York private equity […]