What FINRA Might Not Tell About Your Investment Advisor

What you should know about your advisor that FINRA might not tell you. Three major investment game changers are explored by financial attorney David Meyer.

Investing in Stocks May Be Riskier Than You Think

Investing in Stocks May Be Risky: Alerts warn against high-risk, high-yield investments, though investors are anxious to grow retirement nest eggs quickly

FINRA Investigates Whether Investors Understand Derivative-Linked CDs

FINRA Investigates Whether Investors Understand Derivative-Linked CDs prompted by record sales of derivatives-linked certificates of deposit (CDs) in 2011

Five Investor Protection Tips To Avoid Investment Fraud

Fend off investment fraud with these five investor protection tips including researching your investment broker and financial credentials

Attn Retirees: Are you withdrawing more than 3 percent of your income each year? If so, watch out!

Low investment return projections have retirees rethinking how much can be withdrawn from their savings each year. Advisers suggested 4%, now it's even less.

SEC Charges Life Partners Holdings with Life Settlements Investment Scheme

Life Partners Holdings and three of its senior executives are charged with engaging in an alleged accounting fraud and life settlements investment scheme.

Mormon Church Leader Allegedly Used Leadership Position to Perpetrate $16M Ponzi Scheme, Says SEC

Three more persons have been sued by the SEC for their alleged roles in a $16 million Ponzi scheme operated by Joseph Nelson.

Former Utah Scoutmaster Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for $145M Ponzi Scheme

Travis Wright, of Draper, Utah, received a 10-year federal prison sentence last Friday for defrauding more than 175 investors out of approximately $145 million.

Utah "Venture Capitalist" Accused of Serial Securities Fraud

Q-6 Associates recently filed a lawsuit against Dwight Shane Baldwin, of Salt Lake City, in which Q-6 accuses Baldwin of being a serial fraudster.

SEC Adopts New Net Worth Standard for Accredited Investors

Fewer individuals will qualify as "accredited investors," which will limit the marketing pool for certain investment products.

AARP Warns Seniors: That "Free Lunch" Could be Costliest Yet

"Free lunch" scams are a continuing problem, particularly for seniors.

Framingham Man Receives More Than 8 Years in Prison for 20-Year Ponzi Scheme

Richard Elkinson, of Framingham, was sentenced to 8.5 years in prison for the operation of a 20-year-long, $29 million Ponzi scheme.

FINRA Orders $19M in Restitution to Defrauded Investors in 2011

Registered brokers and firms accused of securities violations also were ordered to pay more than $63 million in fines.

Co-Founder of Global One Sentenced to 25 Years for Investment Fraud

Rick Young was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for his role in an investment scheme carried out by his Nevada-based company, Global One Group, LLC.

Wells Fargo Fined $2M for Unsuitable Sale of Reverse Convertibles to Elderly

FINRA fined Wells Fargo Investments for the unsuitable sale of securities to 21 customers by Alfred Chi Chen, a former Wells Fargo stockbroker.

Massachusetts Secretary Charges Three Investment Advisers with Varying Flavors of Investment Fraud

Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth William Francis Galvin filed complaints against three investment advisers in three separate investment fraud cases.

‘Tis The Season … For Scams Against Seniors

The holiday season is prey season for scam artists, particularly those scam artists who prey on seniors.

Man Charged in Latest Detroit Ponzi Scheme Case

Brian Marsack has been charged with stealing the life savings of at least three individuals.

CEO of Samex Capital Agrees to Plead Guilty in Alleged Ponzi Scheme Case

Keenan R. Hauke is accused of defrauding 67 investors over the course of approximately seven years.

Want to Avoid Investment Fraud? Spend Time Choosing Your Adviser

Spending the time to conduct a thorough background check and to understand a potential adviser’s financial designations is one of the best ways to avoid fraud.

Fake Hedge Fund Managers Charged with Fraud in Alleged $3.5M Foreign Currency Ponzi Scheme

George Sepero and Carmelo Provenzano are accused of defrauding investors by claiming to run a series of New Jersey hedge funds.

Investor Alert: Beware of Fake Securities Regulator Scams

The North American Securities Administrators Association sent a Cease-and-Desist letter to the operator of the "State Securities Commission" website.

Boston-Area Man Indicted In Alleged Hedge Fund Investment Scheme

Andrey C. Hicks, owner of Locust Offshore Management LLC. has been indicted on federal fraud charges in connection to an alleged $2.5 million investment scheme.

Florida Ponzi Schemer Sentenced to Nearly 20 Years in Prison for $21M Fraud

James Risher has been sentenced to 19 years and 7 months in federal prison for charges related to his role in a Ponzi scheme.

SEC Gearing up for Investment Fraud "Enforcement Wave"

"An enforcement wave is coming," warns a former assistant director at the Securities and Exchange Commission's asset management unit in a Dec. 4 InvestmentNews article, "The world is about to change for investment advisers."