Tagged with "James Eccleston"

Increase in FINRA Arbitration Cases Expected Following Market Downturn

Posted on April 9th, 2020 at 4:34 PM

Experts expect the number of investor arbitration claims filed with FINRA to increase as a result of the market disruptions that have occurred from the COVID-19 pandemic.   This comes after a prolonged bull market which had seen a relatively low number of FINRA arbitration cases.  However, the recent market downturn has experts predicting an increase in FINRA arbitration cases. 

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CFP Board Requests Comment on New Proposed Procedural Rules and Rules Regarding Reporting of Customer Complaints

Posted on April 8th, 2020 at 4:31 PM
CFP Board Requests Comment on New Proposed Procedural Rules and Rules Regarding Reporting of Customer Complaints

The Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards (“CFP Board”) is in the process of implementing new procedural rules, and is again seeking comments on the latest iteration of the proposed rules.  The new procedural rules are designed to consolidate and replace the CFP Board’s Disciplinary Rules and Procedures and the Appeal Rules and Procedures. The CFP Board had previously sought comments on its new procedural rules from November 27, 2018 through January 29, 2019.

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Morgan Stanley Vows to Remediate Client Losses Due to System Outage

Posted on April 7th, 2020 at 2:33 PM

As detailed in an earlier post in the Eccleston Law Blog, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management experienced a system outage on March 25.  According to Morgan Stanley, the outage, which lasted roughly 4 and a half hours, was caused by a bug in third-party software.  During the outage, Morgan Stanley brokers were able to place trades via a back-up system.  However, the back-up system was slower than the normal system.

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Morgan Stanley Latest Firm to Experience System Outage

Posted on April 6th, 2020 at 2:18 PM

On March 25, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management’s technology system crashed.  As a result, both brokers and clients were unable to view account information or place orders.  Brokers did report being able to complete orders by using a link they were provided.  Investors who were not able to access their account online were told to call the firm to place trades.

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Closed-End Funds in Energy Sector Plummet As Crude Oil Prices Decline

Posted on April 3rd, 2020 at 2:09 PM
Closed-End Funds in Energy Sector Plummet As Crude Oil Prices Decline

Closed-end funds in the energy sector have been hit hard by the steep decline in the price of crude oil.  Share prices of such closed-end funds from Goldman Sachs, Kayne Anderson and Tortoise have dropped between 70% and 89% this month. 

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Firm Agrees to Pay $35 Million for Ponzi Scheme

Posted on April 2nd, 2020 at 1:49 PM
Firm Agrees to Pay $35 Million for Ponzi Scheme

Per the terms of a proposed consent judgment filed in New York Federal Court, International Investment Group LLC (“IIG”) has agreed to pay $35.2 million to resolve a case brought by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).  In the Complaint filed by the SEC, IIG was alleged to have run a Ponzi scheme going back to 2007.  The agreed upon penalty consists of $30.9 million in disgorgement and $4.3 million in prejudgment interest.

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Fixed-Income Funds Buffer the Losses of Stocks

Posted on April 1st, 2020 at 1:42 PM
Fixed-Income Funds Buffer the Losses of Stocks

While the stock market has suffered great losses recently, the performance of fixed income bond funds reminds us all that appropriate asset allocation is the prudent course of action. 

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JPMorgan wins round in fight over client contacts with Merrill broker

Posted on March 31st, 2020 at 9:07 AM
JPMorgan wins round in fight over client contacts with Merrill broker

A broker who left JPMorgan's banking channel to join Merrill Lynch has agreed to a preliminary injunction barring him from soliciting his former clients as the parties await a FINRA arbitration proceeding.

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Be Aware of Catastrophe Bonds

Posted on March 30th, 2020 at 4:48 PM
Be Aware of Catastrophe Bonds

Although not sold directly to individual investors, investors should be aware of catastrophe bonds and other event-linked securities, which can be part of their mutual funds, closed-end funds or other investments.  Highlighting the extreme risk that these bonds can carry, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) previously issued an Investor Alert regarding catastrophe bonds and other event-linked securities.

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Defending Against a Customer Complaint

Posted on March 27th, 2020 at 11:11 AM
Defending Against a Customer Complaint

Customer complaints and arbitration claims never are good news for financial advisors.    But too often advisors go “from the frying pan to the fire” by agreeing to be represented by the legal counsel that their firm recommends or refers. Advisors are enticed by the word “free”, and they are lulled into a (false) sense of comfort and security knowing their lawyer is liked by his/her financial services firm, sounds smart and polite, is experienced, and reassuring that all will turn out okay.

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TESTIMONIALS

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It was really fun seeing you fight for us. You have an amazing way of thinking out of the box.


 

Beth M.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

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