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Our experts frequently write blog posts about the findings of the research we are conducting.

Displaying 101-110 out of 328 results for "Weekly Regulatory Review".

SEC Litigation Releases: Week in Review - December 6th, 2013

(Dec 2013)

SEC Obtains Final Judgment Against Massachusetts-Based Broker and Investment Adviser
December 5, 2013, (Litigation Release No. 22885)
Final judgments were entered against Arnett L. Waters and two entities he controlled, "broker-dealer A.L. Waters Capital, LLC and investment adviser Moneta Management, LLC," for their alleged involvement in the "fraudulent sales of fictitious investment-related partnerships." The final judgment enjoins the defendants from future violations of the securities laws...

Brokers Steal from Elderly Widow

(Dec 2013)

In our day-to-day work, we often come across brokers willing to ruin the lives of the undereducated or underprepared in order to make a quick buck. We thought we'd highlight a particularly egregious example of this from a recent Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) press release.

According to the release, Fernando L. Arevalo and Jimmy E. Caballero encouraged an "elderly widow with diminished mental capacity" to sell two annuities for approximately $300,000 and then moved the funds...

FINRA Foundation Releases Military Financial Capability Survey

(Dec 2013)

Yesterday, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Investor Education Foundation announced the release of their National Financial Capability Study's Military Survey. The interactive results of the surveycan be accessed online. According to the foundation's president, the study finds that "most servicemembers are taking control of their finances. Three quarters have a retirement account, nearly 80 percent are living within their means, and many have participated in financial...

SEC Litigation Releases: Week in Review - December 2nd, 2013

(Dec 2013)

SEC Charges Weatherford International with FCPA Violations
November 26, 2013, (Litigation Release No. 22880)
According to the complaint, oilfield services company Weatherford International violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act by "authorizing bribes and improper travel and entertainment for foreign officials in the Middle East and Africa to win business, including kickbacks in Iraq to obtain United Nations Oil-for-Food contracts." The company allegedly earned more than "$59.3 million in...

SEC Litigation Releases: Week in Review - November 22nd, 2013

(Nov 2013)

Court Enters Final Judgment by Consent Against SEC Defendant Corey Ribotsky
November 21, 2013, (Litigation Release No. 22873)
A final judgment was entered against Corey Ribotsky who, along with The NIR Group, LLC, allegedly made "false statements to investors regarding the poor performance and trading strategy of the various AJW Funds he managed" during the financial crisis. Ribotsky also allegedly "misappropriated client assets and misled investors about the decision to form the AJW Master...

Variable Annuity Fees Linked to the VIX -- Part I

(Nov 2013)

We've discussed the CBOE Volatility Index -- known as the VIX-- many times before. Essentially, the VIX is a very complex calculation of the expected future variance of the S&P 500 (see the full calculation methodology), and is popularly known as the 'investor fear gauge'. The VIX is not a tradeable asset, but there are VIX options and futures contracts, and those contracts serve as the basis for several VIX-related exchange-traded products (TVIX, XIV, VXXto name a few). The VIX is very...

SEC Litigation Releases: Week in Review - November 15th, 2013

(Nov 2013)

Court Orders Charles T. Lawrence to Comply with Commission Subpoena
November 13, 2013, (Litigation Release No. 22869)
This week, the Court ordered Charles T. Lawrence to "to comply with an investigative subpoena previously served on him and relating to his formerly registered investment adviser, Chasson Group." According to a previous litigation release, the SEC's application alleges that in April of this year, "the SEC issued a Formal Order Directing Private Investigation entitled In the...

FINRA Announces Enhanced BrokerCheck System

(Nov 2013)

Yesterday the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority announced an enhanced version of their BrokerCheck system. We regularly suggest that investors consult FINRA's BrokerCheck since these records contain important information about complaints and specific actions about individual brokers and firms. According the FINRA Executive Vice President Derek Linden, investors "using BrokerCheck will encounter a more user-friendly interface that allows them to quickly find information that can help...

SEC Litigation Releases: Week in Review - November 8th, 2013

(Nov 2013)

SEC Charges Royal Bank of Scotland Subsidiary with Misleading Investors in Subprime RMBS Offering
November 7, 2013, (Litigation Release No. 22866)
According to the complaint, RBS Securities Inc. (a subsidiary of the Royal Bank of Scotland plc) misled investors "in a 2007 subprime residential mortgage-backed security (RMBS) offering" by stating that the "loans backing the offering 'generally' met the lender's underwriting guidelines." According to the SEC, nearly 30 percent of the loans "fell...

SEC Charges Municipal Issuer with Misleading Investors

(Nov 2013)

Yesterday, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged the Greater Wenatchee Regional Events Center Public Facilities District, a group of nine cities and counties in Washington state, with misleading investors in connection with a bond offering meant to finance the construction of an event center. According to the press release, this is "the first time that the SEC has assessed a financial penalty against a municipal issuer."

In 2008, the municipal issuer issued nearly $42 million...

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