Articles Posted in Broker Misconduct

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has censured and fined J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (JPMS) $150,000 for supervisory failures tied to the delivery of preliminary prospectuses in initial public offerings (IPOs). According to a FINRA Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent (AWC), between January 1, 2018, and December 30, 2021, JPMS’s supervisory system, including its…

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has fined Interactive Brokers LLC $650,000 and issued a censure after finding that the online brokerage firm failed to exercise proper due diligence before approving certain self-directed customers to trade options. The sanctions stem from deficiencies that spanned more than five years, between November 2019 and December 2024, and…

The GWG Wind Down Trust filed its latest status report on August 15, 2025, with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, providing new details for GWG L Bond investors. Liz Freeman, the GWG Wind Down Trustee, also released the trust’s recent financial statements. These reports cover the Trust’s activities for the quarter and year ending June 30,…

In another significant win for GWG L Bond investors, a FINRA arbitration panel has ordered Arete Wealth Management, LLC to pay $280,000 in compensatory damages to a harmed investor. The award, issued on August 11, 2025 (FINRA Arbitration Award No. 22-01257), marks the second time in as many years that the Chicago-based broker-dealer has been…

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced significant settlements with Emerson Equity, LLC—the managing broker-dealer for the now-defunct GWG Holdings, Inc. (“GWG”) L Bond program. It also settled with Tony Barouti, one of the nation’s most prolific L Bond sales representatives. These enforcement actions provide further confirmation of what Iorio Law PLLC has…

Iorio Law PLLC is actively investigating sales practices by broker-dealers, including Osaic and Janney Montgomery Scott, concerning their recommendations of the Easterly ROCMuni High Income Municipal Bond Fund (tickers: RMJAX, RMHIX, RMHVX). This mutual fund, marketed as a source of high-income returns, has collapsed, leaving investors with catastrophic losses. The fund has significantly underperformed and…

Background: For more information, please visit our GWG L Bond Investor Recovery Center. How Much Will GWG L Bond Investors Receive from the Bankruptcy Settlements? On April 30, 2025, the GWG Litigation Trustee filed a Supplemental Notice of Proposed Settlements in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. According to the…

On April 2, 2025, the GWG Wind Down Trust filed its status report with the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, providing crucial updates for GWG L Bond investors. This report details the Trust’s activities for the quarter and year ending December 31, 2024, revealing that the Trust has sold nearly…

**Updated: April 30, 2025**: According to new court filings, the GWG Wind Down Trust estimates that the cumulative distribution from the four settlements will be between 2.694% and 3.446% of the approximately $1.67 billion in pre-petition GWG L Bond holdings that are now Series A1 WDT Interests. That is, GWG L Bond investors can expect…

Key Points Background David Jerke, CRD No. 5129935, worked as a broker at LPL Financial LLC until his termination on December 23, 2024. The termination followed allegations that he solicited a loan from a customer, which breached both LPL’s policy and FINRA Rule 3240, prohibiting registered persons from lending or borrowing from customers. This rule…