In November 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) settled with American Portfolios Financial Services/American Portfolios Advisors Inc., Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc., Royal Alliance Associates Inc., Securities America Advisors Inc., and Summit Financial Group Inc., resulting in $3 million that will be returned to harmed investors. The settlement was related to the firms’ violations related to unsuitable sales of complex exchange-traded products to retail investors.
The orders against American Portfolios Financial Services/American Portfolios Advisors Inc., Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc., Royal Alliance Associates Inc., Securities America Advisors Inc., and Summit Financial Group Inc. found that the firms failed to implement written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent violations of the Investment Advisers Act and its rules. The order against American Portfolios found that the firm failed to reasonably supervise certain brokerage representatives who recommended their customers buy and hold a volatility-linked product. The order against Benjamin Edwards found that the firm failed reasonably to supervise certain brokerage and advisory representatives who recommended their clients buy and hold two volatility-linked products.
Each firm agreed to cease and desist from future violations of the charged provisions, a censure, and to pay disgorgement and prejudgment interest. American Portfolios and Benjamin Edwards each agreed to pay a civil penalty of $650,000, Securities America and Summit each agreed to pay a civil penalty of $600,000 and Royal Alliance agreed to pay a civil penalty of $500,000.
According to the SEC, the sales of the complex exchange-traded products occurred between January 2016 and April 2020. The value of the products attempted to track short-term volatility expectations in the market, typically measured against derivatives of the CBOE volatility index… the offering documents for the products made clear that the short-term nature of these products made investments in the products more likely to experience a decline in value when held over a longer period. The orders finds that, contrary to these warnings, and without understanding the products, representatives of the firms recommended their customers and clients buy and hold the products for longer periods, including in some circumstances, for months and years. The orders further find that the firms failed to adopt or implement policies and procedures regarding suitability and volatility-linked exchange-traded products,” according to the SEC announcement.
Pursuant to FINRA Rules, member firms are responsible for supervising a broker’s activities during the time the broker is registered with the firm. Therefore, American Portfolios Financial Services/American Portfolios Advisors Inc., Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc., Royal Alliance Associates Inc., Securities America Advisors Inc., and Summit Financial Group Inc. may be liable for investment or other losses suffered by its customers.
Erez Law represents investors in the United States for claims against brokers and brokerage firms for wrongdoing. If and have experienced investment losses, please call us at 888-840-1571 or complete our contact form for a free consultation. Erez Law is a nationally recognized law firm representing individuals, trusts, corporations and institutions in claims against brokerage firms, banks and insurance companies on a contingency fee basis.
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