What Did Your Brokerage Firm or Investment Adviser Do Wrong With GWG
Published On: June 8, 2016

At a recent Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) conference, regulators discussed how variable annuities, complex products that are often marketed to seniors, are still at issue. Russ Ryan, FINRA senior vice president and deputy chief of enforcement stated in yesterday’s InvestmentNews: “Variable annuities are just very frequently involved in our cases.” On Monday, James Day, FINRA vice president and enforcement chief counsel, told an IRI audience that variable annuities exist at a nexus that FINRA targets. He stated “They are at the sweet spot of complex products marketed to retirees and people about to retire.” Recently, FINRA hit MetLife with a record $25 million penalty for misleading variable annuity sales. The regulator found that MetLife financial advisers made misrepresentations and omissions of fact in 72% of 35,500 applications the firm approved between 2009 and 2014 to replace clients’ existing variable annuities with new ones. The new products were touted as less expensive and more beneficial, when clients would have been better off keeping their existing investments. Most of the issues centered on training and supervision of the advisers involved in the sales. IRI audiences are encouraged to “be more vigilant,” and a little more skeptical in reviewing these transactions.

Another area where FINRA will be cracking down is on L-share variable annuities, products that offer increased liquidity and a shorter surrender-penalty period of about three years instead of seven. Some sort of heightened procedures may be required for those who have a fairly high percentage of L-shares with long-term riders. This may have a major financial impact on anybody who sells a lot of variable annuities and, particularly, a lot of L-shares.

Disclaimer

The posting on this site are mere OPINIONS and NOT statements of fact in any way whatsoever. The information should not be relied upon and there have been no findings made against the firms or individuals referenced on this site. In addition, this Blog is made available for educational purposes only and incorporates information from the web as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide specific legal advice. By using this blog site you understand that there is no attorney client relationship between you and Stoltmann Law Offices (161 N Clark Street 16th Floor Chicago, IL 60601). The Blog opinions should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your state.

PLEASE NOTE THIS IS ADVERTISING AND IT IS NOT A NEWSPAPER ARTICLE OR POST FROM AN INDEPENDENT OR NON-BIASED, NEWS SITE, NEWS SOURCE OR NEWSPAPER.

Chicago Investment Fraud Attorneys Offering Nationwide Representation to Investors

If you have suffered financial losses because of the negligence or fraud of your financial advisor or broker through unsuitable investment recommendations, over-concentration, churning, misrepresenting risks, conversion or selling away, you have legal rights and options to pursue recovery of those losses.

Stoltmann Law Securities Investment Fraud Attorneys