A complaint filed by the Financial Industry Regulatory Agency (FINRA) against Philip Leonard Grasso Jr. alleges that he, a representative of Allstate Financial Services, LLC (Allstate Financial) “inserted himself into the lives of two elderly customers in order to defraud them of their funds.” FINRA alleged that while Mr. Grasso was on a medical leave of absence from Allstate Financial, he inserted himself into the lives of two elderly customers (ages 89 and 91) in order to defraud them financially.
Between December 2013 and January 2014, Mr. Grasso allegedly convinced the two elderly clients to liquidate their various life insurance policies and annuities (approximately $227,150) and open a brokerage account. Mr. Grasso allegedly then took all the funds from the brokerage account and put them in his own bank account. Mr. Grasso used these client funds for personal expenses like his mortgage and stock investments. In an attempt to hide the misconduct, Mr. Grasso allegedly created false documents for his clients and misrepresented their investment. Mr. Grasso was terminated by Allstate Financial due to allegations that he “commingled the customers’ funds” in May 2014. As it’s a current investigation, FINRA has requested sanctions and restitution to be imposed upon Mr. Grasso.
Stockbrokers, financial advisors, and other financial industry professionals have been known to engage in different types of misconduct which are in violation of industry rules and procedures. In order to protect investors from stockbroker misconduct, FINRA rules require brokerage firms to establish and maintain a reasonable supervisory system. The implementation of these rules requires supervisors to monitor employees to ensure compliance with federal and state securities laws, securities industry rules and regulations, and the brokerage firm’s own policies and procedures. If brokerage firms and their employee supervisors fail to establish and/or maintain these protective measures, they may be held liable to investment account holders for losses flowing from the misconduct. As a result, investors who have suffered losses stemming from a broker’s fraudulent misrepresentations or other types of unlawful misconduct can bring forth claims to recover damages against broker dealers like Allstate Financial Services, which have a duty to supervise its employees in order to prevent broker misconduct and protect investors.
Have you suffered losses in your Allstate Financial Services account due to Philip Grasso Jr. or another registered representative or stockbroker’s fraudulent misrepresentations or other unlawful, prohibited misconduct? If so, call Robert Pearce at the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. for a free consultation. Mr. Pearce is accepting clients with valid claims against financial professionals for unauthorized and/or fraudulent misconduct.
The most important of investors’ rights is the right to be informed! This Investors’ Rights blog post is by the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A., located in Boca Raton, Florida. For over 40 years, Attorney Pearce has tried, arbitrated, and mediated hundreds of disputes involving complex securities, commodities, and investment law issues. The lawyers at our law firm are devoted to protecting investors’ rights throughout the United States and internationally! Please post a comment, call (800) 732-2889, send Mr. Pearce an email at pearce@rwpearce.com, and/or visit our website at www.secatty.com for answers to any of your questions about this blog post and/or any related matter.
Robert Wayne Pearce
Robert Wayne Pearce of The Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. has been a trial attorney for more than 40 years and has helped recover over $125 million dollars for his clients. During that time, he developed a well-respected and highly accomplished legal career representing investors and brokers in disputes with one another and the government and industry regulators. To speak with Attorney Pearce, call (800) 732-2889 or Contact Us online for a FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION with Attorney Pearce about your case.
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