Michael Guilfoyle, a stockbroker previously registered with Legend Securities, Inc., submitted a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent (AWC) to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in which he was suspended for 10 months and assessed a deferred fine of $10,000.00. Without admitting or denying FINRA’s allegations, Michael Nicholas Guilfoyle, of Old Bridge Township, New Jersey, consented to the entry of FINRA’s findings that he engaged in unsuitable excessive trading in customers’ accounts, resulting in cumulative losses to his customers of nearly $56,000.00.
According to FINRA, Mr. Guilfoyle exercised control over the accounts of two customers, one of whom was a senior citizen, due to the customers’ limited investment experience. Mr. Guilfoyle’s trading strategy generated excessive commissions or markups/markdowns. For example, during the 18 month time period in which his 73 year old customer’s account was open, Mr. Guilfoyle executed 77 transactions; 90% were solicited. As a result of the excessive trading, the customer suffered losses of $27,821.22, while generating sales charges of over $35,000.00. The other customer, FINRA found, suffered losses of more than $28,000.00 and sales charges for Mr. Guilfoyle of $26,150.00. The suspension is in effect from December 18, 2017 through October 17, 2018.
Stockbrokers have been known to engage in many types of practices that are in violation of industry and firm rules, practices, and procedures. In order to protect investors from stockbroker misconduct, FINRA rules require brokerage firms to establish and implement a reasonable supervisory system. The implementation of the rules require supervisors to monitor employees to ensure they comply with federal and state securities laws, securities industry rules and regulations, and the brokerage firm’s own policies and procedures. If broker-dealers and their supervisors fail to establish and implement these protective measures, they may be liable to investors for damages flowing from the misconduct. Therefore, investors who have suffered losses stemming from unsuitable recommendations and/or excessive trading by their broker can bring forth claims to recover damages against broker-dealers, like Legend Securities, which should consistently oversee its brokers’ activities in order to prevent the above-described misconduct.
Have you suffered losses in your Legend Securities account due to your stockbroker’s unsuitable recommendations and/or excessive trading? 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 Legend Securities stockbrokers who may have engaged in unsuitable trading strategies and caused investors’ losses.
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 visit our website, www.secatty.com, post a comment, call (800) 732-2889, or email Mr. Pearce at pearce@rwpearce.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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