This week the “Daily Business Review” recognized more than 80 attorneys in 12 practice area categories as the “Most Effective Lawyers” in South Florida. Robert W. Pearce and Adam Kara-Lopez of the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P. A. were recognized in the Mediation and Arbitration category.
Continue ReadingJ.P. Turner & Co., LLC (J.P. Turner) was ordered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) to pay over $700,000 in restitution to more than 80 customers for sales of unsuitable leveraged and inverse exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and for excessive mutual fund switches by its registered representatives. This was just the tip of the iceberg and undoubtedly many more J.P. Turner customers have suffered from these unlawful sales practices.
Continue ReadingThe Martinez-Ayme Financial Group Inc. D/B/A Martinez-Ayme Securities was recently sanctioned by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for alleged violations of Rule 101 of Regulation M of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the self-regulatory agencies rules in connection with a series of private placement offerings, including a company described as CPWV. This company’s business was the development, commercialization and marketing of a series of electric generating power systems designed to produce electrical power with zero omissions or waste byproducts.
Continue ReadingAlthough there was a blip in the UBS sponsored Puerto Rico closed-end bond fund prices recently, the net asset values (NAVs) of the various funds have continued their move downward. The decline is a reflection of the Puerto Rican economy which has been in recession for nearly 8 years. The most recent NAV’s published on November 27 and 29, 2013, put the value of the funds as follows:
Continue ReadingA couple of months ago when the press began its aggressive coverage of the Puerto Rican municipal bond market, default was never an option. However, Justin Vélez-Hagan, executive director of The National Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce has called it inevitable. The Chamber of Commerce official has cited more than 10 facts for his opinion: 1) $70 billion of debt is now held by institutional investors and mutual funds; 2) the debt-to-GDP ratio is now nearly 70% and growing; 3) including pension obligations the debt-to-GDP ratio exceeds 90%; 4) the per capita debt load is $19,000 per person on this tiny island, which is many multiples over the debt load in any state; 5) the eight-year recession has contracted the economy by over 16%; 6) the 2014 budget deficit is estimated between $300-$800 million; 7) the repeal of IRS Rule 936 has caused the giant pharmaceutical manufacturers and many other mainland corporations to continue to close their businesses on the island; 8) Puerto Rico has become a welfare state with only 40% of eligible workers seeking employment; 9) federal government assistance programs account for 21% of Puerto Rico’s economy; and 10) debt service is now 20% of the budget and before long, even if interest rates remain at 9%, the debt service will increase to 30, 40 or even 50% of the budget.
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