Tim O'Connor's Blog

Top Investors Threats by NASAA The North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) recently announced its annual list of top investor threats after a survey of state securities regulators, identifying the five most problematic investment products, schemes and tricks as follows: Unregistered Products/Unlicensed Salesmen – unregistered salesman without any training or licensure has flooded the internet, airwaves […]

The North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) maintains an investor education resource on its website designed to protect the investing public from investment schemes and victimization in the financial markets. The frequently posted investor alerts and tips are designed to inform the average investor of storm clouds ahead of the financial markets and traps to […]

Brokerage firms have used forgivable loan and promissory note agreements as inducements to either hire new brokers and/or compel their current brokers to keep their book of business with their firms. Notably, these agreements oftentimes include overreaching covenants not to compete and/or covenants not to solicit, with which firms seek to compel, restrain and handcuff […]

On December 18, 2015 the Securities Exchange Commission issued a comprehensive report including the clarification of the definition of Accredited investor. The financial markets have seen an explosion of the sale of Regulation D private placement type investments to unsuspecting investors who are oftentimes tricked into being convinced or otherwise representing that they are in […]

On March 2, 2016 Andrew Ceresney, Director of the Division of Enforcement of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission addressed the public on violations that target retail investors with pyramid schemes noting “we protect the interests of retail investors by bringing bad actors to justice and by returning money to victimized investors.” The presentation noted […]