By: Jack WaymirecloseAuthor: Jack Waymire Name: Jack Waymire
Email: jack@paladinregistry.com
Site: http://paladinregistry.com
About: Jack writes for the InvestorWatchdog website and Worth magazine. He worked in the financial services industry from 1976 to 2004. For twenty of those years he was the president of a Registered Investment Advisory firm and a Broker/Dealer. Jack is the author of Who's Watching Your Money? The 17 Paladin Principles for Selecting a Financial Advisor and is a co-founder of PaladinRegistry.com.See Authors Posts (87) | July 16, 2009 | Financial Advisors

The most frequent question we receive from investors is how to determine the trustworthiness of financial advisors. 
A trusted financial advisor is a professional who "always" put investor interests ahead of his or her own.
TIPS
1. Always ask advisors for their CRD numbers and use them to check their compliance records at FINRA.org and state securities commissioners.
2. Select professionals who are Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) or Investment Advisor Representatives [...]

By: Jack WaymirecloseAuthor: Jack Waymire Name: Jack Waymire
Email: jack@paladinregistry.com
Site: http://paladinregistry.com
About: Jack writes for the InvestorWatchdog website and Worth magazine. He worked in the financial services industry from 1976 to 2004. For twenty of those years he was the president of a Registered Investment Advisory firm and a Broker/Dealer. Jack is the author of Who's Watching Your Money? The 17 Paladin Principles for Selecting a Financial Advisor and is a co-founder of PaladinRegistry.com.See Authors Posts (87) | July 16, 2009 | Ponzi Schemes

Mike Kauffman, a Maryland investor, was recently vicitimized by two scams. Chris Coulther, an advisor with Ameriprise Financial in Florida, allegedly sold him tourism real estate investments in Costa Rica. He was told he would receive a 100% return on his investment. He was also sold CDs from Depository Pacific Bank in Costa Rico that were supposed to yield 12% risk free. It now [...]

By: Matthew Arndt, CFA, CPA, CFP | July 10, 2009 | Conflicts of Interest, Deceptive Sales Practices, Illegal Schemes & Scams

Ameriprise’s agreement to pay $17.3 million to settle charges that it received millions of dollars in undisclosed “incentive” payments to sell certain REITs to its brokerage customers is an example of how potent enticements like large sales commissions can lead to deplorable acts that harm investors. Ameriprise received about $30.8 million in payments related to [...]

By: Glenn EdwardscloseAuthor: Glenn Edwards Name: Glenn Edwards
Member: Member Paladin
Quality Rating:
Email: glenn@afadv.com
Site: http://paladinregistry.com/external/beaninformedinvestor/advisor_profile.php?advisor_id=2867
About: See Authors Posts (4) | July 9, 2009 | Investor Information

In a speech by Comptroller of the Currency, John C. Dugan, before the American
Bankers Regulatory Compliance Conference, in Orlando, Florida this past June 8, 2009, Mr. Dugan remarked that he sees similar risks in reverse mortgages as were present several years ago when subprime mortgages exploded in growth.  He listed three characteristics of the [...]

By: Jack WaymirecloseAuthor: Jack Waymire Name: Jack Waymire
Email: jack@paladinregistry.com
Site: http://paladinregistry.com
About: Jack writes for the InvestorWatchdog website and Worth magazine. He worked in the financial services industry from 1976 to 2004. For twenty of those years he was the president of a Registered Investment Advisory firm and a Broker/Dealer. Jack is the author of Who's Watching Your Money? The 17 Paladin Principles for Selecting a Financial Advisor and is a co-founder of PaladinRegistry.com.See Authors Posts (87) | July 9, 2009 | Deceptive Sales Practices

A recent visitor to Watchdog asked the following question.
"A financial advisor made several promises to us so we would sign a contract for an investment product. He earned a big commission check, but we lost most of our money based on his lies. The product company says they are not responsible for the advisor’s sales pitch. The advisor’s company [...]

By: Daniel ChencloseAuthor: Daniel Chen Name: Daniel Chen
Member: Member Paladin
Quality Rating:
Email: dcstrategies@yahoo.com
Site: http://paladinregistry.com/external/beaninformedinvestor/advisor_profile.php?advisor_id=1893
About: Dan's specialty is delivered by his Wealth Management Practice with a core competency in Fianancial Planning. The ability to deliver services for a fee eliminates the potential conflicts of interest created by the commission only type of aproach. He maintaines his office in Ocean N.J. however serves a clientel base from coast to coast. Dan believes that the basis for a great life is planning for it. Dan offers a no obligation meeting to decide if his services are appropriate for your needs.See Authors Posts (12) | July 9, 2009 | Bad Financial Advice, Conflicts of Interest, Deceptive Sales Practices, Investor Information

I recently attended a continuing education seminar for insurance and securities licensed representatives and happen to be sitting at a table with a group of insurance salesman turned investment advisor. During the CE session as well as lunch, a group of them from the same office happen to talk about their latest and very successful [...]