Brokerage Firm Review: National Securities Corp

National Securities Corporation (“National Securities Corp”) (CRD# 7569) has many different complaints filed by FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority), state regulatory organizations, and investors such as yourself. At the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, we have investigated National Securities Corp, its regulatory and customer complaints, and have also represented investors with claims of fraud, negligence, and breach of fiduciary duty against this organization and its financial advisors.

If you believe you have a claim against National Securities Corp, you should strongly consider hiring an investment fraud lawyer. You should not wait until it’s too late to file a claim. The Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A., offers free consultations. Give us a call at 800-732-2889. Let’s discuss your case and see what we can do to help you get the compensation you need and deserve.

Can I Sue National Securities Corp?

If you’ve lost money caused by National Securities Corp and/or its employees’ misconduct then the answer is, YES, you can sue National Securities Corp but the odds are you signed away your right to sue in court and agreed to resolve your dispute in a FINRA arbitration proceeding. Attorney Robert Wayne Pearce has over 40 years of personal experience in FINRA arbitration proceedings and knows very well how you can not only sue National Securities Corp in FINRA arbitration proceedings, but WIN that arbitration. The easiest way to know if you have a viable case against National Securities Corp is to call Attorney Pearce at our office at 800-732-2889.

Investment Losses? We Can Help

Discuss your legal options with an attorney at The Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A.

Get A Free Consultation

or, give us a ring at (800) 732-2889.

What is National Securities Corp?

National Securities Corp (CRD# 7569) is a registered broker-dealer. It operates as a full-service independent broker-dealer, providing a range of financial products and services to individual investors and financial advisors.

As a registered broker-dealer, National Securities Corp is subject to regulations and oversight by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). It is required to comply with industry standards and regulations to ensure the protection of its clients’ interests.

A failure to comply with industry standards by either its brokers or the firm itself can result in disciplinary actions, fines, or other penalties imposed by regulatory authorities.

National Securities Corp Has Many Different Regulatory Problems 

National Securities Corp’ rapid growth has not been without consequences. There have been approximately 82 state and self-regulatory body disclosure events; that is, final and formal proceedings initiated by a regulatory authority (e.g., a state or federal securities agency like the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or self-regulatory body like the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for a violation(s) of investment-related rules or regulations. In addition, there have been hundreds of customer complaints filed against National Securities Corp for misconduct by its securities sales and investment advisory representatives that are not reported by the firm on its Central Depository Record. 

We have reported and written about these regulatory problems and customer complaints over many years. National Securities Corp is a repeat offender: there are over 82 FINRA-reported disciplinary proceedings citing the firm with one form of supervisory lapses or another.

A Brief Overview of Some of the Regulatory Problems National Securities Corp Has Faced Over the Years*

National Securities Corp has been repeatedly censured, warned, and fined multi-millions of dollars for its own misconduct and failure to supervise its army of financial advisors.* A few of the notable FINRA Sanctions for its Supervisory Failures are below:

National Securities Corporation Fined $175,000 for Failing to Report Customer Complaints and Supervise Offerings

Brief Overview: National Securities Corporation, a securities broker-dealer based in Boca Raton, Florida, has been censured and fined $175,000 by FINRA for several violations. The firm failed to timely report customer complaints and amendments to Forms U4 and U5, which related to customer disputes involving the broker-dealer or its stockbrokers. Additionally, National Securities Corporation did not comply with Rule 4530 regarding reporting the settlement of a customer-initiated investment-related claim. FINRA found 19 customer-initiated investment-related complaints that were not reported to them in a timely manner. The broker-dealer also had incomplete or inaccurate files relating to customer disputes, failing to disclose certain information to FINRA within the required time frame. Furthermore, the firm lacked adequate supervisory protocols for contingency offerings, where it generated a significant portion of its revenue, resulting in further violations of FINRA rules. This is not the first time National Securities Corporation has faced sanctions for underreporting important information about customer complaints or settlements.

FINRA Sanctions National Securities Corporation for Market Manipulation, Imposes $9 Million Penalty

Brief Overview: In a recent announcement, FINRA revealed that it has sanctioned National Securities Corporation (NSC) with a penalty of approximately $9 million. This includes disgorgement of $4.77 million in net profits earned by NSC for underwriting 10 public offerings where the firm attempted to artificially influence the market for the offered securities. The regulatory action highlights NSC’s involvement in market manipulation and serves as a significant penalty for the firm’s misconduct in the public offerings it underwrote.

National Securities Corporation Fined $663K by FINRA for Deceptive Private Placements

Brief Overview: National Securities Corporation, based in Boca Raton, FL, has been fined $663,000 by FINRA due to deceptive practices in private placements. The misconduct occurred between December 2017 and January 2018 and involved the price of shares offered in a private placement. National Securities identified companies likely to go public in the future through its affiliated investment adviser, National Asset Management. It made private placement offerings of these companies before their anticipated initial public offering (IPO), marketing and selling these interests to customers. However, the firm deceived investors by claiming to have two sources for these shares when it had only one. Moreover, it continued selling shares at a disclosed price for a second offering despite having no shares available at that price. As a result, National Securities will pay $300,000 in fines and the remainder in disgorgement, plus interest, for violating securities regulations and FINRA rules.

Why Does National Securities Corp Have So Many Regulatory Problems And Customer Complaints?

Independent broker-dealers are notorious for their lax supervisory practices and procedures. The business model of these franchise type operations is to open many offices nationwide for steady growth of fixed monthly revenues without the costs attendant to a full-service branch office with on-site manager, compliance officer and operation personnel. The registered representatives of these independent broker-dealers generally operate as separately incorporated businesses. They are not employees of the broker-dealer and therefore not controlled in the same manner as full-service brokerage firm representatives. The registered representatives control their structure and costs to maximize profits and often leave the protection of investors’ rights and interests as their lowest priority.

The typical supervisory organization of independent broker-dealer operations is to have other independent contractors operate Offices of Supervisory Jurisdiction (OSJs) to monitor the registered representatives from geographically remote offices and then report to the main franchisor’s compliance office at national headquarters. The supervisors at the OSJs are not employees of the franchisor and often run their own brokerage, insurance and other businesses. They are not devoted full-time supervisors of the smaller branch offices. Consequently, OSJ managers cannot and do not supervise the day-to-day operations of the registered representatives of these Independent broker-dealers. 

Generally, there is no immediate review of new accounts opened, securities transactions, business records, cash or securities receipts and deliveries, correspondence and business activities unrelated to the securities brokerage operation at these independent brokerage firms. The lax supervision leaves investors who have transferred their accounts to the smaller independent broker-dealer vulnerable to sales of securities that have not been reviewed or authorized by anyone other than the sales representative earning a commission. There may be no one onsite to detect forgeries of clients’ signatures on documents, the placement of inaccurate information about a client’s investment objectives and financial condition to document the suitability of a particular investment recommendation. Oftentimes there is no daily review of sales literature and client correspondence to protect against misrepresentations and misleading statements being made to investors. In fact, it is not unusual for there to be only one compliance audit visit per year at many of these offices.

These Independent brokerage business operations are worrisome to the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA), which has documented more instances of sales abuse and consequently investor losses at these firms than the traditional brokerage firms with branch offices with on-site managers and compliance personnel.

Did National Securities Corp Advisor Misconduct Cause You Investment Losses?

When financial advisor misconduct has caused you to lose substantial value to your investment accounts, you have the right to seek reimbursement from the responsible parties. National Securities Corp is responsible like any employer for its financial advisors acts and omissions. In addition, it has an independent duty to supervise its stockbrokers and investment advisors. These cases can be extremely complex, and so having the support of a reputable attorney who is experienced in recovering investment losses for investors is key to your success. Many customers make the mistake of contacting National Securities Corp without representation with an attorney about their complaints and have their complaints denied.

Related Read: Can You Sue Your Brokerage Firm?

Investment Losses? We Can Help

Discuss your legal options with an attorney at The Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A.

Get A Free Consultation

or, give us a ring at (800) 732-2889.

Consult With An Attorney Who Recovers Investment Losses Caused By National Securities Corp Today!

The investment loss attorneys at The Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A., have helped countless investors over the last 40 years recover the losses from their investment accounts that were caused by broker negligence or misconduct. The firm has extensive experience with National Securities Corp cases, and Attorney Pearce is committed to seeing that those responsible for the losses you have suffered are held fully accountable.

Give us a call at 800-732-2889. Let’s discuss your case and see what we can do to help you get the compensation you need and deserve.

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 $170 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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