NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
The Securities Arbitration Law Firm of Klayman & Toskes, P.A.,(K&T) www.nasd-law.com, announces an investigation into sales practice violations by Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) following $8 million in fines levied by the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) related to Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs).
On February 14, 2017, the SEC imposed a Cease and Desist Order and Remedial Actions against Morgan Stanley for sales practice violations related to recommended investments in single-inverse ETFs for advisory clients in non-discretionary accounts. According to Morgan Stanley compliance procedures, recommended investments in single-inverse ETFS had two requirements:
- Advisory clients were required to sign Client Disclosure Notices which detailed the risks associated with the investment; and
- Morgan Stanley supervisors were required to review the risky transactions for suitability based on client profile.
The SEC examination determined deficiencies were found in the supervisory procedures related to record keeping and the determination of “suitability” in advisory clients’ non-discretionary accounts. No Client Disclosure Notices were signed for these risky transactions for nearly 44% of the non-discretionary advisory accounts at Morgan Stanley. The supervisory review was considered “deficient or non-existent” for advisory clients who did not have a signed Client Disclosure Notice.
The sole purpose of this release is to investigate Morgan Stanley’s sales practices related to single-inverse exchange traded funds, which were supposed to be monitored on a daily basis and only considered suitable as a part of a hedging strategy. Morgan Stanley’s sales practice violations may include misrepresentations and omissions of material facts, conflicts of interest, unsuitable investment advice, and the failure to supervise financial advisor recommendations concerning these risky transactions. Current and former Morgan Stanley customers who have information about the firm’s sales practices are encouraged to contact Lawrence L. Klayman, Esq. or Raymond Gentile, Esq. of Klayman & Toskes, P.A. at (888) 997-9956, or visit our website at www.nasd-law.com.
About Klayman & Toskes, P.A.
K&T is a leading national securities law firm which practices exclusively in the field of securities arbitration and litigation, on behalf of retail and institutional investors throughout the world in large and complex securities matters. The firm represents high net-worth, ultra-high-net-worth, and institutional investors, such as non-profit organizations, unions, public and multi-employer pension funds. K&T has office locations in California, Florida, New York and Puerto Rico.
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