Travis Wetzel and LPL Financial
Have you lost money with financial advisor Travis Wetzel from Frederick, Maryland? We are currently investigating allegations made against Travis Wetzel. Travis Wetzel is a former LPL Financial advisor from Frederick, Maryland who was recently charged with misappropriating at least $1.2 million from an elderly client. The U.S. Attorney’s office in Maryland indicted Wetzel with wire fraud charges, alleging that he withdrew money from his client’s annuities and sent the money to his own bank accounts. The alleged conduct occurred between December 2010 and August 2012. Wetzel was also barred by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in 2013.
In 2016, FINRA also brought a regulatory action against Prudential Annuities Distributors, Inc. FINRA alleged that Prudential failed to detect and prevent this theft, and that it missed red flags to stop this fraud. To settle these claims, Prudential agreed to pay a fine of $950,000.
Travis Wetzel had been affiliated with LPL Financial from September 2006 to August 2012. Wetzel worked in LPL’s Rockville, Maryland branch office. Wetzel was also affiliated with Reutemann Financial Solutions, a registered investment advisory firm.
Broker-dealers like LPL Financial have a responsibility to adequately supervise all representatives who are registered through their firm. LPL Financial and other broker-dealers also must take steps to ensure that their financial advisors follow all securities rules and regulations, as well as internal firm policies. When broker-dealers fail to adequately supervise their registered representatives, they may be liable for investment losses sustained by customers.
Click to view: Prudential FINRA AWC
Click to view: Travis Wetzel Indictment
HAVE YOU LOST MONEY WITH TRAVIS WETZEL OR LPL FINANCIAL?
CONTACT ISRAELS & NEUMAN, PLC FOR A FREE CASE EVALUATION
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Israels & Neuman, PLC is a private law firm and is not affiliated with any government or law enforcement agency. Any investigation referenced in this blog is independent in nature and is being conducted by our law firm privately, not in conjunction with any government or law enforcement agency. All information contained in this blog should be deemed statements of opinion derived from the author’s review of public records, not statements of fact. This blog is advertising material and does not create an attorney client relationship, nor does it constitute legal advice. Everyone’s situation is different and the question of whether or not you have a claim will vary on a case-by-case basis. In contingent representation, clients may still be liable for costs.