FINRA Arbitration Awards $100,000 to Investor Over Unsuitable GWG L Bonds

Posted on June 5th, 2024 at 10:57 AM
FINRA Arbitration Awards $100,000 to Investor Over Unsuitable GWG L Bonds

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law

In a recent FINRA arbitration, an investor was awarded close to $100,000 due to unsuitable investments in GWG L bonds purchased in 2018 and 2020.

According to InvestmentNews, the arbitrator emphasized the broker-dealer and financial advisor's failure to uphold their fiduciary duty to the client. Mahrle pointed to GWG's weak economic position in 2020 as a red flag that Greenberg Financial Group and advisor David Sherwood ignored.

The FINRA award is unique because it is “reasoned” and reflects a growing trend of arbitration awards being reasoned decisions in securities industry disputes.

InvestmentNews reports that expert testimony supported the unsuitability of GWG L bonds, leading the arbitrator to hold Greenberg Financial and Sherwood liable for the investor's damages. While punitive damages were denied due to lack of factual basis, the award underscores the importance of broker-dealers and advisors fulfilling their fiduciary obligations to clients.

 

Eccleston Law LLC represents investors and financial advisors nationwide in securities, employment, transition, regulatory, and disciplinary matters.

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law, finra

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next

Jim, Stephany and the whole team were a God send.  We felt like we were put into a situation where we had no advocate. Jim’s team came in with a strong, well laid out strategy on how to get our story heard. Where our outside compliance company had no ability to help, our Broker Dealer was impenitent, and the regulators were aggressive pursuing vague rules, Jim came like a barricade against an assault we did not understand. Though you pay member dues to be affiliated with FINRA and a B/D, you have no voice. The only thing that is truly heard in this un-level playing field is a bulldog’s bark like Jim’s. I would encourage anyone to call Jim and his team to find a real ally in the tough and complicated world of securities regulation. They are truly the best.

Greg P.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

February 12, 2026
CFTC Signals New Rulemaking for Prediction Markets and Crypto Oversight

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) plans to develop new regulations governing the growing prediction markets industry, Chairman Michael Selig announced, signaling a shift in regulatory strategy.

February 11, 2026
Ameriprise Advisor Phishing Incident Potentially Exposes Client Data

A phishing incident involving an Ameriprise Financial advisor potentially exposed the personal information of hundreds of clients, according to a disclosure posted by the Maine Attorney General’s office.

February 10, 2026
Merrill Lynch Expands Client Disclosures on Crypto and AI Risks

Merrill Lynch updated its required client disclosure brochure to address, for the first time, the evolving risks tied to cryptocurrency-linked investments and the firm’s expanding use of Artificial Intelligence tools.