Tr?id=566623520170033&ev=PageView&noscript=1

SEC Charges Advisors and Their Firm With Reg BI Violations Over Sales of GWG L Bonds

Posted on June 24th, 2022 at 10:45 AM
SEC Charges Advisors and Their Firm With Reg BI Violations Over Sales of GWG L Bonds

From the Desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law:

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged Western International Securities and five of its advisors with violating Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI) when they recommended and sold high-risk debt securities known as L Bonds to retirees and other retail investors. 

The SEC’s complaint names advisors Nancy Cole, Patrick Egan, Andy Gitipityapon, Steven Graham, and Thomas Swan, alleging that the Western advisors sold at least $13.3 million worth of L Bonds between July 2020 and April 2021. Furthermore, the complaint alleges that the advisors sold L Bonds to numerous investors who were on fixed incomes or had moderate risk tolerances, even though the L bonds were categorized as high-risk and illiquid by its issuer, GWG Holdings. 

The advisors allegedly failed to adhere to Reg BI because they did not exercise reasonable diligence, care and skill and understand the risks and costs associated with the L Bonds, according to the complaint. The advisors recommended L Bonds to at least seven particular investors without a reasonable basis for believing that the investments were in the clients’ best interests, according to the SEC. The SEC additionally alleges that Western failed to establish and enforce written policies and procedures reasonably designed to achieve compliance with Reg BI. 

Eccleston Law LLC represents investors in GWG L Bond cases as well as financial advisors nationwide in securities, employment, regulatory and disciplinary matters.

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law, sec, violations

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next
Quotes Bigger

You are the best attorneys in the country.

CC

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

1782400213 Law
June 25, 2026
SEC Alleges Illinois Investment Adviser Misappropriated Investor Funds and Concealed Losses

According to a litigation release published on SEC.gov, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged John Sterling Myers and his firms, Sterling Capital, LLC and Sterling Capital Management, LLC, with orchestrating a multi-year fraud involving investor funds held in a pooled investment vehicle.

1782320106 Law
June 24, 2026
FINRA Suspends Former Broker Over Undisclosed Business Activities, Annuity Recommendation, and Customer Data Violations

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has suspended former registered representative Clayton K.

1782226532 Law
June 23, 2026
NASAA Advances Investment Adviser Advertising Reforms and Franchise Broker Registration Framework

The North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) has approved significant regulatory initiatives aimed at modernizing oversight of investment advisers and strengthening protections for individuals considering franchise investments.