Securities Fraud Lawyers Blog

CFPB Replacement Pick Sparks Contention

Published on: November 24, 2017 | by Savage Villoch Law, PLLC

Last week, we spotlighted the resignation of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) head, Richard Cordray. His departure left a mark of uncertainty over the fate of the institution – one of the financial industry’s top regulators.

Who’s the Boss?

This week sparked contention over who would be taking the helm following Cordray’s departure. Although Cordray had named his deputy director as acting head while a replacement was sought, it seems the White House already had a replacement in mind. Nick Mulvaney, who until recently served as director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, has been appointed as the CFPB replacement pick.

With Cordray’s Resignation, What’s Next for the CFPB?

Published on: November 17, 2017 | by Savage Villoch Law, PLLC

This week, Richard Cordray handed in his resignation as head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The early resignation comes at a time of increased criticism over current financial regulations and an uncertain outlook for many regulatory bodies. The CFPB especially, has been subject of intense criticism from the financial industry as overbearing and stifling.

As Director, Cordray was very much the face and voice of the bureau. Under Cordray, the Consumer Bureau held very close to the guiding tenets under which it was created: to protect financial consumers from unethical behavior. His departure leaves senior officials in the bureau and supporting lawmakers scrambling to secure the future of the CFPB against a regulatory overhaul.

What exactly is the CFPB?

Investors Need to Watch Out for Paid-to-Click Fraud

Published on: November 10, 2017 | by Savage Villoch Law, PLLC

Investors Beware: Paid-to-Click Fraud

There’s a new online scam targeting investors. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued an alert to investors to watch out for Paid-to-Click (PTC) fraud. PTC scams involve fraudsters duping investors out of money for purchasing online advertisements.

With Paid-to-Click fraud, investors are targeted by scammers who promise a share of profits for the upfront purchase of ad bundles and packages. Some scams may promise easy financial returns and online advertising space while others simply promise returns in exchange for an upfront fee alone.

Fed Implores Congress to Preserve Key Financial Regulations

Published on: November 3, 2017 | by Savage Villoch Law, PLLC

In his remarks to Congress, out-going New York Federal Reserve President William Dudley implored lawmakers to preserve and maintain key financial regulation measures in face of growing support for review of standing requirements.

Dudley recently announced his decision to retire from his position earlier (mid-2018) than his term allots. According to a Reuters article, part of Dudley’s responsibilities as New York Fed President extend to being a “point-person” for Wall Street. The New York branch serves as the Fed’s eyes and ears on Wall Street, providing on-the-ground reports of activity to the central bank.

“Do no harm”

Wells Fargo Offers New Robo-Advising Platform

Published on: October 27, 2017 | by Savage Villoch Law, PLLC

Banking giant, Wells Fargo, recently rolled out a new robo-advising platform aimed at enticing first-time investors to invest through Wells Fargo-packaged investment offerings. The unveiling of the automated advisory platform marks the latest in a concerted effort by large-scale financial institutions to capitalize on tech-savvy consumers and meet the changing demands of a digital marketplace.

Robo-advising has grown as an increasingly popular platform for investors who seek more autonomy in their investment decisions as well as expedited trading.

What is Robo-advising?

(Capital) Loss Can Be Your Gain: Leverage Your Stock Loss into Tax Deductions!

Published on: October 18, 2017 | by Savage Villoch Law, PLLC

Nobody wants to lose out on an investment, but did you know that stock loss – also known as capital loss – can actually be leveraged into savings on future investments through tax deductions? While it may sound strange, converting stock loss into savings is actually a widely used strategy for many seasoned investors.

Once you understand how tax laws apply to your capital losses, you will quickly see the benefits of reporting them. You will be able to form strategies that actually take advantage of stock losses ahead of time. Once an investment starts to head south, you’ll be able to make the right decisions to mitigate that loss.

Stock Loss Deductions

Fraud Watch: Beware of Senior Financial Scams

Published on: October 13, 2017 | by Savage Villoch Law, PLLC

A recent report shows that senior citizens have become one of the largest demographic groups target by financial scams and investment fraud. In the past, we’ve offered tips for preventing elder financial abuse, but it seems that the problem is much more aggressive than just making sure that you take steps to protect your investments.

According to the recent report, Americans 62 and older are the targets of widespread and rampant financial abuse.

And these scams aren’t being perpetrated by the seedy criminals you’d expect to be preying on the elderly; instead, the report shows that these senior financial scams are perpetuated by the very people that should be helping you make smart and secure financial decisions. People like:

Smart Investing Tips: Cryptocurrency Investing

Published on: October 6, 2017 | by Savage Villoch Law, PLLC

You’ve probably heard of the popular cryptocurrency investing platform Bitcoin, but what about Ethereum?

Or Litecoin?

Or Dash?

Tips for Choosing the Right Investment Adviser

Published on: September 29, 2017 | by Savage Villoch Law, PLLC

Looking for Investment Advice?

It never hurts to seek out investing advice. Even the most experienced investors get investment advice, either from a single investment adviser or a trusted group. The key term here is trusted. If you’re considering opening an investment advisory account, it’s important to choose the right one.

Choosing the Right Investment Adviser

Who’s Watching the Watchdogs? SEC Hack Exposes Critical Financial Regulation Faults

Published on: September 23, 2017 | by Savage Villoch Law, PLLC

SEC Hack Exposes Critical Security Faults

On Thursday, it was announced that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the nation’s top finance and securities regulator, had experienced a critical cyber security breach. The breach, which occurred in 2016, allowed hackers access to the SEC’s EDGAR system, a database which houses corporate filings and announcements for a multitude of Wall Street firms.

The SEC hack has shaken investors and lawmakers as it poses serious questions regarding the SEC’s security measures and protocol. It is also possible that hackers may have profited on the insider info by trading on it. According to a Reuters report, the database contained sensitive, “market-moving information”.