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Alternative Investment

Over 1,400 case summaries and investor alerts. Recent securities-fraud recoveries, regulatory news, and investigations.

Alternative Investment
August 6, 2025

The Hidden Risks of Structured Products: Are They Worth It?

Oakes & Fosher is actively investigating structured product misconduct , complex financial instruments increasingly implicated in investor losses due to undisclosed risks, hidden fees, and suitability violations . While marketed as “principal protected”…

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Alternative Investment
August 6, 2025

Are Alternative Investments Safe? Unpacking the Risks and Scams

Oakes & Fosher is actively investigating widespread misconduct in alternative investments , complex financial products increasingly implicated in investor losses due to undisclosed risks, misrepresentation, and fraudulent sales practices . While marketed as…

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Alternative Investment
February 12, 2025

SEC Charges Arete Wealth and Associates in Illegal Securities Offering

On January 17th of this year, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a complaint against the broker-dealer firm Arete Wealth Management LLC and associates tied to the firm. They filed this complaint in Illinois federal court, alleging that…

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Alternative Investment
August 1, 2024

Center Street Securities Inc. of Nashville, TN, a previously licensed FINRA broker-dealer, is closing after 30 years. Registered representatives continue to operate under Arete Wealth Management.

In November of 2023, Center Street Securities (CS) notified the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. (FINRA) that it was terminating its affiliation as a licensed securities broker-dealer. Center Street sold numerous troubled alternative investments…

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Alternative Investment
June 18, 2024

Arete Wealth Management Pays Over $1 Million in Investor Claims

Arete Wealth Management, a Chicago-based broker-dealer firm focused on alternative investments, has paid out more than $1.1 million in settlements to investors in Q1 2024. The particular reasons for the settlements remain unclear, but Arete Wealth states that…

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Alternative Investment
May 31, 2024

Did You Suffer Losses in the Greenbacker Renewable Energy Fund?

The Greenbacker Renewable Energy Fund recently suspended its distributions, and investors are not receiving the regular payments they were promised. This investment product was extremely speculative , with large hidden costs , and highly illiquid.

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Alternative Investment
October 9, 2023

John Egan Allegedly Recommends Unsuitable Investments

The law firm of Oakes & Fosher is presently investigating the alleged misconduct of securities broker John Kevin Egan, who recommended unsuitable investments to clients. According to his publicly available FINRA BrokerCheck report , John Egan has been the…

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Alternative Investment
September 29, 2023

Net Asset Value Calculation: Priority Income Fund

Recent transactions in the secondary trading market at CTTAUCTIONS for the Priority Income Fund reflect that the illiquid private investment trades at approximately $7.50 a share. Since this is a market of buyers and sellers, with active bids and offers, this…

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Alternative Investment
September 20, 2023

Centaurus Financial Lawsuit: Holding John Starke Accountable

Oakes and Fosher, LLC has initiated a new FINRA arbitration against Centaurus Financial based on the actions of John Starke. Our complaint alleges that Mr. Starke concentrated our client on alternative investments, such as the priority income fund, and that…

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Alternative Investment
August 9, 2023

The Alleged Broker Misconduct of B. David Goldstein

The law firm of Oakes & Fosher is presently investigating the alleged broker misconduct of B. David Goldstein. According to his publicly available FINRA BrokerCheck report, B. David Goldstein has been the subject of multiple customer disputes over the course…

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Alternative Investment
August 4, 2023

FINRA Arbitration Law Firm Oakes & Fosher Fights Northland Securities Broker Robert Herje

Robert Herje has been a licensed broker with Northland Securities since September 2002. During this period, he has been the subject of two FINRA arbitrations involving alternative investments. The current claim brought by clients of Oakes & Fosher alleges…

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Alternative Investment
March 24, 2023

Jill Jester v Dinosaur Financial Group

Oakes & Fosher recovered all of the losses suffered by a widow. The Dinosaur Financial Group broker put Mrs. Jester’s huband’s retirement accounts in alternative investments. The Jester’s had limited assets and could not afford to lose this retirement money.…

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