ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER Greater Disclosures Still May Not Tell The Full Story Variable annuities and variable life insurance contracts are expensive, complex securities sold by prospectuses and subject to regulation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).   This week, the SEC announced proposed rule changes intended to improve disclosures for […]

ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER Understanding Riders in Annuities The Death Benefit Rider Sales Pitch Riders are endorsements added to annuity contracts sold to enhance the benefits payable under those contracts. There are several types of riders, two of the most common being income riders and death benefit riders.  We have written on […]

ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER Unraveling The Woodbridge Ponzi Scheme Former CEO To Pay $120 Million Fine Robert Shapiro, former chief executive officer of the Woodbridge Group of Companies, has reportedly agreed to pay $120 million to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to settle allegations he defrauded investors in a massive $1.2 […]

ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER False Claims Act Cases For Kickbacks and Falsifying Records Two Large Whistleblower Settlements Awards in whistleblower cases brought for false claims against the government can be very substantial. Last week, the government announced two settlements in false claim whistleblower cases with rewards for the whistleblowers, discussed below, that […]

ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER Seniors: Watch Out for Stockbroker Fraud If You’re a Victim, We Can Help Unscrupulous stockbrokers prey on seniors in particular. After all, seniors hold 1/3 of the nation’s wealth. Seniors may also be more receptive to higher return opportunities in a low interest rate environment.  Be careful.  Stockbroker […]

ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER Court-Appointed Fiduciaries Wield Great Power Potential for Abuse of Power Court-appointed conservators and other fiduciaries (such as guardians or trustees) wield enormous power over the dependent individuals and properties they are appointed to manage and protect. Court appointments supersede earlier Powers of Attorney, trustee nominations and the like […]

ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER Annuity Scams Targeted At Seniors Annuity Fraud On average, a senior victimized by financial elder abuse loses over $140,000. That level of monetary loss is devastating.  Unscrupulous insurance agents are among the financial predators on seniors, selling them unsuitable annuities and life insurance that line agents’ pockets with […]

ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER Financial Industry Whistleblowers The Government’s Whistleblower Program and Awards Government prosecutors need your help in prosecuting financial fraud and will reward you if your information leads to a recovery. The Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 (“FIRREA”) and Financial Institutions Anti-Fraud Enforcement Act of 1990 […]

ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER Caregivers and Physical and Financial Elder Abuse A caregiver is a person who takes care of the daily needs of a person who cannot take care of themselves. The relationship is personal and sadly conducive to caregiver abuse and fraud.  The abuse may include physical and emotional abuse […]

ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER Genworth Life and Annuity Insurance Company Whole Life Insurance If you are over age 60, live in California, and have cancelled (or surrendered) a whole or universal life insurance policy issued by Genworth Life and Annuity Insurance Company where you lost or may have lost money, contact the […]