The Securities Law Firm Of Menzer & Hill, P.A. Announces Investigation Into The Sales Practices Of Broker-Dealers That Solicited Purchases Of Inverse And Leveraged Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs)

The Securities Law Firm of Menzer & Hill, P.A. ( www.suemyadvisor.com) announced today that it has filed arbitration claims and continues to investigate the sales practices of brokerage firms that solicited investors to buy leveraged and inversed Exchanged-Traded Funds (“ETFs”). Many brokerage firms, through their financial advisors, have solicited purchases in these securities as investments, with holding periods longer than one day, while others are recommending option strategies on the underlying ETFs.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), stated in a Regulatory Notice, sent to brokerage firms June 2009, that leveraged and inverse ETFs are “highly complex financial instruments” and “are typically not suitable for retail investors who plan to hold them for more than one trading [day], particularly in volatile markets.” Brokerage firms that failed to adhere to suitability requirements could be held liable to investors that sustained losses in solicited purchases of leveraged and inverse ETFs as a result.

On May 1, 2012, Citigroup was fined $2 million and ordered to pay $146,431 in restitution. Wells Fargo was fined $2.1 million and ordered to pay $641,489 in restitution. Morgan Stanley was fined $1.75 million and ordered to pay $604,584, and UBS was fined $1.5 million and ordered to pay $431,488.

Investors that have purchased leveraged or inverse ETFs through a brokerage account or managed account offered by Merrill Lynch, a subsidiary of Bank of America (NYSE: BAC), Morgan Stanley Smith Barney (NYSE: MS), Wells Fargo Advisors (NYSE: WFC), Ameriprise Financial (NYSE: AMP), UBS (NYSE: UBS), LPL Financial, Raymond James (NYSE: RJF), Edward Jones, or other brokerage firms and have sustained losses should contact the attorneys at the Securities Law Firm of Menzer & Hill, P.A. to determine if they have a claim for a recovery of losses.

For a free case evaluation or to discuss any other investment losses, please contact the Securities Law Firm of Menzer & Hill, P.A., at 888-923-9223, or visit us on the web at www.suemyadvisor.com.

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