The Wall Street Swipers sure have been busy this past month. We have been working our tails off trying to keep up with all the exorbitant malfeasance. Here are a few of the stories… EDWARD JONES PULLS A FAST ONE The Edward Jones folksy advertising campaign gives me a laugh or two a week. However, […]
Federal authorities have finally announced a crackdown on brokerage firms that have been offering investors in worthless penny stocks a “once in a lifetime opportunity” to swap into blue-chip stocks if they pay a fee. We reported on this last year on the Watchdog on Wall Street Radio Show. The SEC has charged six Florida […]
Once again, I was honored to be invited to broadcast my radio show from radio row at Inauguration 2005. It was an eventful and enlightening week to state the least. I have broken down some of the highlights and low points so readers can understand with great clarity what really transpired in Washington D.C. from […]
“Don’t worry, Mr.& Mrs. Jones. Take out a home equity loan. Borrow the money to buy our latest IPO. You will make a fortune!” The National Association of Securities Dealers is now investigating one of the more disgusting examples of brokerage house malfeasance that I have ever seen (And I have seen a lot). What […]
Securities regulators have ordered Smith Barney to pay a $275,000 fine plus restitution for selling very high-risk commodity futures to individuals who had no business owning them, plus never disclosing the risks. Citigroup/Smith Barney is also returning $203,000 to 45 customers to whom it made the unsuitable recommendations. The funds sold were the Citigroup Diversified […]
One of the more popular punishment exercises used by parents and teachers on misbehaving children is the “Time Out.” I don’t know whether or not it works, however Wall Street regulators now seem to fancy it. Regulators are now using the “Time Out” tactic on bad boy brokerage firms. Regulators are finally starting to realize […]
My son Stephen is very fond of the children’s program Dora the Explorer. I find the show tolerable unlike some of the other programs (think purple dinosaur). My favorite character on the show is a fox named Swiper. Swiper pops up from time to time on the show, sneaking up on Dora and Friends in […]
The wild and crazy billionaire owner of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks Mark Cuban is planning to start a hedge fund. A hedge fund that will LITERALLY gamble investors’ money! Cuban believes that gambling on slot machines, blackjack, poker, and sports holds as much promise as returns in the stock and bond markets. Cuban made $2 […]
A recent study conducted by the Investment Company Institute found that mutual fund ownership is on the rise after two years of decline. This is an encouraging signal which Americans are starting to save more money. When speaking with investors most state that retirement saving is their number one priority. However, most are not planning […]
Own your own home. Own your own business. Own your own retirement. Own your own health insurance. Unlike many other financial planners we at Markowski Investments believe that in order to the meet the goals and dreams of our clients we need to take the proverbial bull by the horns and own the future. A […]