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Alan Markfeld
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Dharmi is an excellent securities lawyer who understands the law as it pertains to these cases. She is extremely proactive and represents her clients well. I highly recommend Jacko and Dharmi.
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Danielle Martin profile picture
Danielle Martin
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I’ve had the privilege of working closely with this firm in my role as Chief Compliance Officer and I can confidently say they are an exceptional compliance partner. Their depth of experience is immediately evidentand they bring a level of practical knowledge. What I truly enjoy is their ability to translate complex regulatory requirements into plain English, often using real, everyday examples that make implementation far more manageable. They are also incredibly responsive and reliable. In a field where timing matters, their prompt communication and thoughtful guidance have been invaluable. If you’re looking for a compliance attorney who combines expertise, clarity, and professionalism, I highly recommend them.
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Curt Rocca
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Michelle and the team at Jacko Law Group have helped guide through a variety of critical circumstances as we ventured through the uncharted and unfamiliar territory of becoming and successfully operating as an RIA. I have particularly appreciated Michelle's personal involvement and genuine caring about us and our organization. She has been responsive and her counsel has been consistently on-point and helpful. She artfully guided us through our initial filing process and first SEC exam process - which went very well. Very grateful to Michelle and her team.
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Nicholas Di Paolo
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Michelle and her team were excellent to work with, front to back. They helped me to understand the challenges ahead and were always proactive in their consultation through every step of my transition. JLG truly know the wealth management industry very well and did a great job of understanding the challenges unique to my business. Without them, I can confidently say I would not have felt as comfortable through the transition as I did. Fortunately, that's not something that stops there - Michelle and her team have kept in touch to ensure that I'm on top of certain administrative issues, trends, and simply showing me that they care about my business and success. I look forward to continuing to work with them for many years to come.
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Margery Neis
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Dharmi Mehta was extremely helpful when my business partner and I transitioned to a new RIA firm. She and her staff were all very professional. Her guidance during our transition was invaluable. I highly recommend Dharmi and Jacko Law Group.
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Joseph Burwell profile picture
Joseph Burwell
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Dharmi and Amandeep were a delight to work with. They assisted me with a claim and stuck with me the entire way through. Dharmi's advice was invaluable, and I was most impressed by her clear and professional communication. From beginning-to-end, both Dharmi and Amandeep kept me well informed. Their entire team are proud of their work and rightfully so. Thank you!
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Faruk Jaffer
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My mentor once told me that a good attorney is worth their weight in gold — and that couldn't be more true of Michelle and Amanda. Their expertise, professionalism, and responsiveness were top notch every step of the way. It's rare to find legal partners who are not only sharp and thorough, but also genuinely invested in your success. I’m grateful for their guidance and highly recommend them to anyone seeking trusted legal counsel.
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everistus etafo
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It is my great Privilege to share my Review of what Atty Dharmi Mehta of Jacko Law Group did for me and by extension for my family. From the first time complimentary conversation we had having spoken to several other Lawyers ,l knew she was the right person for the Job .Because of her background as a former RR ,she was professional,kind, Empathetic,listened and was focused on fighting for me. From a potential of been terminated with cause ,l was able to walk away with a clean U5 with a validation that l did nothing wrong except what was in the best Interest of my clients. I hope nobody ever has to go through what l have Experienced, but if you do ,you want Dharmi Mehta beside you .Rest assured your service Deserve 10 stars but this forum only allows 5. Me and my family are forever grateful and will make sure that any RR who needs an advocate will know about you . Everistus Etafo
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Karen Althaus
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I have worked with Jacko Law Group for 2 different business situations that necessitated an attorney. In both cases, the team was very thorough & competent. Their attention to our situation and the extra effort they put into our case(s) was very much appreciated. I would highly recommend Jacko Law Group!
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BD Corner: Increased Fines and Harsher Penalties Imposed on Brokers and Principals by FINRA in 2011

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In 2011, FINRA reported 1,488 disciplinary actions, up from 1,310 in 2010. Also significant, fines in 2011 jumped 51% in 2011, up from $45 million in 2010 to $68 million last year. 2011 fines, however, were far lower than the recent high water marks of $184 and $1111 fined by FINRA in 2005 and 2006, respectively. The number of individuals barred by FINRA also increased significantly in 2011, from 288 in 2010 to 329 in 2011, constituting an increase of more than 14%. The top areas of enforcement actions by FINRA in 2011 included:
  • Advertising.Sanctions jumped from $4.74 million in 2010 to $21.1. million last year, with the number of cases involving alleged advertising violations doubling in 2011. In addition to review of communication with investors directly, FINRA has also cracked down on inaccurate or fraudulent internal communications, i.e.inaccurate internal representations about product risk to representatives.
  • Short selling. These cases generated $16.8 million in fines, driven by a $12 million fine against UBS for violating Regulation SHO and failing to properly supervise short sales.
  • Auction rate securities was another active area, with seven cases and close to $10 million in fines in 2011.
  • Suitability. In 2011 this area saw a whopping 106 cases involving suitability allegations, up from just 53 cases in each of the previous two years. Fines in this area rose from $3.75 million in 2010 to $7.1. million in 2011.
  • Finally, 2011 saw 91 FINRA disciplinary actions and $6.6 million in reported fines concerning improper U4, U5 forms and Rule 3070; up from 67 cases and $1.45 million the prior year.
The 2011 increases evidence the more aggressive tone at FINRA, which continues to tackle  issues arising out of the 2008 financial crisis and recent high profile enforcement failures such as the Bernie Madoff and R. Allen Stanford schemes. Another contributing fact to the increased focus on enforcement may be internal pressure within the SRO to prove itself in the eyes of the SEC, Congress, and the public to reach in order to become the regulatory body for investment advisers. For additional information about FINRA or any other compliance concern, please contact the Jacko Law Group at (619)298-2880.

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Jacko Law Group provides tailored legal services and effective strategies for success, delivering exemplary solutions to complex legal and regulatory challenges to ensure that both business efforts and compliance obligations are satisfied.

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