Joseph Anthony Watters Audit (2023) – A Scam or Legit Broker?

Joseph Anthony Watters  – and the firm that employs him or her – is regulated by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).

If you are like most people, before you go out to dinner at a new restaurant, you probably take a quick look at the reviews. This makes sense; you are going to pay for an expensive dinner, and you need to be sure that you are getting a good value.

Yet, when choosing a financial advisor, many people fail to conduct this same level of due diligence. Before turning over access to your money, you need to be sure that you have found a financial advisor that you can trust. Here, our audit report, including details of allegations, complaints, and sanctions will help you decide whether or not to invest with Joseph Anthony Watters.

BrokerComplaints.com is currently investigating allegations related to Joseph Anthony Watters. We provide a free platform for investors to help them in their claims against negligent brokers and brokerage firms.

About Joseph Watters

Joseph Anthony Watters is an Investment Adviser. Joseph Anthony Watters’s Central Registration Depository (CRD) number is 1001336 and the FINRA Profile can be found at – https://brokercheck.finra.org/individual/summary/1001336.

Click here to download a Detailed Audit Report for Joseph Anthony Watters.

Joseph Anthony Watters has previously been reprimanded and has disclosures and/or client dispute(s) listed at FINRA BrokerCheck.

Accusations and Disclosures

You can find below, a quick snapshot of Joseph Anthony Watters’s regulatory actions, arbitrations, and complaints.

DISCLOSURE 1 – 

• Event Date: 2/19/2003
• Disclosure Type: Regulatory
• Disclosure Resolution: Final
• Disclosure Detail :: DocketNumberFDA: C9A030005
• DocketNumberAAO: 9030005
• Initiated By: NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SECURITIES DEALERS, INC.
• Allegations: NASD CONDUCT RULES 2110, 3030 – RESPONDENT WHILE REGISTERED WITH HIS MEMBER FIRM, ENGAGED IN A BUSINESS ACTIVITY OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF HIS EMPLOYMENT. RESPONDENT DID NOT AT ANY TIME PROVIDE HIS MEMBER FIRM WRITTEN NOTICE OF HIS BUSINESS ACTIVITIES INVOLVING ANOTHER COMPANY. RESPONDENT ALSO FAILED TO RESPOND TO NASD REQUEST TO APPEAR FOR TESTIMONY.
• Resolution: Decision & Order of Offer of Settlement
• Sanction Details :: Sanctions: Bar
• Sanction Details: WITHOUT ADMITTING OR DENYING THE ALLEGATIONS, JOSEPH A. WATTERS CONSENTED TO THE DESCRIBED SANCTIONS AND TO THE ENTRY OF FINDINGS, THEREFORE, HE IS BARRED FROM ASSOCIATION WITH ANY NASD MEMBER IN ANY CAPACITY.

DISCLOSURE 2 – 

• Event Date: 3/13/2002
• Disclosure Type: Regulatory
• Disclosure Resolution: Final
• Disclosure Detail :: DocketNumberFDA:
• Initiated By: PA SECURITIES COMMISSIONCONTACT: ENFORCEMENT DIVISION (717)-783-5178
• Allegations: RESPONDENT ALLEGEDLY VIOLATED THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE PENNSYLVANIA SECURITIES ACT OF 1972.
• Resolution: CASE CLOSED 09/29/2006
• Sanction Details ::
• Sanctions: CASE CLOSED 09/29/2006.

DISCLOSURE 3 – 

• Event Date: 2/5/2002
• Disclosure Type: Regulatory
• Disclosure Resolution: Final
• Disclosure Detail :: DocketNumberFDA:
• Initiated By: PA SECURITIES COMMISSIONCONTACT: ENFORCEMENT DIVISION 717-783-5178
• Allegations: RESPONDENT ALLEGEDLY OFFERED FOR SALE UNREGISTERED SECURITIES IN THE FORM OF AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINE PROGRAMS BY AN UNREGISTERED AGENT IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES AND AGENT REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE PENNSYLVANIA SECURITIES ACT OF 1972.
• Resolution: CASE CLOSED 01/31/2007
• Sanction Details :: Sanctions: Cease and Desist

DISCLOSURE 4 – 

• Event Date: 12/7/1999
• Disclosure Type: Regulatory
• Disclosure Resolution: Final
• Disclosure Detail :: DocketNumberFDA:
• Initiated By: PA SECURITIES COMMISSIONCONTACT: ENFORCEMENT DIVISION (717)-783-5178
• Allegations: RESPONDENT ALLEGEDLY OFFERED AND SOLD UNREGISTERED SECURITIES IN THE FORM OF PAY TELEPHONE SERVICES AGREEMENTS PROVIDING MANAGEMENT AND SERVICING OF PUBLIC TELEPHONES AND THE USE OF AN UNREGISTERED BR0KER-DEALER AND AGENT IN VIOLATION OF THE PENNSYLVANIA SECURITIES ACT.
• Resolution: CASE CLOSED 09/30/2004
• Sanction Details :: Sanctions: Cease and Desist
• Broker Comment: NO HEARING WAS REQUESTED BY JOSEPH WATTERS, AND THE SUMMARY ORDER WAS DEEMED TO BE FINAL WITH RESPECT TO HIM IN JULY 2000.

DISCLOSURE 5 – 

• Event Date: 9/9/1998
• Disclosure Type: Regulatory
• Disclosure Resolution: Final
• Disclosure Detail :: DocketNumberFDA: C9A980034
• DocketNumberAAO: 9980034
• Initiated By: NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SECURITIES DEALERS, INC.
• Allegations: COMPLAINT NO. C9A980034 FILED SEPTEMBER 9, 1998 BY DISTRICT NO. 9 AGAINST RESPONDENT JOSEPH A. WATTERS ALLEGING VIOLATIONS OF NASD RULES 2110, 2120, 2310 AND 3040 IN THAT RESPONDENT WATTERS ENGAGED IN PRIVATE SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS WITHOUT GIVING PRIOR WRITTEN NOTICE TO, OR RECEIVING APPROVAL FROM, HIS MEMBER FIRM; RECOMMENDED TO A PUBLIC CUSTOMER THE PURCHASE OF SECURITIES WHEN HE DID NOT HAVE REASONABLE GROUNDS FOR BELIEVING SUCH RECOMMENDATION WAS SUITABLE FOR THE CUSTOMER ON THE BASIS OF THE CUSTOMER’S FINANCIAL SITUATION, INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, AND NEEDS; AND, MADE MISREPRESENTATIONS TO A CUSTOMER REGARDING THE SAFETY AND RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH A SECURITY AND GUARANTEED A RETURN ON THE CUSTOMER’S INVESTMENT ALTHOUGH THERE WERE NO REASONABLE BASIS FOR SUCH REPRESENTATIONS.
• Resolution: Decision & Order of Offer of Settlement
• Sanction Details :: Sanctions: Monetary/Fine
• Sanction Details :: Amount: $5,000.00 Sanctions: Censure Sanctions: Suspension
• Sanction Details: 3/29/99GS: ON MARCH 17, 1999, THE DECISION AND ORDER OF ACCEPTANCE OF OFFER OF SETTLEMENT SUBMITTED BY RESPONDENT WATTERS WAS ISSUED; THEREFORE, HE IS CENSURED, FINED $5,000, AND SUSPENDED FROM ASSOCIATION WITH ANY NASD MEMEBER IN ANY FOR THREE MONTHS THE FINE COLLECTION EFFORTS WILL BE SUSPENDED UNTIL RESPONDENT SEEKS RE-ENTRY TO THE SECURITIES INDUSTRY. PAYMENT OF THE FINE SHALL BE A PREREQUISITE FOR ANY APPLICATION FOR ASSOCIATION WITH A MEMBER FIRM. 04/27/99GK: THE SUSPENSION WILL COMMENCE WITH THE OPENING OF BUSINESS ON MAY 17, 1999, AND CONCLUDE AT THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON AUGUST 16, 1999.
• Broker Comment: SATISFIED 3 MONTH SUSPENSION IN AUGUST 1999 AND PAID FINE OF $5000 IN JULY 2000, WHICH ONLY HAD TO BE PAID IF REJOINING A MEMBER FIRM.

According to a study prepared for the FINRA Investor Education Foundation, 80 percent of American investors report that they have been solicited to participate in a fraud scheme, while 11 percent of American investors report that they personally lost money as a result of fraud.

FINRA notes that the rate of investment fraud is most likely much higher than it is reported. This is because many victims of financial advisor scams are too ashamed to come forward. Further, the study also found that a significant number of investors do not know how to spot common red flags of investment fraud. The least you should do is share your experience with other potential victims of investment scams.

Previous Associations

Under federal securities law and securities industry regulations, registered investment firms have a legal duty to supervise their financial advisors. Section 15(b)(4)(E) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 makes a securities firm liable for the conduct of representatives.

• HARVEST CAPITAL LLC (CRD#: 35723) :: 11/16/2000 – 4/2/2002 :: WETHERSFIELD, CT
• HACKETT ASSOCIATES, INC. (CRD#: 2106) :: 12/11/1997 – 1/21/1999 :: WYOMISSING, PA
• HACKETT ASSOCIATES, INC. (CRD#: 2106) :: 6/17/1991 – 6/17/1997 :: WYOMISSING, PA
• CHUBB SECURITIES CORPORATION (CRD#: 3870) :: 2/8/1990 – 6/12/1991 :: FORT WAYNE, IN
• PML SECURITIES COMPANY (CRD#: 4082) :: 9/22/1981 – 1/23/1990 :: NEWARK, DE

The duty to supervise securities representatives is a strong legal requirement. Registered investment firms must take many different steps to ensure that they are protecting their customers from irresponsible and criminal financial advisors.

Legit or Not?

Unfortunately, stockbroker fraud is more common than many investors would like to think. And yes, stockbrokers (including Joseph Anthony Watters, but not limited to)  can (and do) steal money from their clients. While it’s rare that a broker will literally steal his client’s money (though that does happen), typically the “theft” of investment funds comes in the form of other fraudulent violations of securities law and FINRA rules which leads to significant investment losses.

Investors generally understand that there are risks associated with buying and selling securities. The market can go up, and the market can go down. No matter how skilled of an investor you are, there are always risks. With that being said, sometimes investment losses cannot be blamed on simple back luck.

There are 10 major types of complaints we receive against Investment Brokers –

• Outright Theft (Conversion of Funds)
• Unauthorized Trading
• Misrepresentation or Omission of Material Facts
• Excessive Trading (Churning)
• Lack of Diversification
• Unsuitable Investment Recommendations
• Failure to Disclose a Personal Conflict of Interest
• Front Running of Transactions
• Breakpoint Sale Violations
• Negligent Portfolio Management

Do your due diligence before investing. Public records are available for everybody to review and decide on the safest bet. 

How to Protect Yourself

We, as citizens, place a great deal of trust in the financial advisors who are tasked with helping us achieve and maintain financial security. Most of the time financial advisors and stockbrokers are honest folks who work diligently in their client’s best interests. However, on occasion financial advisors and the brokerage firms who employ them mess up and cause serious financial harm to their clients. Sometimes these losses are caused by simple negligence. Other times fraud or other serious misconduct is to blame.

Here are 5 signs that your broker needs to be reported –

• Breach of Fiduciary Duty: Under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, certain investment professionals, known as registered investment advisors (RIAs), owe fiduciary obligations to their customers. Your investment broker must always look out for your best interests. If you lost money because of your broker’s breach of fiduciary duty, you may be entitled to compensation for the full value of your damages.
• Unsuitable Investments: Many financial advisors are not fiduciaries. Instead, they are held to the suitability standard. These stockbrokers and financial advisors can only sell and recommend financial products that are appropriate for a customer’s unique investment profile. If you lost money in unsuitable investments, you should consider reporting them.
• Material Misrepresentations or Omissions: Brokers have a duty to make fair and honest representations to their clients. If they fail to do so, and an investor loses money due to a misrepresentation or a material omission, the broker may be liable for the investor’s losses.
• Lack of Diversification: Brokers must also act with the appropriate level of professional skill. Pushing a customer into over-concentrated investments is highly risky. Brokers can be held liable for losses sustained because of an investor’s inappropriate lack of diversification.
• Excessive Trading (Churning): Stockbrokers and financial advisors must have a well-grounded, reasonable basis to execute all trades. Unfortunately, there are cases in which brokers will frequently trade on a customer’s account, simply to increase their own fees. This unlawful practice is known as churning.
• Unauthorized Trading: Brokers must have the proper legal authority to make transactions on behalf of a client. If you lost money because your broker made trades that you never approved of, you may have been the victim of unauthorized trading. You should consult with an experienced attorney.

Report Joseph Watters

In order to prevail in an investment fraud lawsuit or FINRA arbitration cases, you must be able to assert a viable ‘cause of action’.

Joseph Anthony Watters – and the firm that employs this broker – is regulated by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). FINRA provides an online form to allow investors to file a formal complaint against their financial advisor, stockbroker, or brokerage firm.

Click here to go to FINRA’s Online Complaint Form →

This form will ask you for specific information related to your complaint. Be prepared by gathering the following:

• Name and symbol for the investment product in question.
• The CRD number (1001336) for the broker – Joseph Anthony Watters
• Your complete contact information.

Remember, it is advised to report your broker to FINRA, only after you have exhausted all of your other remedies and carefully prepared a compelling complaint.  Once you file a complaint against your broker at FINRA, your case will be bound by FINRA’s rules and the arbitration panel’s eventual decision. The time clock will start, and your complaint will be served on your broker or broker-dealer.

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