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Financial Advisor Joseph Hanson Suspended by FINRA

Joseph Hanson (CRD#: 5109237) was a registered broker and investment advisor.

Broker’s Background

He entered the securities industry in 2006. He previously worked for the O.N Equity Sales Company; Metlife Securities Inc.; and Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.

Allegations of Misconduct

According to publicly available records released by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), in November 2023, without admitting or denying the findings, Hanson consented to the sanctions and to the entry of findings that he willfully failed to amend his Form U4 to disclose that he had been charged with sixteen felonies. The findings stated that Hanson was arrested in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Subsequently, a grand jury returned an indictment charging Hanson with the felonies and then he was arraigned, all while he was associated with his member firm. Although Hanson was aware that he had been charged with these felonies, he never amended his Form U4 to disclose the felony charges and never disclosed the felony charges to the firm. Later, the firm discovered that Hanson had been charged with multiple felonies and discharged Hanson.

As a result, Hanson was sanctioned with an eight-month suspension and $5,000 in civil and administrative penalties/fines.

In addition, Joseph Hanson has been the subject of several other disclosures, which include the following:

  • November 2022— “Criminal Charges: INDECENT ACT W/CHILD CUSTODIAN; SODOMY; SX-OBJ:VIC; AGG SEX BATTERY;ATTEMPT RAPE; ABUSE CHILD, DISREGARD LIFE; STRANGLE: WOUND/INJURY RESULTS.”
  • February 2012—“REGISTERED REPRESENTATIVE RESIGNED WHILE UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR SELLING VARIABLE ANNUITIES OUTSIDE OF THE FIRM IN VIOLATION OF FIRM POLICY.”
  • May 2008—“CUSTOMER ALLEGES THAT WHEN SHE PURCHASED A VARIABLE ANNUITY IN MAY 2007 THE REPRESENTATIVE OMITTED IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT WOULD HAVE INFLUENCED HER DECISION TO TRANSFER HER ASSETS. NO SPECIFIC COMPENSATORY DAMAGES WERE ALLEGED. The customer dispute was settled for $12,269.
  • November 2006—“CLIENT ALLEGES THAT HE WAS MISLED INTO PURCHASING TWO VARIABLE ANNUITY CONTRACTS IN JUNE OF 2006.” The customer dispute was denied.

For a copy of Joseph Hansons FINRA BrokerCheck, click here.

 

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Attorney Matthew WolperMatt Wolper is a trial lawyer who focuses exclusively on securities litigation and arbitration. Mr. Wolper has handled hundreds of securities matters nationwide before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), American Arbitration Association (“AAA”), JAMS, and in state and federal court. Mr. Wolper has handled and tried cases involving complex financial products and strategies ranging from traditional stocks and bonds to options, margin and other securities-based lending products, closed/open-end mutual funds, structured products, hedge funds, and penny stocks. [Attorney Bio]