NOTE: Stipulations of Fact and Consent to Penalty (SFC); Offers of Settlement (OS); and Letters of Acceptance Waiver, and Consent (AWC) are entered into by Respondents without admitting or denying the allegations, but consent is given to the described sanctions & to the entry of findings. Additionally, for AWCs, if FINRA has reason to believe a violation has occurred and the member or associated person does not dispute the violation, FINRA may prepare and request that the member or associated person execute a letter accepting a finding of violation, consenting to the imposition of sanctions, and agreeing to waive such member's or associated person's right to a hearing before a hearing panel, and any right of appeal to the National Adjudicatory Council, the SEC, and the courts, or to otherwise challenge the validity of the letter, if the letter is accepted. The letter shall describe the act or practice engaged in or omitted, the rule, regulation, or statutory provision violated, and the sanction or sanctions to be imposed.

Edward Howard Schrufer Jr. (Principal)
AWC/2008013198902

Schrufer made unsuitable recommendations to customers to use the accumulated equity in their homes to generate cash to invest.Schrufer’s recommendations that the customers borrow the money against their homes to invest in securities were made without reasonable grounds for believing that the recommendations were suitable based upon the financial situations and needs the customers disclosed. The customers took “cash out” mortgages and invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in securities, for which Schrufer received advisory fees and commissions of approximately $15,300. The customers disclosed to Schrufer that they lacked the funds necessary to purchase the securities Schrufer recommended without liquefying their home equity, and that they had insufficient assets and income to cover the monthly mortgage payments without the uncertain returns from the investments Schrufer recommended.

Schrufer told the customers that the investments they would make using the proceeds of their cash-out mortgages would generate enough income to make their monthly mortgage payments, even though Schrufer knew that there was a risk that the investment returns might not be sufficient to pay the mortgages over time. Schrufer’s statements to the customers that their investments would generate sufficient income to make the additional mortgage payments were misleading.

Edward Howard Schrufer Jr. (Principal): Fined $30,600 (includes $15,300 commission/fees disgorgement); Suspended 1 year

Tags: Mortgage