Matthew Howley

Broker Profile

Matthew Martin Howley is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, Bank of America Corporation, where he provides financial planning and other investment advice. According to his online profile, "Matthew Howley works with high-net-worth individuals, families and institutions, helping them advance their wealth management goals. He began his career as a financial advisor in 2008 with Morgan Stanley before joining Merrill Lynch. As a financial advisor Matthew focuses on wealth management, tax minimization and estate planning strategies for affluent clients. He also works with corporate officers, devising liquidity and diversification strategies for concentrated positions." 

Misconduct

According to his CRD, Howley was terminated in 2014 by Morgan Stanley for “Concerns regarding representative’s approach to working collaboratively and fairly with other firm representatives”. Apparently, Morgan Stanley discovered Howley had engaged in unethical conduct by trying to poach other clients from fellow advisors at Morgan Stanley.

Howley’s CRD report also lists three incidents of personal financial irresponsibility and financial distress, including a 2007 Bankruptcy and two San Bernardino County tax liens in 2008.

Current Investigation

Our firm is currently investigating claims against Matt M. Howley (CRD#5493709), Merrill Lynch and his former firm Morgan Stanley related to the sale of Master Limited Partnership ("MLP") investments, Oil & Gas investments, energy sector investments and other unsuitable investment recommendations. Other customer complaints include allegations of breach of fiduciary duty, misrepresentations, omissions of material facts, conflict of interests, violations of state and federal securities laws, along with other broker misconduct. Mr. Howley denies all allegations of wrongdoing.

If you lost a substantial portion of your retirement savings or other assets as a result of investments purchased through Matt M. Howley, Merrill Lynch or Morgan Stanley, please contact us immediately. Time is of the essence in these claims. The sooner you act, the greater your chances of recovering your investment losses. Don't wait. Contact us today for a Free Case Evaluation. We will tell you if you have a viable claim worth pursuing.

Corporate Profile

Merrill Lynch Wealth Management is a wealth management division of Bank of America. The firm is headquartered in New York City, and occupies the entire 34 stories of 250 Vesey Street, part of the Brookfield Place complex, in Manhattan. Merrill Lynch employs over 15,000 financial advisors and manages $2.2 trillion in client assets.

The firm has its origins in Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., which, prior to 2009, was publicly owned and traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol MER. Merrill Lynch & Co., agreed to be acquired by Bank of America on September 14, 2008, at the height of the 2008 Financial Crisis. The acquisition was completed in January 2009, and Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., was merged into Bank of America Corporation in October 2013, although certain Bank of America subsidiaries continue to carry the Merrill Lynch name, including the broker-dealer Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith ("Merrill Lynch").

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith is a securities brokerage firm which is licensed by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA"). Firms licensed through FINRA, formerly the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), must comply with securities regulations and federal and state securities laws. When these firms violate regulations or laws, they can face actions by regulators, federal or state criminal prosecutors, or private actions by individual and institutional investors.

Investors Have the Right to Recover Their Losses

Because Merrill Lynch is licensed by FINRA, they are subject to the laws that FINRA enforces. Merrill Lynch is responsible for ensuring that their brokers are trading fairly, ethically and in the best interest of their clients. Ideally, they would accomplish this through careful supervision. Unfortunately, too often this supervision has been inadequate to fully protect investors. If a representative from Merrill Lynch loses your assets through negligence or fraud, it immediately puts Merrill Lynch at fault for failing to supervise their broker. FINRA law then dictates that you can hold the firm legally liable to recover your damages.

How FLG can help

Our law firm represents institutional and individual investors nationwide who have lost a substantial portion of their retirement savings or other assets. We represent securities investors in their disputes with their investment advisers or brokerage firms, such as Merrill Lynch. Our attorneys have successfully represented hundreds of investors in broker dispute cases against large and small investment firms. We also have extensive experience working on the opposite side, defending the brokerage firms and financial advisers. We now use our knowledge of how the other side operates to get the best possible results for our clients.

Each lawyer and staff member of our firm is devoted to assisting investors to recover losses caused by fraud, misrepresentation, omissions of material facts, breach of fiduciary duty, conflicts of interest, self-dealing, unauthorized trades, selling away, unsuitability, over-concentration,  or other wrongful acts, whether intentional or negligent. Whether in state or federal court, or in arbitration proceedings in FINRA or the American Arbitration Association ("AAA"), Furgison Law Group helps investors recover their investment losses.

Don't let firms like Merrill Lynch get away with loosing your hard earned money. Contact us today for a Free Case Evaluation. We will tell you if you have a case worth pursuing.

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