| Rogues' gallery |
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Hiding in plain sight [Globe & Mail, 31Aug07] "On July 11, 2003, Ian Thow was operating at the top of his game. The gregarious mutual fund salesman seemed to have it made: A senior vice-president of Berkshire Investment Group, Thow owned a $4.6-million mansion; a fleet of cars... and a handful of private jets that could fly him and his clients to exotic destinations at a moment's notice... So it came as a major shock to many when, on Sept. 8, 2005, at 1:30 a.m., Thow fled Canada, crossing the border into the United States at Blaine, Washington, with a flourish of his U.S. birth certificate, just ahead of pursuing RCMP. Left behind were 73 former clients and friends—who claim he ripped them off for more than $32 million—and a growing pile of lawsuits."
BCSC finds fund salesman guilty of fraud [Globe and Mail, 18Oct07] "This case represents one of the most callous and audacious frauds this province has seen." Collected woes [Globe & Mail, 24Nov06] "They mesmerized their followers in the business world with their brilliance-- until a brush with the law broke the spell. What became of these fallen titans? Our investigative reporter works his way through the entire set" [including more than a few from the financial services industry.] Caveat Investor [Globe & Mail, 25Oct02] "Financial gurus like Brian Costello, Garth Turner and Jerry White say they're educating the public. Can they help it if their students fail disastrously?" So, you think your money's safe [Globe & Mail, 26Mar99] "If you've ever bought mutual funds from an independent dealer or financial planner and wondered how safe your money is, [this story] might rattle you a little."
"Dr" Jerry White [Financial Post, 12Oct96] "Dr. Jerry White says he's on a mission from God to help people who attend his seminars become financially secure. Those who've examined his record and methods wonder who's really in need of some good advice."
Watchdog finds Costello broke law [Toronto Star, 20Feb03] "Personal finance speaker Brian Costello broke securities laws by recommending investments without being registered as an adviser, Ontario's stock market regulator has ruled." Garth Turner (from CBC's Paying for Time)
Michael Holoday [Toronto Star] "Disgraced broker grew rich at his clients' expense."
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