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Florida Powerball Winner Sues Son and Advisor Over Money MismanagementFlorida Powerball Winner Sues Son and Advisor Over Money Mismanagement

She claims her son’s advisor put her into investments that were not risky enough for the fees she was paying. In most cases of elder financial abuse, it's the other way around.

Diana Britton, Managing Editor

April 11, 2019

1 Min Read
powerball ticket
Copyright Joe Raedle, Getty Images

Gloria Mackenzie, a 90-year-old woman in Jacksonville, Fla., who had a winning Powerball ticket six years ago, filed a lawsuit against her son, Scott Mackenzie, and his financial advisor, claiming they mismanaged her money, according to the Associated Press.  

Mackenzie became Florida’s biggest Powerball winner in 2013, when she took home $278 million (after taxes). She gave her son control of her finances, and he hired Hank Madden, a fee-only advisor, co-founder of Madden Advisory Services and host of a call-in radio show, to manage her investments. Gloria claims her portfolio consisted of low-return investments, such as CDs and money market funds, while she was paying $2 million in fees. The suit alleges breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, negligence and exploitation of a vulnerable adult.

In court documents, Scott Mackenzie says his mother's claims "are based solely on allegations that Scott introduced Gloria to an investment advisor who put her in conservative investment vehicles, in accordance with her chosen investment objectives, and effectively preserved her wealth.”

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About the Author

Diana Britton

Managing Editor, WealthManagement.com

Diana Britton is the Managing Editor of WealthManagement.com, covering covering independent broker/dealers and RIAs from all angles. She's also the host of The Healthy Advisor, a podcast focused on advisor health and wellbeing. A native of Los Angeles, she now lives in Rocklin, Calif.

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