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According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Christopher Chancellor (Chancellor), currently associated with Newbridge Securities Corporation, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Chancellor recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint with a damage request of $125,000.00 on July 01, 2021.

Respondents made unsuitable recommendations to Claimant.

Previously financial advisor Ashley Bolson (Bolson), previously employed by brokerage firm Cfd Investments, INC. has been subject to at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint. According to a BrokerCheck reports most of the recent customer complaints concern either corporate debt securities or alternative investments such as direct participation products (DPPs) like business development companies (BDCs), non-traded real estate investment trusts (REITs), oil & gas programs, annuities, and private placements.  The attorneys at Gana Weinstein LLP have represented hundreds of investors who suffered losses caused by these types of high risk, low reward products.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint with a damage request of $2,658,320.00 on June 29, 2021.

The complaint alleges several activities in relation to the sale of private placement investments that were sold away from CFD Investments, Inc. The allegations include the following:  Fraud and non-disclosure, Negligent Misrepresentation, Breach of Fiduciary Duty; Negligence, Breach of Contract; Failure to Supervise/Respondeat Superior; and Violations of the Iowa Securities Act.

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker John Simpson (Simpson), previously associated with J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Simpson recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint with a damage request of $130,000.00 on July 01, 2021.

Clients alleges that alternative investments were misrepresented.

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Sean Westbrook (Westbrook), currently associated with Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Westbrook recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint with a damage request of $100,000.00 on July 01, 2021.

Claimant alleges the representative recommended alternative investments that were unsuitable.

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Tara Ellis (Ellis), currently associated with Nylife Securities LLC, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Ellis recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint with a damage request of $34,106.55 on July 02, 2021.

Regarding the 1035 exchange of two variable universal life insurance policies in April and May of 2021, respectively, the customer subsequently advised the RR that he was concerned and uncomfortable with the surrender charges assessed on the variable universal life policies from the other carrier since the RR advised him this should be resolved.

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Kalle Ruga (Ruga), currently associated with Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC, has at least 2 disclosable events. These events include 2 customer complaints, alleging that Ruga recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a award / judgment customer complaint with a damage request of $20,971.43 on June 29, 2021.

Ruga was a subject of the customer’s complaint against his member firm that asserted the following causes of action: breach of fiduciary duty; unsuitable hold recommendations; negligent misrepresentation; misrepresented nature of investment; failure to supervise; and respondeat superior.

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Michael Carter (Carter), previously associated with Morgan Stanley, has at least 4 disclosable events. These events include one customer complaint, 3 regulatory events, alleging that Carter recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on July 02, 2021.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (‘Commission’) deems it appropriate and in the public interest that public administrative proceedings be, and hereby are, instituted pursuant to Section 15(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (‘Exchange Act’) and Section 203(f) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (‘Advisers Act’) against Michael Barry Carter (‘Carter’ or ‘Respondent’). The Commission finds that Carter was employed by Financial Institution A as an investment adviser representative and registered representative in McLean, VA from August 2006 until April 2011 and again from November 2011 until he was terminated in July 2019 in connection with the conduct described herein. Financial Institution A is an investment adviser and broker dealer registered with the Commission. Carter, 46 years old, is a resident of Knoxville, Tennessee. On June 30, 2021, a final judgment was entered by consent against Carter, permanently enjoining him from future violations of Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, and Sections 206(1) and 206(2) of the Advisers Act, in the civil action entitled Securities and Exchange Commission v. Michael Barry Carter, Civil Action Number 20-cv-2112, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. The Commission’s complaint alleged that from approximately October 2007 through May 2019, Carter misappropriated approximately $6 million from brokerage customers and an elderly investment advisory client while he served as their financial advisor at Financial Institution A. The complaint alleged that Carter carried out his scheme by falsifying internal forms to effect approximately 60 unauthorized cash wire transfers from the customers’ and client’s accounts to his personal bank account at another financial institution. On July 20, 2020, Carter pled guilty to Wire Fraud and Investment Advisers Fraud before the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, in United States v. Michael Barry Carter, Crim. No. 20-cr-151. On March 29, 2021, a judgment in the criminal case was entered against Carter. He was sentenced to a prison term of 60 months followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to make restitution in the amount of $4,355,110.39. The counts of the criminal information to which Carter pled guilty alleged, inter alia, that Carter misappropriated over $6 million from customers and clients while he served as their financial advisor, by effecting numerous unauthorized transactions from their accounts

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Harold Martek (Martek), previously associated with Centaurus Financial, INC., has at least 2 disclosable events. These events include 2 customer complaints, alleging that Martek recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint with a damage request of $150,000.00 on June 30, 2021.

The customers allege that the Registered Representative over concentrated the customer’s account(s) in unsuitable and illiquid investments. No dates are provided within the Statement of Claim.

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker James Lamont (Lamont), previously associated with Whitehall-parker Securities, INC., has at least 4 disclosable events. These events include 3 customer complaints, one regulatory event, alleging that Lamont recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a pending customer complaint with a damage request of $100,000.01 on June 30, 2021.

Unsuitability of investments recommended.

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Nathan Tritico (Tritico), previously associated with Cambridge Investment Research, INC., has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Tritico recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint with a damage request of $20,667.00 on June 30, 2021.

Client alleges RR recommended a surrender of two annuities that resulted in penalties and tax consequences that she was unaware of until after the surrender was completed.

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