Securities Lawyers Blog

Broker Rodrigo Arauz in Equitable Advisors, LLC Firm Has Customer Complaint

January 19, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint on November 01, 2021.

The client alleges the RR misrepresented a variable life policy sold in 2019.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Deborah Smogor in Firm Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

January 19, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint on October 27, 2021.

The Personal Representative alleges that the Financial Advisor failed to obtain the proper Transfer on Death form in order to have the accounts successfully transferred upon decedent’s death.

Broker Thomas Rauchegger in Kalos Capital, INC. Firm Has Customer Complaint

January 19, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Thomas Rauchegger (Rauchegger), previously associated with Kalos Capital, INC., has at least 4 disclosable events. These events include 4 customer complaints, alleging that Rauchegger recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a pending customer complaint on November 01, 2021.

CLAIMING UNSUITABLE INVESTMENTS IN HIGH COMMISSION, COMPLEX RISKY ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS, AND MULTIPLE ILLIQUID INVESTMENTS PRODUCTS.

Broker Ronald Yount in Copper Financial Firm Has Customer Complaint

January 19, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Ronald Yount (Yount), currently associated with Copper Financial, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Yount 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 $800,005.00 on November 01, 2021.

Client alleges RR made unsuitable recommendation to purchase a variable annuity in 2014 and to make an subsequent investment into the annuity in 2015 and also that RR made material misrepresentations and omissions regarding the annuity.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Dustin Ward in Firm Osaic Wealth, INC.

January 19, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Dustin Ward (Ward), currently associated with Osaic Wealth, INC., has at least 2 disclosable events. These events include 2 customer complaints, alleging that Ward 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 $50,000.00 on October 27, 2021.

Customer alleges representative recommended an unsuitable real estate investment trust in 2013.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Kevin Mccoy in Firm Cetera Investment Services LLC

January 19, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint on October 29, 2021.

Customer alleges unsuitable investment.

Broker Khay Sung in Asia Pacific Financial Management Group, INC. Firm Has Customer Complaint

January 19, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Khay Sung (Sung), previously associated with Asia Pacific Financial Management Group, INC., has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Sung 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 $2,200,000.00 on October 28, 2021.

Sung was a subject of a customer complaint against his member firm that asserted the following causes of action: negligence; failure to recommend suitable investments; failure to supervise broker, account, and transactions; unauthorized trading; violations of FINRA Rule 2020 and FINRA Rule 2150; breach of fiduciary duty; breach of contract; violations of the Guam Uniform Securities Act; and respondeat superior.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Christina Garland in Firm Kestra Investment Services, LLC

January 19, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint on October 29, 2021.

Customer complained that he had not authorized the sale of Exxon shares in his advisory account in April 2021, and requested restoration of the shares to his account. Activity period: 4/7/21 to 4/7/21.

Broker John Phillips in Metlife Securities INC. Firm Has Customer Complaint

January 19, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint on October 29, 2021.

The complainant alleges that in or around 2006/2007, the rep made false statements and omitted known material facts in order to intentionally deceive the complainant when the rep advised him to sell the shares that the complainant held in the company CB&B.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Maziar Monshi in Firm Ifp Securities, LLC

January 19, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Maziar Monshi (Monshi), currently associated with Ifp Securities, LLC, has at least 2 disclosable events. These events include 2 customer complaints, alleging that Monshi 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 $600,000.00 on October 28, 2021.

Claimant alleges that certain transactions executed on her behalf were not suitable or excessive and made without Claimant’s authorization. Claimant further alleges that she was asked to sign blank forms and that certain funds were misappropriated or misused by her registered representative/ spouse. Activity period: 5/2016 – 5/2019.