According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Alan Douglass (Douglass), currently associated with Osaic Wealth, INC., has at least 3 disclosable events. These events include 3 customer complaints, alleging that Douglass 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 $500,000.00 on September 27, 2021.
From the period of 2012 -9/27/2021, Claimant alleges his account was overconcentrated in alternative investments.
FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint with a damage request of $100,000.00 on July 23, 2021.
THE CUSTOMER ALLEGES THE REPRESENTATIVE MADE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ALLEGEDLY WERE NOT IN KEEPING WITH HIS NEEDS AND OBJECTIVES, AND THAT HE HAS ALLEGEDLY INCURRED INVESTMENT LOSSES.
FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint on March 09, 2021.
Claimant alleges unsuitability of alternative investments that caused financial harm from January 1/2014 to 12/31/2014. The allegations include violations of\, FINRA rules, negligence, misrepresentations and omissions and breach of fiduciary duty.
Financial Advisors providing advice to retail investors are required to adhere to the SEC’s Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI). Reg BI applies a ‘best interest’ standard for broker-dealers and their associated people. This standard applies when brokers make recommendations to retail customer for any securities transaction or investment strategy involving securities, including recommendations of types of accounts. This standard applies when brokers make recommendations to retail customer for any securities transaction or investment strategy involving securities, including recommendations of types of accounts.
Another aspect of the care obligation is focusing on the client’s specific needs which brokers must reasonably understand through obtaining information for the client’s investment profile. In completing a customer’s investment profile the advisor should include information such as the investor’s investment time horizon; liquidity needs; risk tolerance; experience with various investment vehicles; investment objectives and financial goals; assets and debts including outside investment accounts; marital status; tax information; age; and other relevant information that may be individual to the investor that the advisor would need to know to properly render advice or provide services. The Reg BI rule applies a fiduciary principles and requires an associated person to act in the retail investor’s “best interests” while barring the broker from placing their own financial interests and compensation incentives ahead of the investor’s best interest. There are different sub-parts of the Reg BI rule that financial professionals must comply with when providing advice. Among those is the duty of care obligation that mandates associated persons to evaluate investment options, review and be knowledgeable the risks and rewards of the investment or service, compare alternative investment products, and ensure that the overall investment strategy aligns with the client’s goals and is in their best interests.
Next, the advisor must have a reasonable understanding of the specific retail investor’s investment profile. The customer’s profile information generally includes an investor’s financial situation and needs; investments; assets and debts; marital status; tax status; age; investment time horizon; liquidity needs; risk tolerance; investment experience; investment objectives and financial goals; and any other information the retail investor may disclose in connection with the recommendation or advice. Finally, the financial advisor must use their knowledge of both their reasonable diligence into investment options as well as their knowledge of the investor’s client specific needs to consider reasonably available investment options. Those investment options must allow the broker to determine that there is a reasonable basis that the recommendation is in the retail investor’s best interest. An advisor must understand the type of account, securities, and their client in order to meet their care obligations. The type of securities account has the potential to greatly affect retail customers’ costs and investment returns. Different types of securities accounts can offer different features, products, or services, and not all types of accounts or services would be in every investor’s best interest.
Douglass entered the securities industry in 1987. Douglass has been registered as a Broker with Osaic Wealth, INC. since 2024.
Investors who have suffered losses are encouraged to contact us at (800) 810-4262 for consultation. At Gana Weinstein LLP, our attorneys are experienced representing investors who have suffered securities losses due to the mishandling of their accounts. Claims may be brought in securities arbitration before FINRA. Our consultations are free of charge and the firm is only compensated if you recover.