According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker John Ledesma (Ledesma), currently associated with Emerson Equity LLC, has at least 3 disclosable events. These events include 3 customer complaints, alleging that Ledesma recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.
FINRA BrokerCheck shows a pending customer complaint on November 12, 2025.
Violation of Federal Securities Laws; Violations of the California Securities Act; Violation of Ohio Securities Act; Breach of Contract; Common Law Fraud; Breach of Fiduciary Duty; Negligence and Gross Negligence 03/2023
FINRA BrokerCheck shows a pending customer complaint on October 27, 2025.
Violations of Federal Securities Laws; Violations of the California Securities Act; Violations of the New Jersey Uniform Securities Law; Breach of Contract; Common Law Fraud; Breach of Fiduciary Duty; Negligence and Gross Negligence 03/2022
FINRA BrokerCheck shows a pending customer complaint on October 21, 2025.
Violation of Federal Securities Laws; Violations of the California Securities Act; Violation of the Pennsylvania Securities Laws; Violation of the Pennsylvania Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law; Breach of Contract; Common Law Fraud; Breach of Fiduciary Duty; Negligence and Gross Negligence. Trades placed between 2022 and 2023
In the financial industry advisors must meet the requirements of the SEC’s Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI) in providing investment advice and services. Reg BI established a ‘best interest’ standard for brokerage firms and registered representatives. 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 a registered representative is providing investment advice through making recommendations customers and covers securities transaction, investment strategies, and recommendations concerning advice on opening of an account or accounts.
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. 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.
The care obligation also requires the broker to address the client’s specific needs through obtaining specific investment profile information on the client. The associated person typically will ask the customer for information such as the investor’s risk tolerance or ability to withstand account value declines or increases; experience with investments available; investment objectives and goals; investment time horizon; liquidity needs; assets such as investment accounts held at other financial institutions; tax information; their age and retirement plans; and other information that a customer may want to provide to the advisor to help them to properly address the services needed. Using the foregoing information, the associated person then must consider reasonably available investment option to accomplish the investor’s goals as well as alternative investment options that may be cheaper or other important qualities. Finally, the advisor must conclude that there is a reasonable basis to believe that the recommendation being provided is in the investor’s best interest. In addition to specific investments being recommended, under Reg BI, a broker must also understand the type of account that their client would need in order to meet their care obligations. The SEC has stated that the type of securities account an investor has can greatly affect a customers’ costs and overall investment returns. Further, different account types can offer and support different features, products, securities, or services, and account type would not be appropriately applied in a one size fits all manner.
Ledesma entered the securities industry in 1993. Ledesma has been registered as a Broker with Emerson Equity LLC since 2021.
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.