According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Giuseppe Pulitano (Pulitano), currently associated with Stonecrest Capital Markets, INC., has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Pulitano 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 $5,000,000.00 on June 04, 2021.
In June 2021 Citi International Financial Services, LLC (the ‘Firm’) was served for a customer-initiated FINRA arbitration, alleging the mishandling (e.g. Overconcentration) of the claimants’ account, thus ‘causing’ the customers’ ‘significant losses of capital’ and ‘damages’ in excess of $5,000,000. For that, the customers are requesting an award for damages, rescission, punitive damages, interest, costs, attorney’s fees, and such other relief the Arbitration Panel deems just and proper. The allegation period is estimated from May 2012 (the date the account was opened) to 2020. Claimants’ FINRA Submission Agreement is dated May 14, 2021.
Brokers are required to adhere to the SEC’s Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI) standard of care under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 which establishes a ‘best interest’ standard for broker-dealers and associated persons. 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. 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.
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. Reg BI was meant to enhance the duties that registered representatives have to their clients by applying fiduciary principles to transactions and investment strategies by prohibiting brokers from placing their own financial interests ahead of the best interests of their client – the investor. Reg BI comes with different key obligations that associated persons must meet in dispensing advice. The care obligation requires registered representatives to carefully evaluate investment options, review the risks and rewards of the investment or service, compare similar products, and ensure that the recommended investment is appropriate for the customer and in the retail investor’s best interest.
Next, the broker must understand the investor’s investment background and profile. A customer’s profile includes information that describes the investor’s financial situation and needs. Information here will include their outside securities accounts and investments; relevant assets and debts; tax bracket; age; liquidity needs; risk tolerance; investment time horizon; experience with investing; investment objectives; and any other relevant information that the investor may choose to disclose pertinent to their situation. The associated person must then apply both their reasonable diligence into various investment options as well as the information gathered as to the investor’s specific needs when considering the investment recommendation. The broker must explore various alternative investment options available to address these needs and determine that there is a reasonable basis to believe that the recommendation or service being recommended is in the retail 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.
Pulitano entered the securities industry in 2010. Pulitano has been registered as a Broker with Stonecrest Capital Markets, INC. 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.