Alternative Investment

Broker Donna Timmerman in Equitable Advisors, LLC Firm Has Customer Complaint

June 13, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

Currently financial advisor Donna Timmerman (Timmerman), currently employed by brokerage firm Equitable Advisors, LLC 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 pending customer complaint with a damage request of $5,000.00 on April 29, 2026.

Client alleges unsuitability and misrepresentation by the RR in connection with REITs purchased in 2017 and 2019. Appeal received alleging the RR presented an incomplete application to the client for signature which was subsequently completed by the RR with inaccurate information.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Gary Imel in Firm Ameriprise Financial Services, INC.

June 13, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

Previously financial advisor Gary Imel (Imel), previously employed by brokerage firm Ameriprise Financial Services, 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 pending customer complaint with a damage request of $300,000.00 on April 30, 2026.

Claimant alleges that between 2010 and 2017, Respondent Imel recommended unsuitable and illiquid alternative investments, including REITs and private placement investments, while associated with Respondent Kalos Capital, Inc.

EcoVest Charitable Deduction Investments: What Investors Need to Know

June 4, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

For years, EcoVest Capital promoted investments that promised significant tax benefits through syndicated conservation easement transactions. Many investors were attracted by the opportunity to generate large charitable deductions while simultaneously participating in land conservation projects. However, those investments have become the subject of extensive scrutiny by the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Justice, and the United States Tax Court.

Today, many investors who participated in EcoVest-sponsored offerings are facing audits, penalties, interest assessments, and uncertainty regarding the tax benefits they were originally told they could expect.

What Is a Syndicated Conservation Easement?

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Sam Bhushan in Firm Cabin Securities, INC.

June 3, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

Previously financial advisor Sam Bhushan (Bhushan), previously employed by brokerage firm Cabin Securities, INC. has been subject to at least 2 disclosable events. These events include 2 customer complaints. 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 pending customer complaint with a damage request of $140,000.00 on April 07, 2026.

Bhushan was named in the customer complaint regarding a reg D private placement. The complaint against his member asserted the following causes of action, fraud, misrepresentation, omissions of material facts, unsuitable recommendations, breach of contract, and breach of fiduciary duty.

Broker Matthew Calhoun in Osaic Wealth, INC. Firm Has Customer Complaint

June 3, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

Currently financial advisor Matthew Calhoun (Calhoun), currently employed by brokerage firm Osaic Wealth, 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 pending customer complaint with a damage request of $83,000.00 on March 26, 2026.

Customer alleges that the purchase of a private placement made while the financial professional was affiliated with a prior broker-dealer in 2024 resulted in losses.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Kirsten Ylagan in Firm Cabin Securities, INC.

June 1, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

Currently financial advisor Kirsten Ylagan (Ylagan), currently employed by brokerage firm Cabin Securities, 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 pending customer complaint with a damage request of $250,000.00 on April 17, 2026.

Ylagan was subject of customer complaint regarding a reg D private placement. The complaint against the member firm asserted the following causes of action, unsuitable recommendation, misrepresentation and omission, failure of due diligence, failure to supervise.

Broker William Candler in Cabin Securities, INC. / Jcc Capital Markets, LLC Firm Has Customer Complaint

June 1, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

Currently financial advisor William Candler (Candler), currently employed by brokerage firm Cabin Securities, INC. / Jcc Capital Markets, LLC 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 pending customer complaint with a damage request of $500,000.00 on April 17, 2026.

Candler was the named respondent of customer complaint regarding a reg D private placement. The complaint against the member firm asserted the following causes of action, fraud, misrepresentation, omissions of material facts, unsuitable recommendations, breach of contract, and breach of fiduciary duty.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Mark Macarthur in Firm Ausdal Financial Partners, INC.

June 1, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

Previously financial advisor Mark Macarthur (Macarthur), previously employed by brokerage firm Ausdal Financial Partners, 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 pending customer complaint with a damage request of $500,000.00 on April 15, 2026.

Unsuitable investments and lack of supervision related to private placements purchased in 2013 by the client’s late spouse, and investments within an advisory account with the Rep’s approved outside RIA.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Kirk Pickell in Firm Janney Montgomery Scott LLC

May 29, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

Currently financial advisor Kirk Pickell (Pickell), currently employed by brokerage firm Janney Montgomery Scott LLC 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 $10,000,000.00 on November 27, 2020.

Rhode Island client complains that the fees associated with their accounts were not fully disclosed and were higher than stated between 2009 and 2020. Clients further complain that investments made in a hedge fund and an annuity were not suitable.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Peter Albano in Firm LPL Financial LLC

May 29, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

Currently financial advisor Peter Albano (Albano), currently employed by brokerage firm LPL Financial LLC 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 $60,000.00 on August 25, 2020.

Products under DDPs include non-traded REITs, oil and gas offerings, equipment leasing investments, and a range of other alternative financial instruments. With high fees and costs, these alternative investments are usually inappropriate for investors and rarely provide meaningful returns. Brokers earn additional commissions for promoting these low-quality investments, fostering a system of skewed incentives that result in an artificially sustained market.