Articles Posted in Reg BI

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker William Baffuto (Baffuto), currently associated with Equitable Advisors, LLC, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Baffuto 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 $15,412.00 on April 20, 2022.

When your financial advisor is providing advice they must adhere to the SEC’s Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI) rule and standard of care.  Reg BI replaced the former “suitability” rule and created a ‘best interest’ standard for brokerage firms and registered representatives. This Reg BI standard of care applies to registered representatives making recommendations to customers in the purchase, sale, or exchange of securities or the implementation of investment strategies involving securities and non-securities. The rule also applies to the handling of opening accounts such as account transfers and types of accounts being recommended to be opened. 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.

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker John Zaffarano (Zaffarano), currently associated with Newbridge Securities Corporation, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Zaffarano 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 $185,000.00 on April 21, 2022.

Negligence, Breach of Fiduciary Duty, Breach of Contract, Negligent Supervision, Violation of Securities Laws, and Fraud.

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint on April 22, 2022.

Claimant alleges that Financial Advisor (FA) recommended an annuity exchange which was unsuitable for Claimant.

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Patrick Cross (Cross), currently associated with Edward Jones, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Cross 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 $8,993.00 on April 14, 2022.

The client alleges the financial advisor placed unauthorized trades resulting in capital gain taxes and the inability for the client to continue using a loss carryforward in consequent years.

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint on April 20, 2022.

Customer alleged the product was misrepresented to them as it having a liquidity feature. Upon review, it was determined the liquidity feature was selected but was not offered with the product. Not Securities Related

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Martin Mcfarlin (Mcfarlin), currently associated with Arkadios Capital, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Mcfarlin 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 $999,999.00 on April 21, 2022.

Fraud, negligence, negligent Supervision, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, third party breach of contract

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint on April 15, 2022.

Customer complained that the financial advisor advised him there would be no tax consequences associated with the surrender of his annuity; however, the a portion of the transaction was a taxable event. (4/15/2022)

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Laurie Aromando (Aromando), currently associated with MML Investors Services, LLC, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Aromando 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 $113,195.00 on April 21, 2022.

The complainant alleges that in 2021, when looking for an investment to roll his retirement funds into that would allow him to defer the tax liability, the rep recommended a Roth annuity fund, which the complainant alleges the rep told him would provide tax deferral for this rollover. The complainant states that he has since learned that the taxes aren’t deferred and that he now has a sizable tax liability, which has created a large financial burden for him.

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Frances Stickel (Stickel), previously associated with Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Stickel 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 $75,000.00 on April 19, 2022.

Claimants alleges– Negligence, Breach of Fiduciary Duty, Breach of Contract, Negligent Supervision, Violation of Securities Laws, and Fraud.

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Delio Londono (Londono), previously associated with Sagepoint Financial, INC., has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Londono 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 $250,000.00 on April 14, 2022.

Claimant alleges that certain unnamed REITS  and “direct participation programs were recommended to the client that were not in keeping with her investment objectives and needs, and that the risks and other characteristics of the investments were not fully explained.

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