Articles Posted in Reg BI

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint on August 12, 2021.

Customer Alleges that the rep did not fully disclose all the facts regarding surrender charges and improper application handling.

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Mark Feliciano (Feliciano), currently associated with Bankers Life Securities, INC., has at least 2 disclosable events. These events include 2 customer complaints, alleging that Feliciano recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint on August 10, 2021.

In a written complaint, dated March 11, 2021, addressed to Bankers Life and Casualty Company (BLC) an affiliated insurance company, clients expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of the Bonus Indexed Annuities (PBIAs) purchased from BLC in November of 2019. BLC denied the complaint based on the performance of the PBIAs as consistent with the client’s allocation decisions. On August 10, 2021, clients requested reconsideration of BLC’s determination. BLC determined to settle with the clients for $25,000, although the annuities were suitable at the time they were sold. The financial representative did not contribute nor was he asked to contribute to the settlement with this complainant. The complainants previously filed a separate complaint as to this financial representative involving different issues, but as the settlement was over $15,000 required a separate disclosable filing. While the annuities sold to the clients are not securities and were sold by BLC, the Firm is reporting this complaint because the source of funding for the BLC annuities recommended by a financial representative of the Firm.

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Daryle Coppedge (Coppedge), currently associated with Edward Jones, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Coppedge 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 $18,000.00 on August 10, 2021.

The client alleges his financial advisor advised him improperly in October 2020 which resulted in him owing $18,000 in taxes.

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Primo Bushati (Bushati), currently associated with Bankers Life Securities, INC., has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Bushati 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 $179,000.00 on August 11, 2021.

The Firm received a letter, dated August 5, 2021, from an attorney representing clients of the Firm, addressed to Bankers Life and Casualty Company (BLC), an insurance company affiliate of the Firm and the Florida Department of Financial Services. The letter was sent in response to BLC’s disposition of a previous complaint in which BLC found the clients’ allegations to be without merit and denied the clients’ request for reimbursement and cancellation of annuities purchased from BLC. The August 5th letter reiterates prior allegations and includes new allegations that a Financial Representative (FR) of the Firm used a withdrawal request, previously signed by the client, in order to process another withdrawal from the client’s BLC fixed annuity, requested later the same year. The letter does not allege that the FR used the previously signed form in order to cause any harm to the client. The FR acknowledged his use of a previously-signed form in order to process the withdrawal request, but claimed he did so in order to satisfy an urgent need of the client for funds at a time when the client was inaccessible due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the client residing in a nursing home. BLC settled the complaint by releasing the clients from their annuities with a return of principal and waiver of $96,960 in surrender fees. Allegation Activity Date From December 1, 2019. Allegation Activity Date To August 11, 2021.

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Jack Michaletz (Michaletz), currently associated with Dai Securities, LLC, has at least 2 disclosable events. These events include 2 customer complaints, alleging that Michaletz 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 $70,000.00 on August 10, 2021.

Claimant alleges the representative recommended an investment that was unsuitable.

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Nicholas Kraiko (Kraiko), previously associated with National Securities Corporation, has at least 2 disclosable events. These events include one customer complaint, one regulatory event, alleging that Kraiko recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on August 11, 2021.

Respondent Kraiko failed to respond to FINRA requests for information.

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Troy Wada (Wada), currently associated with Dfpg Investments, LLC, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Wada 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 $180,000.00 on August 05, 2021.

Claimants allege the representative recommended investments that were unsuitable.

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Carmine Berardi (Berardi), previously associated with First Standard Financial Company LLC, has at least 2 disclosable events. These events include one customer complaint, one regulatory event, alleging that Berardi recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on August 10, 2021.

Respondent Berardi failed to comply with an arbitration award or settlement agreement or to satisfactorily respond to a FINRA request to provide information concerning the status of compliance.

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker James Szeszulski (Szeszulski), currently associated with Money Concepts Capital CORP, has at least 2 disclosable events. These events include 2 customer complaints, alleging that Szeszulski 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 $52,000.00 on August 09, 2021.

The customer alleges unsuitable recommendations in violation of FINRA Rule 2111, Material misrepresentations and omissions in violation of Federal Law, Kentucky Blue Sky Laws and FINRA Rule 2020, and Violation of Fiduciary Duty. Based on the information available, the firm feels the investment was suitable for the customer’s financial profile. The firm and Financial Professional intend to vigorously defend themselves in this matter.

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint on August 09, 2021.

Claimant alleges suitability, fraud, breach of contract, negligent supervision breach of contract, and negligence related to purchase of alternative investment

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