Former Morgan Stanley Advisor Michael Ralby Barred by Securities Regulator and Subject to Complaints

shutterstock_57938968-200x300According to BrokerCheck records former financial advisor Michael Ralby (Ralby), formerly employed by Morgan Stanley has been subject to eight customer complaints and one regulatory matter in his career.  According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), many of the complaints against Ralby concern allegations of unsuitable investments.

In March 2018, Ralby entered into a consent agreement with FINRA where Ralby consented to the sanction and to the entry of findings that he refused to appear for a FINRA on-the-record testimony for the regulator’s investigation into whether Ralby had accepted loans from a customer in violation of FINRA rules.

In July 2018, a customer filed a complaint alleging that Ralby engaged in unsuitable investments in structured products from March 2016 until August 2016.  The client alleged $37,170 in damages and the case was resolved.

Brokers are required under the securities laws to treat their clients fairly.  This obligation includes the duties to disclose material risks of the investments they recommend and to present products, particularly complex or confusing products, in a fair and balanced manner that allows the client to evaluate the recommendation.  Another important obligation advisors have is to make only suitable recommendations for investments to the client.  There are many investments that are not appropriate for the majority of investors or for certain investors given their risk tolerance, age, and other factors.  Advisors should not present these investment options to clients.  There are two screens that advisors must employ to determine whether an investment is suitable for a client.  First, there must be a reasonable basis for the recommendation – meaning that the product has been investigated and due diligence conducted into the investment’s features, benefits, risks, and other relevant factors.  The advisor must conclude that the investment is suitable for at least some investors and some securities may be suitable for no one.  Second, the broker then must match the investment as being appropriate for the customer’s specific investment needs and objectives such as the client’s retirement status, long or short term goals, age, disability, income needs, or any other relevant factor.

According to newsources, a study revealed that 7.3% of financial advisors had a customer complaint on their record when records from 2005 to 2015 were examined.  Brokers must publicly disclose reportable events on their BrokerCheck reports that include customer complaints, IRS tax liens, judgments, investigations, terminations, and criminal cases.  In addition, research has show a disturbing pattern with troublesome brokers where brokers with high numbers of customer complaints are not kicked out of the industry but instead these brokers are sifted to lower quality brokerage firms with loose hiring practices and higher rates of customer complaints.  These lower quality firms may average brokers with five times as many complaints as the industry average.

Ralby entered the securities industry in 1984.  From March 2009 until July 2013 Ralby was associated with Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.  From July 2013 until January 2018 Ralby was registered with Moegan Stanley out of the firm’s Boca Raton, Florida office location.

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.

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