Securities Lawyers Blog

Broker Malcolm Mckay in J.w. Cole Financial, INC. Firm Has Customer Complaint

January 16, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

Currently financial advisor Malcolm Mckay (Mckay), currently employed by brokerage firm J.w. Cole Financial, 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 settled customer complaint with a damage request of $100,000.00 on November 26, 2021.

Clients allege REITs purchased were unsutable.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Charles Bonilla in Firm Pruco Securities, LLC.

January 16, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint on November 23, 2021.

Unsuitability, misrepresentation/omissions

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Sean Kelly in Firm Center Street Securities, INC.

January 16, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Sean Kelly (Kelly), previously associated with Center Street Securities, INC., has at least 5 disclosable events. These events include 5 customer complaints, alleging that Kelly 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 $160,000.00 on November 24, 2021.

Unsuitable, misrepresentations, breach of fiduciary duty , failure to supervise

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Susan Cruz in Firm Cetera Wealth Services, LLC

January 16, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Susan Cruz (Cruz), currently associated with Cetera Wealth Services, LLC, has at least 2 disclosable events. These events include 2 customer complaints, alleging that Cruz 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 $200,000.00 on November 29, 2021.

Claimant alleges their registered representative recommended unsuitable and illiquid alternative investments.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker James Hiles in Firm Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments

January 16, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a award / judgment customer complaint with a damage request of $150,000.00 on December 02, 2021.

Client who granted written discretion asserted advisor sold shares of former employers highly volatile stock at an inopportune time. \, Advisor denies any wrongdoing and believes he acted at all times in the clients best interests and in accordance with the operative advisory agreement.

Broker Dale Norton in Independent Financial Group, LLC Firm Has Customer Complaint

January 16, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Dale Norton (Norton), previously associated with Independent Financial Group, LLC, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Norton 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 $50,000.00 on December 01, 2021.

Allege investment was not suitable and was not in line with clients’ investment objectives.

Broker Richard Braverman in Geneos Wealth Management, INC. Firm Has Customer Complaint

January 16, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Richard Braverman (Braverman), currently associated with Geneos Wealth Management, INC., has at least 3 disclosable events. These events include 3 customer complaints, alleging that Braverman 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 $200,000.00 on December 03, 2021.

Client alleges unsuitable investment recommendations in 2017 and other causes of action.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Jed Tinder in Firm Western International Securities, INC.

January 16, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Jed Tinder (Tinder), previously associated with Western International Securities, INC., has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Tinder 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 $5,000.00 on December 01, 2021.

Unsuitability

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

January 16, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Scott Palmer (Palmer), previously associated with Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, has at least 2 disclosable events. These events include 2 customer complaints, alleging that Palmer recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint on November 29, 2021.

Client made a verbal complaint that the Financial Advisor made unsuitable investments in the client’s accounts that resulted in substantial losses. Allegation Time Period August 2010 to May 2017.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Donald Kowalsky in Firm Cambridge Investment Research, INC.

January 16, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a pending customer complaint with a damage request of $52,000.00 on December 03, 2021.

The Statement of Claim alleges the financial professional made unsuitable recommendations of illiquid and risky REITS.