Securities Lawyers Blog

Broker Anthony Didonna in Equitable Advisors, LLC Firm Has Customer Complaint

January 15, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on December 14, 2021.

Respondent DiDonna failed to respond to FINRA requests for information.

Broker Tarek Mohamed in Bankers Life Securities, INC. Firm Has Customer Complaint

January 15, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Tarek Mohamed (Mohamed), previously associated with Bankers Life Securities, INC., has at least 3 disclosable events. These events include one customer complaint, 2 regulatory events, alleging that Mohamed recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on December 29, 2021.

Mohamed was named a respondent in a FINRA complaint alleging that he failed to provide information and documents requested by FINRA during its investigation into the circumstances of his termination from his member firm. The complaint alleges that the firm filed a Form U5 disclosing that it terminated Mohamed for violating standard of conduct rules and firm policies related to his failure to disclose, and solicitation of investments in, an outside business activity. The Form U5 also disclosed a complaint filed on behalf of Mohamed\\u2019s client, alleging that he took $46,000 in client funds and deposited them into an account in the name of Mohamed\\u2019s company. The funds were delivered by the client in the form of two personal checks written to the company. Later the firm filed an amendment to the Form U5 disclosing that a second complaint was filed on behalf of Mohamed\\u2019s same client, alleging that he did not act in the client\\u2019s best interest when he sold financial products to the client. Later, the firm disclosed that it had settled the complaints by refunding $46,000 to the client and granting other relief. In response to FINRA\\u2019s request, Mohamed provided FINRA with a partial response from his email account. In a written statement, Mohamed admitted that he deposited $46,000 in client funds into his business account but asserted that he returned the funds in cash to the 78-year-old client (less a commission) to help the client. Mohamed provided a single company bank statement that showed the first deposit of $31,000 and a subsequent $29,000 cash withdrawal. However, Mohamed did not provide any other information or bank statements for any personal or business bank accounts, brokerage statements, or any business or personal tax returns that had been requested by FINRA. Mohamed later emailed another partial response. Specifically, Mohamed provided a narrative response to some questions posed by FINRA but that response was incomplete because Mohamed still did not provide any other information or bank statements for any personal or business bank accounts, brokerage statements, or any business or personal tax returns. Mohamed emailed a third partial response providing responsive company bank statements. One company statement showed deposit of the client\\u2019s $15,000 check without a corresponding large cash withdrawal. Subsequently, FINRA sent Mohamed a notice informing him that he was suspended from associating with any FINRA member and warning him that he would be automatically barred if he did not request termination of the suspension on grounds of full compliance. To date, Mohamed has not fully complied with FINRA\\u2019s requests and as a result he is currently suspended from associating in any capacity with any FINRA member. \, \,

Broker Jimmy Nunez in Allstate Financial Services, LLC Firm Has Customer Complaint

January 15, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on January 28, 2022.

Without admitting or denying the findings, Nunez consented to the sanctions and to the entry of findings that he forged a customer\\u2019s signature and initials on a variable annuity application and related new account documents. The findings stated that Nunez did not obtain the customer\\u2019s permission to sign her name or to initial any documents for her. Nunez also falsified the documents by placing a date on them that was later than the date on which they were signed and initialed. Nunez then submitted the documents to his member firm. By forging and falsifying the documents, Nunez caused his firm\\u2019s books and records to be inaccurate. The findings also stated that when FINRA investigated Nunez\\u2019s conduct, he provided false written statements and testimony in response to requests issued by FINRA. Nunez subsequently recanted his false statements.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Jeffrey Anderson in Firm Pruco Securities, LLC.

January 15, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Jeffrey Anderson (Anderson), previously associated with Pruco Securities, LLC., has at least 6 disclosable events. These events include 4 customer complaints, 2 regulatory events, alleging that Anderson recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on January 27, 2022.

Section 8.E(1)(j) of the Illinois Securities Law of 1953 [815 ILCS 5] (“the Act”) provides, inter alia, that the registration of a salesperson May be denied, suspended or revoked if the Secretary of State finds that the salesperson has had membership or association with any self-regulatory organization registered under the Federal 1934 Act or the Federal 1974 Act suspended, revoked, refused, expelled, cancelled, barred, limited in any capacity, or otherwise adversely affected in a similar manner arising from any fraudulent or deceptive act or a practice in violation of any rule, regulation or standard duly promulgated by the self-regulatory organization

Broker David Mirolli in Kalos Capital, INC. Firm Has Customer Complaint

January 15, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker David Mirolli (Mirolli), previously associated with Kalos Capital, INC., has at least 4 disclosable events. These events include 4 customer complaints, alleging that Mirolli 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 December 06, 2021.

CLAIMANT ALLEGES THAT TRIAD, THROUGH THE REPRESENTATIVE, RECOMMENDED AN INVESTMENT THAT WAS NOT IN KEEPING WITH THE CLIENT’S OBJECTIVES, AND THAT THE REVIEW OF THE PRODUCT AND DISCLOSURES TO THE CLIENT WERE NOT ADEQUATE.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker David Hixon in Firm Morgan Stanley

January 15, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on December 14, 2021.

Respondent Hixon failed to respond to FINRA requests for information.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker John Lopinto in Firm Worden Capital Management LLC

January 15, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker John Lopinto (Lopinto), previously associated with Worden Capital Management LLC, has at least 3 disclosable events. These events include one customer complaint, 2 regulatory events, alleging that Lopinto recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on January 10, 2022.

Without admitting or denying the findings, LoPinto consented to the sanctions and to the entry of findings that he excessively traded customers’ accounts. The findings stated that LoPinto engaged in quantitatively unsuitable trading in customer accounts. LoPinto recommended high frequency trading and his customers routinely followed his recommendations and, as a result, LoPinto exercised de facto control over the customer’s accounts. LoPinto’s trading was excessive and unsuitable given the customers’ investment profiles. As a result of LoPinto’s excessive trading, the customers suffered collective realized losses of $240,331 while paying total trading costs of $205,523, including commissions of $161,706. The findings also stated that LoPinto exercised discretion to effect trades in a customer’s account without prior written authorization. LoPinto charged the customer a total of $21,632 in commissions to place the trades. The customer did not provide written authorization for LoPinto to exercise discretion in the account and LoPinto’s member firm did not accept the account as a discretionary account.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Howell Ferguson in Firm LPL Financial LLC

January 15, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on February 08, 2022.

Without admitting or denying the findings, Ferguson consented to the sanctions and to the entry of findings that he forged documents by signing a customer\\u2019s name without the customer\\u2019s prior permission. The findings stated that the forms were to request required minimum distributions from annuities and Ferguson caused those forms to be submitted to the annuity companies. The findings also stated that after FINRA initiated an investigation of Ferguson\\u2019s conduct, he falsely denied signing the customer\\u2019s name in response to FINRA\\u2019s request for information. Subsequently, after FINRA obtained Ferguson\\u2019s emails about the forms, and requested information from him about those emails, Ferguson recanted his false statements and admitted that he had signed the customer\\u2019s name without permission.

Broker Timothy Flynn in Trident Partners Ltd. Firm Has Customer Complaint

January 15, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Timothy Flynn (Flynn), previously associated with Trident Partners Ltd., has at least 3 disclosable events. These events include 2 customer complaints, one regulatory event, alleging that Flynn recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on December 23, 2021.

Respondent Flynn 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.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker William Athas in Firm Sw Financial

January 15, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

According to BrokerCheck records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) broker William Athas (Athas), previously associated with Sw Financial, has been subject to at least 2 disclosable events. These events include one customer complaint, one regulatory event. Several of those complaints against Athas concern allegations of high frequency trading activity also referred to as churning or excessive trading among other securities laws violations.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on January 18, 2022.

Athas was named a respondent in a FINRA complaint alleging that he willfully violated Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act) and Rule 10b-5 thereunder and violated FINRA Rule 2020 by churning customer accounts. The complaint alleges that Athas controlled the trading in the customer accounts, the volume and frequency of trading in the accounts, decided what securities to buy and sell, the quantity of each transaction, and the timing of each transaction. Athas also determined the commission he would charge for each transaction. The customers routinely followed Athas\\u2019 recommendations. Athas deliberately incurred unreasonably high trading costs in these customers\\u2019 accounts, which made it virtually impossible for the accounts to be profitable. Athas persisted in his trading activity even after being warned about the excessive level of trading and high costs in these customer accounts on several occasions. The complaint also alleges that Athas\\u2019 trading in these accounts was excessive and quantitatively unsuitable for each of the customers based on their investment profiles, as evidenced by the high turnover rates and cost-to-equity ratios, the frequency of the transactions, and the transaction costs incurred. Athas\\u2019 churning and excessive trading caused the customers to pay approximately $1.6 million in commissions and other trading costs and to suffer approximately $1.1 million in losses. Conversely, Athas generated commissions of approximately $1.5 million for himself and his member firms. The complaint further alleges that Athas recommended that the customers engage in short-term, in-and-out trading, often on margin, without having a reasonable basis to recommend that trading strategy to his customers. Athas\\u2019 recommended strategy therefore was not suitable. Athas failed to perform reasonable diligence to understand the cumulative costs of his trading, including commissions, other trading costs, and margin interest. Athas also failed to perform reasonable diligence to understand the impact of these cumulative costs on the value of his customers\\u2019 accounts or the ability of his customers to earn a profit. Athas also failed to understand turnover rates and cost-to-equity ratios, and therefore failed to calculate and consider these metrics when recommending and executing a short-term, in-and-out trading strategy in his customers\\u2019 accounts.