Securities Lawyers Blog

Broker Michael Dipietro in Centaurus Financial, INC. Firm Has Customer Complaint

September 10, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Michael Dipietro (Dipietro), previously associated with Centaurus Financial, INC., has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Dipietro 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 $100,000.00 on April 14, 2023.

The customers allege that the Registered Representative misrepresented speculative, high-risk investments. No specific dates for the alleged activity were identified/ noted in the Statement of Claim.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Frank Aguilar in Firm Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

September 10, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Frank Aguilar (Aguilar), previously associated with Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Aguilar 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 $437,500.00 on April 12, 2023.

Claimants allege that in 2017, the now deceased client’s advisor improperly referred her to an attorney for the possibility of selling annuities that she received from a personal injury litigation in 2011. As a result of the referral, [REDACTED] entered into a fee agreement with the attorney to sell her annuities with a 25% contingent fee. Claimants allege that this was not in the best interest of the client as the advisor hoped to benefit from liquidating the annuities because the fee agreement provided that the funds be sent directly to him. As a result of the annuity sale, [REDACTED]’s net proceeds were reduced by the $437,500 fee.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker John Femiano in Firm Alexander Capital, L.p.

September 10, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker John Femiano (Femiano), currently associated with Alexander Capital, L.p., has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Femiano 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 $100,000.00 on April 13, 2023.

Unsuitable investments

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Scott Kemps in Firm Great Point Capital LLC

September 10, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Scott Kemps (Kemps), previously associated with Great Point Capital LLC, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Kemps 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 $400,000.00 on April 12, 2023.

Unsuitable, speculative, illiquid – 2014-2015

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Gregory Stein in Firm MML Investors Services, LLC

September 10, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint on April 17, 2023.

The complainant alleges that beginning in 2022, quarterly tax estimates weren’t made related to a distribution, and stock was sold from his account without his authorization, which has put him in a higher tax bracket and has caused him financial harm.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Cindy Chiellini in Firm Centaurus Financial, INC.

September 10, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Cindy Chiellini (Chiellini), previously associated with Centaurus Financial, INC., has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Chiellini 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 April 12, 2023.

In mid-2019, the customer alleges that the Registered Representative recommended risky, illiquid, complex and high-risk investments.

Broker Rory Pinsky in Cetera Investment Services LLC Firm Has Customer Complaint

September 8, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Rory Pinsky (Pinsky), currently associated with Cetera Investment Services LLC, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Pinsky 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 $26,000.00 on May 12, 2023.

Claimants allege that new account paperwork was completed without their authorization

Broker Daniel Werts in Madison Avenue Securities, LLC Firm Has Customer Complaint

September 8, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Daniel Werts (Werts), currently associated with Madison Avenue Securities, LLC, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Werts 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 $1,157,000.00 on April 25, 2023.

In regard to investments in GWG L Bonds, the clients allege breach of fiduciary duty, violations of Regulation Best Interest, violations of FINRA rules 2010,2020,2111.05(a), 3110, breach of contract and vicarious liability.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker James Appel in Firm Centaurus Financial, INC.

September 8, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker James Appel (Appel), currently associated with Centaurus Financial, INC., has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Appel 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 $150,000.00 on May 15, 2023.

In April 2019, July 2020 and October 2020, the customer alleges that the Registered Representative misrepresented the investment and breached his fiduciary duty.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Melanie St Franc in Firm Osaic Wealth, INC.

September 8, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Melanie St Franc (St Franc), currently associated with Osaic Wealth, INC., has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that St Franc 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 April 30, 2023.

Client alleges that a 2022 variable annuity purchase was misrepresented.