Securities Lawyers Blog

Broker Thomas Wittkopf in LPL Financial LLC Firm Has Customer Complaint

August 7, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Thomas Wittkopf (Wittkopf), currently associated with LPL Financial LLC, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Wittkopf 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 $11,387.00 on February 18, 2025.

The client alleged that Mr. Wittkopf acted inappropriately by selling three equities and investing the proceeds in a diversified managed account at LPL Financial, LLC. The client claimed to have insufficient knowledge of the transaction and was not prepared for the tax implication of the stock sale.

Broker Damian Baird in Moors & Cabot, INC. Firm Has Customer Complaint

August 7, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Damian Baird (Baird), previously associated with Moors & Cabot, INC., has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Baird 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 $93,503.00 on February 24, 2025.

Client claims he sent 3 checks to Damian Baird in the amount of $93,503. Client alleges the checks were not deposited to the firm and Mr. Baird added his name as a payee to checks and deposited them in his personal bank account

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker William Coffey in Firm Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC

August 7, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint on November 21, 2024.

Client verbally claimed they received poor advice related to exercising a rider on an annuity contract purchased in 2004, resulting in the loss of the rider’s provision for an income stream. (5/18/2023 – 11/21/2024)

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Michael Davis in Firm Money Concepts Capital CORP

August 7, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Michael Davis (Davis), currently associated with Money Concepts Capital CORP, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Davis 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 $112,000.00 on October 25, 2024.

Firm became aware of the allegations on 2/2/2023. The customer alleges her accounts lost 50K and felt the RR should be responsible for 25K. Upon review, the firm learned three accounts were established: Two were invested with professional money managers, and the customer’s time horizon for those investments was 5 or more years. A third account was established and invested solely in a money market. This third account had cash management services such as debit cards and checking privileges for any unanticipated (emergency) needs. The customer made numerous withdrawals which decreased the cash balance in the money market, then periodically instructed the RR to journal funds from the two investment accounts meant to be long-term investments. The firm determined the decreases were due to the customer’s withdrawal activity coupled with market conditions. 10/25/2024 Customer alleges Breach of Contract, Breach of Fiduciary Duty, and Demand for Payment of Advisory fees. Customer hired an attorney and that the firm received a demand letter on 10/25.

Broker Craig Hoff in Dfpg Investments, INC. Firm Has Customer Complaint

August 7, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Craig Hoff (Hoff), previously associated with Dfpg Investments, INC., has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Hoff 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 $500,000.00 on December 30, 2024.

Breach of Contract, Breach of Fiduciary Duty, Negligence

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Stephen Melz in Firm Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

August 7, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Stephen Melz (Melz), currently associated with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, has at least 2 disclosable events. These events include 2 customer complaints, alleging that Melz recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint on February 11, 2025.

Client alleges misrepresentation in July 2019.

Broker Seyed Ahmad Hashemian in Centaurus Financial, INC. Firm Has Customer Complaint

August 7, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Seyed Ahmad Hashemian (Hashemian), currently associated with Centaurus Financial, INC., has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Hashemian 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 January 23, 2025.

The customer alleges that during the period of 2020 through 2021 the Registered Representative recommended and misrepresented two unsuitable, high-risk, illiquid investments and breached his fiduciary duty.

Broker Robert Fagan in Cetera Advisors LLC Firm Has Customer Complaint

August 7, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Robert Fagan (Fagan), currently associated with Cetera Advisors LLC, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Fagan 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 $125,000.00 on January 15, 2025.

Unsuitable recommendations of alternative investments.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Thomas Scheiman in Firm Independence Capital Co., INC.

August 7, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Thomas Scheiman (Scheiman), currently associated with Independence Capital Co., INC., has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Scheiman 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 $100,000.00 on January 20, 2025.

Registered representavie Jeffrey Rocheck invested customers in a non existing Real Estate 2017 to 04/2024

Broker Burton Bartlett in Landolt Securities, INC. Firm Has Customer Complaint

August 7, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Burton Bartlett (Bartlett), previously associated with Landolt Securities, INC., has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Bartlett 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 $50,000.00 on February 26, 2025.

Burton Bartlett II was named in a customer complaint that asserted the following causes of action: Unsuitable and Misleading Investment Recommendations, Material Misrepresentations and Omitted Material Facts, Fraudulent Concealment of Material Information, Negligence, Breach of Fiduciary Duty, and Violation of Wisconsin Uniform Securities Law.