Securities Lawyers Blog

Broker Dennis Michels in Raymond James & Associates, INC. Firm Has Customer Complaint

November 20, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Dennis Michels (Michels), currently associated with Raymond James & Associates, INC., has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Michels 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 $20,909.00 on September 30, 2025.

Client alleges that he gave FA instructions to buy a specific stock and that FA confirmed stock purchase on a specific date but later said the trade did not go through and stock was not purchased until several days later. Client also alleges that FA compensated him for the alleged delay.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Tony Barouti in Firm Emerson Equity LLC

November 20, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Tony Barouti (Barouti), currently associated with Emerson Equity LLC, has at least 2 disclosable events. These events include one customer complaint, one regulatory event, alleging that Barouti 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 $122,000.00 on September 30, 2025.

Violation of Federal Securities Laws; Violations of California Securities Laws; California Unfair, Unlawful and Fraudulent Business Practices; Violation of California’s Elder Abuse Law; Breach of Contract; Common Law Fraud; Breach of Fiduciary Duty; Negligence and Gross Negligence. Trades placed in 2018 & 2019

Broker Jason Russo in Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd. Firm Has Customer Complaint

November 20, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Jason Russo (Russo), currently associated with Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd., has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Russo 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 $350,000.00 on September 30, 2025.

After receiving and signing the necessary offering documents, the customer alleges now that the investments were illiquid and unsuitable. The customer has filed this claim solely against the firm.

Broker Todd Cirella in Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd. Firm Has Customer Complaint

November 20, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Todd Cirella (Cirella), currently associated with Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd., has at least 2 disclosable events. These events include one customer complaint, one regulatory event, alleging that Cirella 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 $350,000.00 on September 30, 2025.

After receiving and signing the necessary offering documents, the customer alleges now that the investments were illiquid and unsuitable. The customer has filed this claim solely against the firm.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Richard Wesselt in Firm Fortune Financial Services, INC.

November 20, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Richard Wesselt (Wesselt), previously associated with Fortune Financial Services, INC., has at least 2 disclosable events. These events include 2 customer complaints, alleging that Wesselt 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 October 03, 2025.

Claimant alleges Wesselt recommended unsuitable insurance policies.

Broker Clifford Reid in Reid & Rudiger LLC Firm Has Customer Complaint

November 20, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a pending customer complaint on October 02, 2025.

Breach of fiduciary, negligence, and excessive trading.

Broker Stephen Hlibok in Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated Firm Has Customer Complaint

November 20, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Stephen Hlibok (Hlibok), currently associated with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Hlibok 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 $337,668.75 on September 29, 2025.

Client alleges unauthorized trading 4/21/2025-4/25/2025

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker William Lefkowitz in Firm B. Riley Wealth Management

November 20, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker William Lefkowitz (Lefkowitz), currently associated with B. Riley Wealth Management, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Lefkowitz 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 $1,000,000.00 on September 27, 2025.

Client alleges excessive commissions.

Broker Austin Masel in Morgan Stanley Firm Has Customer Complaint

November 19, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a pending customer complaint on October 10, 2025.

Claimant alleges, inter alia, that the trades involving the sale of Apple stock executed in his account were unauthorized 2025

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Souad Zayed in Firm Nylife Securities LLC

November 19, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a pending customer complaint on October 10, 2025.

The customer alleges that the premiums for two variable universal insurance policies purchased in July were more than discussed.