Securities Lawyers Blog

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker David Howard in Firm PFS Investments INC.

December 1, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker David Howard (Howard), currently associated with PFS Investments INC., has at least 2 disclosable events. These events include 2 customer complaints, alleging that Howard recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint on April 05, 2022.

The customer surrendered a non-qualified variable annuity and received a form 1099-r with a taxable amount for more than she had been told to expect for tax year 2021.

Broker Jeffrey Mayotte in Momentum Independent Network INC. Firm Has Customer Complaint

December 1, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Jeffrey Mayotte (Mayotte), previously associated with Momentum Independent Network INC., has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Mayotte 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 $47,053.15 on March 31, 2022.

Mayotte was a subject of the customer’s complaint against his member firm that asserted the following causes of action: negligence, unsuitability, and failure to supervise.

Broker Larry Sfinas in Trustmont Financial Group, INC. Firm Has Customer Complaint

December 1, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Larry Sfinas (Sfinas), previously associated with Trustmont Financial Group, INC., has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Sfinas 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 08, 2022.

Customer alleges that representative made unsuitable investment recommendations resulting in losses.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Danniel Kazi in Firm Allstate Financial Services, LLC

November 30, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Danniel Kazi (Kazi), previously associated with Allstate Financial Services, LLC, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Kazi 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 $20,415.00 on April 12, 2022.

Client’s family member alleged that the Representative’s recommended liquidation and subsequent investment with the proceeds were not in the client’s best interest based on the tax implications and the sales load. Following the firm’s review, the extent of the Rep’s disclosure of the taxable consequences was unclear. As a result, the matter was resolved through a settlement with the client for the reimbursement of tax consequence and the sales load. Payment to the client of $20,415 was completed on 7/8/22.

Broker William Schumaker in Principal Securities, INC. Firm Has Customer Complaint

November 30, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker William Schumaker (Schumaker), currently associated with Principal Securities, INC., has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Schumaker 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 $7,447.50 on April 13, 2022.

Client alleges the representative recommended a VUL policy that was unsuitable, and she has asked for the surrender charges on the policy to be waived.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Kelly Otoole in Firm Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC

November 30, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint on April 12, 2022.

Client complained that delay in executing liquidation instruction caused losses because time window closed and trade could not be executed until next window opened. (11/1/2021-4/12/2022)

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

November 30, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint on April 13, 2022.

Client alleges failure to follow instructions in 2021.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Thomas Brandstater in Firm Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC

November 30, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint on April 12, 2022.

Client complained that Financial Advisor did not act upon requests for 5% stop orders, tax loss harvest requests and instructions concerning the buy/sell of an equity. (11/25/2021-1/21/2022)

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Justin Cramer in Firm Prospera Financial Services, INC.

November 30, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Justin Cramer (Cramer), previously associated with Prospera Financial Services, INC., has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Cramer 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 $80,000.00 on April 11, 2022.

Client complained of unexpected tax consequences from account recommendations

Broker Brian Clough in Nylife Securities LLC Firm Has Customer Complaint

November 30, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint on April 13, 2022.

Customer alleges that in or around January 2022, he was misled regarding the impact of a partial withdrawal on the value of the Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit of a Variable Annuity purchased in January 2005. Customer alleges that he was told that the death benefit was locked in.