Securities Lawyers Blog

Broker Michael Janis in Madison Avenue Securities, LLC Firm Has Customer Complaint

March 31, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Michael Janis (Janis), previously associated with Madison Avenue Securities, LLC, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Janis 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 September 08, 2020.

Unsuitable recommendation of GPB Automotive.

Broker Cesar Macedo in LPL Financial LLC Firm Has Customer Complaint

March 31, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint on September 09, 2020.

Financial Advisors providing advice to retail investors are required to adhere to the SEC’s Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI). Reg BI applies a ‘best interest’ standard for broker-dealers and their associated people. Reg BI applies when brokers recommend a retail investor engage in securities transaction or an investment strategy involving one or more securities. Reg BI also applies to financial advice concerning the transfer of funds and opening of accounts. This standard applies when a registered representative is providing investment advice through making recommendations customers and covers securities transaction, investment strategies, and recommendations concerning advice on opening of an account or accounts.

Broker Charles Mclean in Sigma Financial Corporation Firm Has Customer Complaint

March 31, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Charles Mclean (Mclean), currently associated with Sigma Financial Corporation, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Mclean 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 $191,000.00 on September 08, 2020.

Arbitration Statement of claim alleged breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, material misrepresentations, failure to supervise, negligence in connection with the alternative investments purchased in January of 2016.

Broker Jeremy Newton in Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated Firm Has Customer Complaint

March 31, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint on September 11, 2020.

The customer alleges misrepresentations and failure to follow instructions from May 9, 2019 until September 11, 2020.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Preston Bellaire in Firm LPL Financial LLC

March 31, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Preston Bellaire (Bellaire), currently associated with LPL Financial LLC, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Bellaire 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 $40,000.00 on September 10, 2020.

The customer alleged that the representative misrepresented the risk of a speculative investment in order to secure a high commission sale in and around February of 2015.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Stuart Haw in Firm Cetera Advisors LLC

March 31, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Stuart Haw (Haw), currently associated with Cetera Advisors LLC, has at least 2 disclosable events. These events include 2 customer complaints, alleging that Haw 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 $35,000.00 on September 09, 2020.

Customer alleges unsuitable investment recommendations.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Jeffrey Armstrong in Firm LPL Financial LLC

March 31, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

Currently financial advisor Jeffrey Armstrong (Armstrong), currently employed by brokerage firm LPL Financial LLC has been subject to at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint. According to a BrokerCheck reports most of the recent customer complaints concern either corporate debt securities or alternative investments such as direct participation products (DPPs) like business development companies (BDCs), non-traded real estate investment trusts (REITs), oil & gas programs, annuities, and private placements. The attorneys at Gana Weinstein LLP have represented hundreds of investors who suffered losses caused by these types of high risk, low reward products.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint on September 10, 2020.

Claimants allege RR sold them unsuitable investments, including several private placements and non-traded REITS.

Broker Samuel Head in Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC Firm Has Customer Complaint

March 31, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Samuel Head (Head), currently associated with Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Head 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 $315,000.00 on September 09, 2020.

Customer alleges that investments sold to him in 2014 were unsuitable based on his desire to protect his principal.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Kristine Howell in Firm Sigma Financial Corporation

March 31, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Kristine Howell (Howell), previously associated with Sigma Financial Corporation, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Howell 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 $5,000,000.00 on September 14, 2020.

Statement of claim alleges in 2014, Claimant’s assets were invested in alternative investments which were unsuitable and inappropriate given her unique financial situation and investment objective.

Broker Steven Kirchner in Exos Securities LLC Firm Has Customer Complaint

March 31, 2026 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Steven Kirchner (Kirchner), previously associated with Exos Securities LLC, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Kirchner 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 $80,780,000.00 on September 09, 2020.

Plaintiffs allege that from early 2014 through April 2016, their investment manager Premium Point Investments LLP fraudulently overstated the value of their holdings. Plaintiffs allege Premium Point was able to do so in part because Performance Trust Capital Partners, LLC, through Mr. Kirchner and other Performance Trust employees, provided bid quotes on various securities that did not reflect the actual value of those securities. Plaintiffs allege Performance Trust provided these quotes in exchange for executing trades through Performance Trust, earning commissions for Performance Trust and its employees.