Equitable Advisors

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker William Baffuto in Firm Equitable Advisors, LLC

November 29, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker William Baffuto (Baffuto), currently associated with Equitable Advisors, LLC, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Baffuto 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 $15,412.00 on April 20, 2022.

When your financial advisor is providing advice they must adhere to the SEC’s Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI) rule and standard of care. Reg BI replaced the former “suitability” rule and created a ‘best interest’ standard for brokerage firms and registered representatives. This Reg BI standard of care applies to registered representatives making recommendations to customers in the purchase, sale, or exchange of securities or the implementation of investment strategies involving securities and non-securities. The rule also applies to the handling of opening accounts such as account transfers and types of accounts being recommended to be opened. This standard applies when brokers make recommendations to retail customer for any securities transaction or investment strategy involving securities, including recommendations of types of accounts.

Broker Paul Schappert in Equitable Advisors, LLC Firm Has Customer Complaint

November 28, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint on April 23, 2022.

POA on behalf of the client alleges funds within the client’s investment contract purchased in 2013 and a variable annuity purchased in 2020 were unsuitable for her needs and led to a large tax implication.

Broker Joshua Alloway in Equitable Advisors, LLC Firm Has Customer Complaint

November 24, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint on May 22, 2022.

The client alleges the RR sold them an unsuitable product in 2021, based on their needs.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Thomas Shopa in Firm Equitable Advisors, LLC

November 22, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Thomas Shopa (Shopa), currently associated with Equitable Advisors, LLC, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Shopa 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 $2,200,000.00 on September 09, 2025.

Allegations include a substantial drop in portfolio value and unsuitable recommendation and sale of a variable annuity and REIT from 2014 to 2024

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Bryan Lubitz in Firm Equitable Advisors, LLC

November 19, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Bryan Lubitz (Lubitz), currently associated with Equitable Advisors, LLC, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Lubitz 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 October 09, 2025.

Customers allege suitability concerns of equity sales.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Joshua Alloway in Firm Equitable Advisors, LLC

November 18, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint on May 22, 2022.

The client alleges the RR sold them an unsuitable product in 2021, based on their needs.

Broker Jeffrey Somerstein in Equitable Advisors, LLC Firm Has Customer Complaint

November 16, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

The attorneys at Gana Weinstein LLP are investigating BrokerCheck records reports that Broker Jeffrey Somerstein (Somerstein), currently employed by Equitable Advisors, LLC has been subject to at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint. According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Somerstein’s most recent customer complaint alleges that Somerstein recommended unsuitable investments in structured products and makes allegations concerning misconduct relating to the handling of the customer’s accounts.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint on June 10, 2022.

Client alleges RR sold them unsuitable structured notes in 2021.

Broker Alan Friedman in Equitable Advisors, LLC Firm Has Customer Complaint

November 16, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

The attorneys at Gana Weinstein LLP are investigating BrokerCheck records reports that Broker Alan Friedman (Friedman), currently employed by Equitable Advisors, LLC has been subject to at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint. According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Friedman’s most recent customer complaint alleges that Friedman recommended unsuitable investments in structured products and makes allegations concerning misconduct relating to the handling of the customer’s accounts.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint on June 10, 2022.

Client alleges RR sold them unsuitable structured notes in 2021.

Broker Brian Patterson in Equitable Advisors, LLC Firm Has Customer Complaint

November 15, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint on June 15, 2022.

The client alleges the RR sold them an unsuitable REIT in 2015.

Broker Ryan Lacedonia in Equitable Advisors, LLC Firm Has Customer Complaint

November 13, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Ryan Lacedonia (Lacedonia), currently associated with Equitable Advisors, LLC, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Lacedonia 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 $30,000.00 on July 06, 2022.

The client alleges he was provided misleading information in 2021 concerning the purchase of two municipal bond funds and is asking to be refunded the losses.