Kovack Securities Inc.

Broker Sandra Mckoy in Kovack Securities INC. Firm Has Customer Complaint

December 12, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Sandra Mckoy (Mckoy), currently associated with Kovack Securities INC., has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Mckoy 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 January 11, 2022.

Client alleges investment was unsuitable

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Barbara Ralston in Firm Kovack Securities INC.

December 9, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

Currently financial advisor Barbara Ralston (Ralston), currently employed by brokerage firm Kovack Securities INC. 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 with a damage request of $35,000.00 on January 31, 2022.

Claimant expressed his dissatisfaction related to REIT purchase made approximately seven years ago by a Representative supervised by Ms. Ralston. Arbitration filed claims unsuitability and misrepresentation regarding the REITs.

Broker Douglas Studer in Kovack Securities INC. Firm Has Customer Complaint

November 9, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

Previously financial advisor Douglas Studer (Studer), previously employed by brokerage firm Kovack Securities INC. 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 with a damage request of $90,000.00 on August 11, 2022.

Claimant alleges breach of fiduciary duty, failure to supervise, overconcentration, and unsuitability regarding the sale of REITs.

Broker Maile Foster in Kovack Securities INC. Firm Has Customer Complaint

November 7, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Maile Foster (Foster), currently associated with Kovack Securities INC., has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Foster 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 $198,000.00 on August 29, 2022.

Claimant alleges that representative recommended unsuitable investments and failed to properly service the accounts resulting in a tax issue and lost opportunity costs.

Broker Darwin Dees in Kovack Securities INC. Firm Has Customer Complaint

October 30, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Darwin Dees (Dees), currently associated with Kovack Securities INC., has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Dees 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 $16,508.63 on September 17, 2025.

Client expressed dissatisfaction with the management of her account.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Christopher Hartman in Firm Kovack Securities INC.

September 22, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

Previously financial advisor Christopher Hartman (Hartman), previously employed by brokerage firm Kovack Securities INC. has been subject to at least 3 disclosable events. These events include 3 customer complaints. 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 February 04, 2023.

Claimants allege that they were recommended unsuitable REITs.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Keith Kelt in Firm Kovack Securities INC.

September 22, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

Currently financial advisor Keith Kelt (Kelt), currently employed by brokerage firm Kovack Securities INC. 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 February 02, 2023.

Clients allege that their purchase of REITs in 2013 & 2016 were unsuitable.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Michael Haddigan in Firm Kovack Securities INC.

September 20, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Michael Haddigan (Haddigan), currently associated with Kovack Securities INC., has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Haddigan 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 $75,000.00 on February 21, 2023.

Claimant alleges that he was sold unsuitable investments.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Allen Soulek in Firm Kovack Securities INC.

August 27, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Allen Soulek (Soulek), previously associated with Kovack Securities INC., has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Soulek 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 $72,021.78 on July 10, 2023.

Client alleges that RR did not transfer the full amount of shares into her deceased mother’s new account in 2021 as requested due to a stock split, which resulted in an estate battle and additional costs.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Edward Barfield in Firm Kovack Securities INC.

June 3, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Edward Barfield (Barfield), currently associated with Kovack Securities INC., has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Barfield 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 $292,000.00 on February 08, 2024.

Client alleges that Representative made an unsuitable recommendation of a fixed whole life insurance product in 2020 and that the representative created a tax liability in the transferring of her IRA account to a revocable living trust account.