Securities Lawyers Blog
According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Adam Chustz (Chustz), currently associated with Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, has at least 4 disclosable events. These events include 4 customer complaints, alleging that Chustz 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 $5,000,000.00 on August 21, 2025.
Breach of Contract and Warranties, Promissory Estoppel; Consumer Protection and Deceptive Trade Practices Act; Violation of State Securities Statutes; Common Law Fraud; Breach of Fiduciary Duty; Negligence and Gross Negligence; Misrepresentation/Omission and Negligent; Misrepresentation/Omission; Unjust Enrichment; Failure to Supervise; Common Law, Statutory Claims and Damages; and Vicarious & Control Person Liability.
FINRA BrokerCheck shows a pending customer complaint with a damage request of $500,000.00 on August 19, 2025.
Breach of Contract and Warranties, Promissory Estoppel; Consumer Protection and Deceptive Trade Practices Act; Violation of State Securities Statutes; Common Law Fraud; Breach of Fiduciary Duty; Negligence and Gross Negligence; Misrepresentation/Omission and Negligent Misrepresentation/Omission; Unjust Enrichment; Failure to Supervise; Common Law, Statutory Claims and Damages and Vicarious & Control Person Liability.
FINRA BrokerCheck shows a pending customer complaint with a damage request of $200,000.00 on August 01, 2025.
Claimant alleges breach of contract and warranties, promissory estoppel; violation of Consumer Protection and Deceptive Trade Practices Act; violation of state securities statutes; common law fraud; breach of fiduciary duty; negligence and gross negligence; misrepresentation/omission and negligent misrepresentation/omission; and unjust enrichment.
FINRA BrokerCheck shows a pending customer complaint with a damage request of $77,000.00 on July 21, 2025.
Customer alleges registered representative made an unsuitable recommendation.
In the financial industry advisors must meet the requirements of the SEC’s Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI) in providing investment advice and services. Reg BI established a ‘best interest’ standard for brokerage firms and registered representatives. 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. 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.
Next, the advisor must have a reasonable understanding of the specific retail investor’s investment profile. The customer’s profile information generally includes an investor’s financial situation and needs; investments; assets and debts; marital status; tax status; age; investment time horizon; liquidity needs; risk tolerance; investment experience; investment objectives and financial goals; and any other information the retail investor may disclose in connection with the recommendation or advice. Reg BI was meant to enhance the duties that registered representatives have to their clients by applying fiduciary principles to transactions and investment strategies by prohibiting brokers from placing their own financial interests ahead of the best interests of their client – the investor. There are several different aspects of the rule that brokers must comply with. One of which is the care obligations which require brokers to form a reasonable belief that their investment advice and recommendations are in the retail investor’s best interest. The care obligations include three components. First, the advisor must have an understanding of the potential risks, rewards, and costs associated with a product, investment strategy, account type, or series of transactions.
Another aspect of the care obligation is focusing on the client’s specific needs which brokers must reasonably understand through obtaining information for the client’s investment profile. In completing a customer’s investment profile the advisor should include information such as the investor’s investment time horizon; liquidity needs; risk tolerance; experience with various investment vehicles; investment objectives and financial goals; assets and debts including outside investment accounts; marital status; tax information; age; and other relevant information that may be individual to the investor that the advisor would need to know to properly render advice or provide services. Finally, the advisor must use their knowledge of the first two elements to consider reasonably available investment option alternatives and come to the conclusion that there is a reasonable basis to believe that the recommendation or advice being provided is in the retail investor’s best interest. An advisor must understand the type of account, securities, and their client in order to meet their care obligations. The type of securities account has the potential to greatly affect retail customers’ costs and investment returns. Different types of securities accounts can offer different features, products, or services, and not all types of accounts or services would be in every investor’s best interest.
Chustz entered the securities industry in 2000. Chustz has been registered as a Broker with Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated since 2018.
Investors who have suffered losses are encouraged to contact us at (800) 810-4262 for consultation. At Gana Weinstein LLP, our attorneys are experienced representing investors who have suffered securities losses due to the mishandling of their accounts. Claims may be brought in securities arbitration before FINRA. Our consultations are free of charge and the firm is only compensated if you recover.