Securities Lawyers Blog
The attorneys at Gana Weinstein LLP are investigating BrokerCheck records reports that Broker Joseph Barnas (Barnas), currently employed by Osaic Wealth, INC. 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), Barnas’s most recent customer complaint alleges that Barnas recommended unsuitable investments in structured products and makes allegations concerning misconduct relating to the handling of the customer’s accounts.
FINRA BrokerCheck shows a pending customer complaint with a damage request of $80,000.00 on March 26, 2025.
The Claimants allege that RR recommended unsuitable structured note investments
Marketlinked data drives the performance of structured products, which are a type of derivative. A structured product typically relies on a reference source to assume market risk. It can originate from a single security, a group of securities such as a market index, commodities, interest rates, or a portfolio of real estate loans. The variety of products that can be structured demonstrates the difficulty in formulating a single unified definition of a structured product.
Most structured products tend to have less favorable risk/return profiles than traditional debt or equity instruments because large banks, which issue these products, aim to profit from the difference between what they pay investors and the returns they generate from issuing structured notes, after deducting commissions and fees for brokers. Most investors may struggle to grasp the benefits of these investments or accurately assess the likelihood of gains and losses due to their complexity. These investments are often misrepresented by brokers as fixed income or bond-like options that provide a return of capital. The risk of loss in structured products is significantly higher than in corporate debt and other fixed-income options, making them an unsuitable fixed-income alternative.
Recently, firms have begun selling redeemable structured notes often linked to a single investment or a basket of investments. A couple of examples of structured products linked to single securities shows the extreme risk of these products without meaningful benefit. Our firm analyzed a structured note linked to the stock of Peloton that promised to investors 1.0625% interest monthly or 12.75% annually and another note linked to the stock of Zillow which promised a 12% annual interest payment paid monthly so long as the respective stock prices stayed above a referenced value. Both stocks could lose around 40% of their value before the interest payment would be eliminated entirely. In addition, if the stocks lost more than approximately 40% of their value then the investor would also lose their corresponding principal based upon the performance of the stocks and could lose their entire investment. Further, the notes were callable and could be cancelled by the sponsor.
These products are very high risk and low reward propositions because the investor can only profit at most by 12-12.75% over the course of one year. Even if Peloton or Zillow doubled in value all the investor could achieve would be the interest payment as their profit and none of the price appreciation. Meanwhile the maximum loss is 100% of the investment if the stocks fell severely. Accordingly, the investor takes dramatic downside risks associated with the volatile stocks while having no chance to participate in the success of the stock.
According to newsources, a study revealed that 7.3% of financial advisors had a customer complaint on their record when records from 2005 to 2015 were examined. Brokers must publicly disclose reportable events on their BrokerCheck reports that include customer complaints, IRS tax liens, judgments, investigations, terminations, and criminal cases.
Barnas entered the securities industry in 2004. Barnas has been registered as a Broker with Osaic Wealth, INC. since 2024.
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.