Securities Lawyers Blog
The attorneys at Gana Weinstein LLP are investigating BrokerCheck records reports that Broker Thomas Prentice (Prentice), currently employed by RBC Capital Markets, 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), Prentice’s most recent customer complaint alleges that Prentice 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 $825,000.00 on November 26, 2025.
Alleged negligence, breach of Reg BI, breach of fiduciary duty, unsuitability, and breach of contract, related mainly to the client’s investment in structured notes.
The performance of structured products, driven by the market data, are a type of derivative. Market risk in a structured product is generally taken based on a referenced source. A single security, a set of securities like a market index, commodities, interest rates, or a portfolio of real estate loans each can serve as the source. The variety of products that can be structured demonstrates the difficulty in formulating a single unified definition of a structured product.
Structured products typically offer less attractive risk/return profiles than conventional debt or equity investments, as issuing firms—mainly large banks—capitalize on the difference between investor returns and the earnings from issuing structured notes, after subtracting commissions and fees paid to brokers. Given the sophistication of these investments, most investors will be unable to fully understand their benefits or assess the chances of gains and losses. Brokers frequently describe these investments to clients as fixed income or bond-like, despite their true nature. Given the high risk of loss relative to corporate debt and other fixed-income options, structured products are generally unsuitable as fixed-income alternatives.
Recently, firms have begun selling redeemable structured notes often linked to a single investment or a basket of investments. A few cases of structured products based on single securities reveal their excessive risk while lacking meaningful advantages. Our firm reviewed a structured note linked to Peloton’s stock, which offered investors a 1.0625% monthly return (12.75% annually), along with another note connected to Zillow’s stock that promised 12% annual interest paid monthly, provided the stock prices remained above a reference value. The interest payment would only be completely eliminated if both stocks dropped by approximately 40% in value. 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.
Prentice entered the securities industry in 1979. Prentice has been registered as a Broker with RBC Capital Markets, LLC since 2016.
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.