Christopher Bryan Black (also known as Chris Bryan Black) of Statesboro Georgia a stockbroker formerly registered with LPL Financial LLC is the subject of a customer initiated investment related written complaint on May 21, 2021, where the customer sought $84,166.22 in damages based upon accusations that Black provided unsuitable recommendations to them concerning municipal bonds while he was associated with LPL Financial. The complaint alleges that Black failed to consider the customer’s objective for investing and tolerance for risk.
FINRA Public Disclosure shows that Black has been identified in three additional customer initiated investment related disputes concerning allegations of his improper actions while employed by LPL Financial. On July 9, 2020, a customer initiated investment related complaint relating to Black’s activities was settled for $128,936.70 in damages founded on accusations of unsuitable advice by Black concerning the customer’s purchase of municipal bonds at LPL Financial.
On July 14, 2020, another customer filed an investment related complaint about Black’s activities in which they requested compensatory damages supported by allegations that Black made misrepresentations regarding bonds purchased at LPL Financial. The complaint also alleges that Black recommended unsuitable municipal bonds to the customer.
Black is also referenced in a customer initiated investment related written complaint which was settled for $40,000.00 in damages on July 3, 2021, based upon accusations that the customer’s funds had been misappropriated between August of 2019 and July of 2021 during the time that he was employed by LPL Financial.
FINRA Public Disclosure also shows that Black has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity founded on findings that he obstructed a FINRA investigation into allegations of his loan arrangements with a customer. Letter of Acceptance Waiver and Consent No. 2020066650101 (January 12, 2021).
According to the AWC, Black was sent a request from FINRA on November 6, 2020 that called upon him to hand over documents and information. The regulator asked for this information because LPL Financial alleged in Black’s stockbroker termination notification that Black was allegedly involved in a loan arrangement with a customer of LPL Financial and that Black did not notify the firm about this.
FINRA’s investigation focused on whether Black violated FINRA rules. Black told FINRA on December 7, 2020, that he received the request for his information and would not cooperate. Black refused to turn over anything in FINRA’s investigation, so he violated FINRA Rules 2010 and 8210.
Black was registered with LPL Financial between October 24, 2017, and March 30, 2020.
