Trey Andrew Toifel, of Mobile, Alabama, a stockbroker registered with Cetera Investment Services LLC, is the subject of a customer initiated investment related Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) securities arbitration claim in which the customer requested compensatory damages based upon allegations that Toifel recommended overly concentrated investments in structured bank notes during the time that…

Alexander Arango (also known as Alexander Arango Burkatkaya), of Dania, Florida, a stockbroker registered with Cetera Investment Services LLC, is the subject of a customer initiated investment related complaint filed on December 20, 2023. In this complaint, the customer requested damages based on allegations that Arango made misrepresentations of material fact and unsuitable recommendations in…

Stephen Curtis Lawler Jr.  of Dunlap, Illinois, a stockbroker registered with Cetera Advisors LLC, is the subject of a customer initiated investment related FINRA securities arbitration claim in which the customer requested compensatory damages. The claim alleged that Lawler made omissions of material fact and unsuitable recommendations in real estate securities and direct investments during…

Scott William Norvell of Omaha, Nebraska, a stockbroker registered with Cetera Advisors LLC and LPL Financial LLC, has been fined $10,000 and suspended for 2.5 months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity because Norvell made misrepresentations of material fact in connection with annuity exchanges . Letter of Acceptance,…

Edward Isaac Rosenblatt, of Mission Viejo, California, a stockbroker registered with Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, is the subject of a customer initiated investment related FINRA securities arbitration claim in which the customer requested $200,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Rosenblatt breached his fiduciary duties and breached a contract, and that Cetera Advisor Networks LLC…

Yin Yvonne Zhong (also known as Yvonne Zhong), of Milpitas, California, a stockbroker registered with Ni Advisors, was the subject of a customer initiated investment related FINRA securities arbitration claim that was settled for $15,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Zhong breached her fiduciary duties, was negligent, and made unsuitable recommendations in GWG Class…

Gilbert Russell Conrad of Lewiston, New York, a stockbroker associated with Cetera Advisors Networks, was the subject of a customer initiated investment related Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) securities arbitration claim in which the customer requested $1,000,000.00 to $5,000,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Conrad made unsuitable investment recommendations of  alternative investments including direct…

Joshua Aaron Green of New Port Richey, Florida, a stockbroker associated with Cetera Investment Services LLC, was the subject of a customer initiated investment related Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) securities arbitration claim that was settled for $450,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Green overconcentrated the customer in structured notes, which resulted in losses….

Rami Sassoon (also known as Rami Sela and Ram Sassen), of New York, New York, a stockbroker registered with Cetera Advisors LLC, is the subject of a customer initiated investment related Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) securities arbitration claim in which the customer requested $300,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Sassoon made unsuitable recommendations…

Colin Christy Kelty of Oak Brook, Illinois, a stockbroker registered with Cetera Investment Services LLC, is the subject of a customer initiated investment related Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) securities arbitration claim in which the customer requested $240,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Kelty failed to execute or follow instructions regarding the liquidation of…

Howard Hao-Chung Hsieh of Irvine, California, a stockbroker registered with Cetera Investment Services LLC, was the subject of a customer initiated investment related Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) securities arbitration claim that was settled for $60,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Hsieh was negligent, breached his fiduciary duties, overconcentrated accounts in certain investments, and made…

Shane Boehm of Spokane, Washington, a stockbroker registered with Cetera Investment Services LLC, is the subject of a customer initiated investment related civil action in which the customer requested $1,500,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Boehm made unsuitable recommendations of Real Estate Investment Trusts or REITs during the time that Boehm was associated with…

Timothy L. Johnson, of Willmar, Minnesota, a stockbroker registered with Cetera Investment Services LLC, was the subject of a customer initiated investment related Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) securities arbitration claim that was settled for $164,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Johnson made unsuitable recommendations of variable annuities when Johnson was associated with Cetera…

Charles Raymond Weldon of Boca Raton, Florida, a stockbroker registered with Independent Financial Group LLC, is the subject of a customer initiated investment related FINRA securities arbitration claim in which the customer requested $500,000.00 in damages based upon Weldon’s investment strategy at Independent Financial Group LLC. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Arbitration No. 23-00589 (March 9,…

Yuting Cheng, of Rowland Heights, California, a stockbroker registered with Cetera Investment Services LLC, is the subject of a customer initiated investment related Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) securities arbitration claim in which the customer requested $75,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Cheng made unsuitable recommendations of direct investments (LP interests and DPP interests)…

William Walter Leboeuf (also known as Bill Le Boeuf), of Beavercreek, Ohio, a stockbroker registered with Cetera Adviser Networks LLC, has been suspended by the state of Ohio because Leboeuf engaged in an undisclosed outside business activity and engaged in private securities transactions. Order No. 22-007 (May 18, 2022). This is not the first time…

Howard Hao-Chung Hsieh (also known as Hao-Chung Howard Hsieh), of Irvine, California, a stockbroker registered with Cetera Investment Services LLC, is the subject of a customer initiated investment related FINRA securities arbitration claim in which the customer requested compensation based upon allegations that Hsieh made unsuitable recommendations of real estate securities when Hsieh was associated…

George Ly of Los Angeles, California, a stockbroker registered with Cetera Investment Services LLC, was the subject of a customer initiated investment related FINRA securities arbitration claim that was settled for $700,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Ly made unsuitable investment recommendations of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) during the period that Ly was…

Todd Ray Anderson of Tucson, Arizona, a stockbroker registered with Cetera Advisors LLC, has been fined $5,000.00 and suspended for 45 days from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity because Anderson made unsuitable investment recommendations of mutual funds. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent No. 2019063749201 (April 20, 2023). According…

Kevin Thomas Fles of Sikeston, Missouri, a stockbroker registered with Cetera Advisors LLC, was the subject of a customer initiated investment related civil action that was settled for $15,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Fles made unsuitable investment recommendations of real estate securities during the time that Fles was associated with Cetera Advisors LLC….

Leo Li-Yuan Chien of San Gabriel, California, a stockbroker registered with Cetera Investment Services LLC, was the subject of a customer initiated investment related FINRA securities arbitration claim that was settled for $170,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Chien made unsuitable investment recommendations of direct investments and real estate securities or Real Estate Investment…

Mary Turner Moose (also known as Mary Elizabeth Turner), of Greenwood Village, Colorado, a stockbroker registered with Cetera Advisors LLC, is the subject of a customer initiated investment related civil action in which the customer requested $450,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Moose was negligent and failed to supervise certain registered representatives in connection…

Mei Xia Guo (also known as Gracie Guo), of Monterey Park, CA, a stockbroker registered with Cetera Investment Services LLC, was the subject of a customer initiated investment related FINRA securities arbitration claim that was settled for $80,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Guo made unsuitable recommendations of real estate securities when Guo was…

Jeffrey Brian Forehand (also known as Jeff Forehand) of Myrtle Beach, SC, a stockbroker registered with First Allied Securities Inc., was the subject of a customer initiated investment related FINRA securities arbitration claim that was settled for $14,600.00 in damages based upon allegations that Forehand made unsuitable recommendations, breached a contract, was negligent, and failed…

Victor A. Rigoni III of Lake Forest, Illinois, a stockbroker registered with Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, has been fined $5,000.00 and suspended for three months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity because Rigoni failed to make regulatory disclosures. Department of Enforcement v. Victor A. Rigoni III, Order Accepting…

Ronald Reed McCook (also known as Ron Reed McCook Jr.), of Scottsdale, Arizona, a stockbroker registered with First Allied Securities Inc., was the subject of a customer initiated investment related FINRA securities arbitration claim in which the customer was awarded $1,961,500.00 in compensatory damages because First Allied Securities Inc. was held liable for sales practice…

Edward Chong Yoon of Pasadena, California, a stockbroker registered with First Allied Securities Inc., was the subject of a customer initiated investment related FINRA securities arbitration claim that was settled for $36,250.00 in damages based upon allegations that Yoon made unsuitable recommendations, breached a contract, breached his fiduciary duties, and was negligent in connection with the…

Eric Peter Burton of Orland Park, Illinois, a stockbroker registered with Cetera Advisors LLC, has been suspended for three months by Florida Department of Financial Services based upon allegations that Burton received a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) suspension. Case No. 294028-22-AG (Apr. 15, 2022). On June 21, 2021, Burton was fined $5,000.00 and suspended…

Xiangyu Yu Zhang (also known as Sean Zhang) of Arcadia, California, a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Investment Services, is the subject of a customer initiated investment related FINRA securities arbitration claim in which the customer requested up to $99,999.99 in damages founded on allegations that Zhang provided unsuitable investment recommendations to the customer concerning …

John Edward Massa of Staten Island, New York, is identified in a customer initiated investment related FINRA securities arbitration claim in which the customer sought compensatory damages based upon accusations of Massa’s unsuitable recommendations of real estate investment trusts (REITs) when he was associated with Cetera Investment Services. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Arbitration No….

Mark Allen Barrand of Denver, Colorado, a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Advisors LLC, is the subject of a customer initiated investment related FINRA securities arbitration claim in which the customer sought $100,000.00 in damages founded on accusations of Barrand’s unsuitable investment advice as it pertained to real estate securities when Barrand was registered with…

Kirby Spencer McDonald, of Omaha, Nebraska, a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Advisors LLC, is identified in a customer initiated investment related FINRA securities arbitration claim in which the customer sought $100,001.00 in damages founded on accusations of unsuitable recommendations by McDonald regarding real estate security transactions when McDonald was associated with Cetera Advisors. FINRA…

Robert Jonathan Spencer, of Cheektowaga, New York, a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity founded on findings that he failed to comply with a FINRA investigation regarding allegations of his private securities transactions when he was employed…

Rebecca King Wah Ng-Tsang, of Bellevue, Washington, a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Investment Services LLC, is the subject of a customer initiated investment related written complaint on November 21, 2021, in which the customer requested compensatory damages founded on allegations that Ng-Tsang made misrepresentations to them regarding real estate security products while she was…

Daniel George McPherson (also known as Dan McPherson), of Idaho Falls, Idaho, a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Advisors LLC, is the subject of a customer initiated investment related FINRA Securities Arbitration claim which was resolved for $57,500.00 in damages supported by accusations of McPherson making unsuitable recommendations to the customer regarding private placements, real…

Xiangyu Yu Zhang of Arcadia, California, a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Investment Services LLC, is referenced in a customer initiated investment related complaint on August 6, 2021, where the customer sought compensatory damages founded upon allegations that Zhang provided unsuitable recommendations to the customer regarding real estate security investments while he was employed by…

Charles Edward Krsek (also known as Chuck Krsek) of The Villages Florida a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Advisors LLC is the subject of a customer initiated investment related FINRA securities arbitration claim which was settled to resolve allegations that Krsek provided unsuitable recommendations to the customer as it pertained to the purchase of a…

John Charles Broughton of Johnston Rhode Island a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Investment Services LLC is the subject of a customer initiated investment related written complaint on July 16, 2020, where the customer sought compensatory damages based on accusations that Broughton made misrepresentations to them regarding the annuity that they purchased through Cetera Investment Services….

Susan Lavon Welo of Mayville North Dakota a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Advisor Networks LLC and Securities America Inc. is referenced in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on July 6, 2021 where the customer requested compensation founded on accusations that Welo effected unsuitable real estate investment trust purchases for their account at…

Jeffrey Gerard Meyers (also known as Jeff Meyers) of Overland Park Kansas a stockbroker currently registered with Cetera Advisor Networks LLC is the subject of a customer initiated investment related written complaint on June 9, 2021 where the customer sought compensatory damages supported by allegations of Meyers’ unsuitable real estate security transactions while he was…

George Craig Merhoff Jr of Klamath Falls Oregon a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Advisors LLC is referenced in a customer initiated investment related FINRA securities arbitration claim in which the customer requested between $500,000.00 and $1,000,000.00 in damages based upon accusations that the customer’s account had been overconcentrated by Merhoff in unsuitable investments including…

Walter Morrow Allen of Suffield Connecticut a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Advisors LLC has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity supported by findings that he neglected to produce documents and information for FINRA during the course of the regulator’s investigation into Allen’s trading in the…

Mark Angelo Senofonte of Edison New Jersey a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Investment Services LLC is referenced in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on February 13, 2021 where the customer sought more than $5,000.00 in damages founded on accusations that the customer was sold an unsuitable real estate investment trust given the…

Scott Vincent Kaup of Stuart Nebraska a stockbroker formerly registered with FSR Advisory Services is referenced in a customer initiated investment related FINRA securities arbitration claim in which the customer requested more than $5,000.00 in damages supported by accusations that Kaup provided unsuitable recommendations to the customer regarding private placements and real estate securities transactions…

Eric Peter Burton of Orland Park Illinois a stockbroker formerly registered with LPL Financial LLC has been fined $5,000.00 and suspended for three months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity supported by findings of Burton falsifying customers’ documents relating to variable annuity transactions that he effected. Letter of…

Rebecca King Wah Ng-Tsang of Bellevue Washington a stockbroker currently registered with Cetera Investment Services LLC is the subject of a customer initiated investment related written complaint on December 9, 2020 in which the customer sought more than $5,000.00 in damages supported by allegations of misrepresentations by the stockbroker as it pertained to the liquidity…

Mark Allen Barrand of Denver Colorado a stockbroker formerly registered with Ameriprise Financial Services is referenced in a customer initiated investment related FINRA securities arbitration claim which was settled for $25,000.00 in damages based upon accusations that the customer had been advised by Barrand to invest in Business Development Corporation of America when Barrand was…

Lang Phu Nguyen of Campton Hills Illinois a stockbroker formerly registered with Edward Jones has been fined $5,000.00 and suspended for 45 days from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon findings that Nguyen executed unauthorized trades in customer accounts when he was associated with Edward Jones. Letter…

James A. Franklin (also known as Jim Franklin) of Houston Texas a stockbroker formerly registered with Investors Capital Corp. is the subject of a customer initiated investment related FINRA securities arbitration claim in which the customer sought more than $5,000.00 in compensatory damages founded on accusations that his investment recommendations were not suitable for the…

James Gregory McKinney (also known as Greg McKinney) of Tulsa Oklahoma a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Advisors LLC is the subject of a customer initiated investment related complaint on November 3, 2020 where the customer sought unspecified damages supported by allegations that they were provided with unsuitable investment recommendations from McKinney during the time…

Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, Cetera Advisors LLC and Cetera Financial Specialists LLC have been censured and collectively fined $1,000,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) founded on findings of the securities firms’ failure to supervise their stockbrokers’ private securities transactions and failure to preserve records relating to those outside transactions. Letter of Acceptance Waiver and…

John D. Craft of Philadelphia Pennsylvania a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Financial Specialists LLC has been fined $5,000.00 and suspended for two months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity supported by findings that Craft executed trades without authorization. Letter of Acceptance Waiver and Consent No. 2019062964801 (Dec….

Scott Michael Barber of Dubois Pennsylvania a former stockbroker and investment adviser representative of Cetera Advisor Networks LLC is the subject of a customer initiated investment related written complaint on October 30, 2020 in which the customer requested $130,000.00 in damages supported by allegations that real estate security transactions executed in the customer’s Cetera Advisor…

Daniel Benjamin Vazquez Sr. (also known as Dan Vasquez Senior) of Irvine California a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Advisors LLC is the subject of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) administrative proceedings in which the regulator will determine whether to bar Vazquez as a stockbroker or investment adviser representative among other capacities founded on allegations…

James Whitney Story (also known as Whit Story) of Fitzgerald Georgia a stockbroker formerly registered with Summit Brokerage Services is the subject of a customer initiated investment related complaint which was settled for $50,000.00 in damages founded on allegations that fixed income securities had been recommended by Story during the time that he was associated…

Clara Chen Tang (also known as Qing Chen) of Cupertino California a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Investment Services LLC is the subject of a customer initiated investment related written complaint on March 20, 2019 in which the customer requested unspecified compensatory damages supported by accusations that the customer’s signature had been forged on documents…

Ken Alan Balser of Colorado Springs Colorado a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Advisors LLC has been referenced in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim which was settled for $35,695.00 in damages based upon accusations of Balser breaching a fiduciary duty do the customer and having defrauded the customer while employed by Cetera Advisors…

Roger Lee Owens of Elkton Maryland a stockbroker formerly employed by Cetera Advisors LLC is referenced in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim where the customer requested $100,000.00 in damages founded on accusations that a fiduciary duty which had been owed to the customer by the stockbroker was violated and that the customer had…

Stanley Bernard Secor of Salt Lake City Utah a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Advisor Networks LLC has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon findings that Secor refused to provide documents and information to FINRA when he was being investigated for possible violations of…

Susan Lavon Welo of Mayville North Dakota a stockbroker formerly employed by Cetera Advisor Networks LLC has been identified in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim where the customer sought $100,000.00 in damages founded on accusations of unsuitable private placements being sold to the customer while Welo was employed by Securities America Inc. and…

Craig Allen Leppien of Traverse City Michigan of Cetera Investment Services has been identified in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on April 16, 2019 in which the customer requested $41,338.66 in damages supported by allegations that the customer’s investment had been switched by Leppien without the customer’s consent during the time that Leppien…

Henry Arthur Taylor III (also known as Trey Taylor) of Springdale Arizona a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Advisors Networks LLC has been fined $7,500.00 and suspended for three months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon findings that Taylor sold away from the securities broker dealer….

Keith Frederick France of Indianapolis Indiana a stockbroker formerly registered with BMO Harris Financial Advisors Inc. is the subject of a customer initiated investment related complaint on April 29, 2019 in which the customer requested more than $5,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that the customer had been sold a market linked certificate of deposit…

Joanna Moran (also known as Joanna Brost) of Hawthorne Nevada a stockbroker currently registered with Cetera Advisor Networks LLC is the subject of a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim which was settled for $25,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that the customer was provided with unsuitable investment advice by Moran regarding an investment in…

Robert Silverman of Red Bank New Jersey a stockbroker formerly employed by Cetera Financial Specialists LLC has been fined $10,000.00 and suspended for four months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity founded on the stockbroker’s consent to findings that he made unauthorized transactions in a customer’s account. Letter…

Mark Allen Barrand of Highland Ranch Colorado a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Advisors LLC is the subject of a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim in which the customer requested $65,000.00 in damages based upon allegations including negligence and the breach of a fiduciary duty as it pertained to Barrand’s sale of limited partnership…

John Edward Massa of Staten Island New York a stockbroker associated with Cetera Investment Services has been referenced in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim which was settled for $20,000.00 in damages supported by allegations including (1) negligence (2) breach of fiduciary duty (3) breach of contract and (4) fraud in violation of Securities…

Xiangyu Yu Zhang (also known as Sean Zhang) of Alhambra California a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Investment Services is the subject of a customer initiated investment related complaint which was settled on December 2, 2019 for $4,479.01 in damages based upon allegations that misrepresentations were made to the customer concerning real estate investment trusts…

Kenneth Alan Balser of Colorado Springs Colorado a stockbroker formerly employed by Cetera Advisors LLC has been identified in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim where the customer sought $103,664.82 in damages founded on accusations that (1) the stockbroker’s negligence resulted in the customer’s losses (2) a fiduciary duty was breached by Balser (3)…

Mark Angelo Senofonte of Toms River New Jersey a stockbroker registered with Cetera Investment Services is the subject of a customer initiated investment related complaint on September 6, 2019 in which the customer requested $75,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that the customer’s fixed annuity had been liquidated without the customer’s consent and that the…

George Craig Merhoff Jr. of Klamath Falls Oregon a stockbroker associated with Cetera Advisors LLC is the subject of a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim in which the customer requested $43,000.00 in damages based upon allegations of Merhoff’s unsuitable stock trading. FINRA Arbitration No. 20-00551. According to the claim, transactions were negligent and violative…

Scott Patrick Kozak of Highlands Ranch Colorado a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Advisors LLC has been fined $10,000.00 and suspended for two years from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that he engaged in undisclosed private securities transactions and outside business activities. Letter…

James Gregory McKinney (also known as Greg McKinney) of Tulsa Oklahoma a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Advisors LLC has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity according to a Default Decision containing findings that the stockbroker neglected to testify or produce documentation for FINRA personnel while…

Craig Allen Leppien of Traverse City Michigan a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Investment Services LLC is referenced in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on April 16, 2019 where the customer requested $41,338.86 in damages based upon accusations that unauthorized transactions were executed by the stockbroker when he was associated with Cetera Investment…

Omar K. Henry of New York New York a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Advisors LLC has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity supported by allegations that he failed to comply with FINRA during a time that he was probed or examined for possible violations of…

Joshua Jon Beitel of Traverse City Michigan a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Investment Services LLC is the subject of a customer initiated investment related written complaint on April 16, 2019 where the customer sought $41,338.86 in damages founded on accusations that the customer’s investments were modified without the customer’s knowledge or consent. Financial Industry…

Carl John Grilli of Monrovia California a stockbroker formerly registered with Investors Capital Corp. is referenced in a customer initiated investment related civil action brought in the Superior Court of California in which the customer sought $89,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that (1) the customer’s account was administered negligently (2) information about investments had…

Christopher Robert Hickman of Delray Beach Florida a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Advisors LLC is the subject of a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim in which the customer requested $1,000,000.00 in damages founded on allegations that (1) fiduciary duties were breached (2) misrepresentations had been negligently made by the stockbroker in regard to…

Christopher Kozak of Highland Ranch Colorado a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Advisors LLC has been fined $10,000.00 and suspended for six months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that he took part in outside business activities without providing required notice to Cetera…

James Gregory McKinney (also known as Greg McKinney) a stockbroker formerly employed by Cetera Advisors LLC has been charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in a Complaint alleging that he failed to cooperate with a FINRA investigation into accusations of him engaging in trading or other activities in violation of FINRA rules. Department of…

Abraham Heimann of Alpharetta Georgia a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Advisors LLC is referenced in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim that was resolved for $42,500.00 in damages founded on accusations that fiduciary obligations to the customer were breached and the customer’s account had been negligently administered. FINRA Arbitration No. 17-02785 (Dec. 26,…

Roger Lee Owens of Elkton Maryland a stockbroker employed by Cetera Advisors LLC has been fined $10,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity supported by findings of Owens engaging in private securities transactions in which he sold Cetera customers promissory notes in Woodbridge Group of Companies…

James Christopher Hayne of Mansfield Texas a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Advisors LLC is referenced in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim which was resolved for $325,000.00 in damages founded on allegations that Texas Securities Act and California Corporate Securities Law had been violated; contractual obligations to the customer were breached; the customer’s…

George Craig Merhoff Jr. of Klamath Falls Oregon a stockbroker formerly employed by Cetera Advisors LLC has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity founded on findings that Merhoff failed to cooperate with a FINRA investigation into accusations of (1) Merhoff disseminating consolidated reports to customers and…

Nina Sue Jessee (also known as Nina Campbell Jessee) of Abington Virginia a stockbroker formerly employed by Cetera Advisors LLC has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that Jessee neglected to comply with FINRA during its investigation into accusations of (1)…

Donnie Eugene Ingram of Winter Haven Florida a stockbroker associated with Cetera Advisors LLC and Investors Capital Corp. is referenced in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim which was resolved for $23,000.00 in damages founded on accusations that Ingram executed unsuitable corporate debt and real estate investment trust trades in the customer’s account. Financial…

Ken Alan Balser of Colorado Springs Colorado a stockbroker formerly employed by Cetera Advisors LLC is referenced in a Colorado Division of Securities Stipulation and Consent Order which revoked Balser’s sales representative licensure and investment adviser license based upon the Division’s findings that Balser sold investments to customers away from Cetera Advisors LLC. Case No….

Kirby Spencer McDonald of Omaha Nebraska a stockbroker currently registered with Cetera Advisors LLC is the subject of a customer initiated investment related written complaint on November 7, 2018 where the customer requested $72,000.00 in damages based upon accusations that the customer was poorly advised concerning a variable annuity transaction which led the customer to…

Kenneth Joseph Kolquist of Duluth Minnesota a stockbroker formerly employed by Cetera Advisor Networks LLC has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity founded on allegations that Kolquist failed to provide FINRA with information that was requested of him. Case No. 2015047359901 (Aug. 1, 2016). According to…

David Lane Gabay of Tarrytown New York a stockbroker currently employed by Cetera Advisors LLC is referenced in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on September 12, 2018 in which the customer sought $52,500.00 in damages based upon accusations that Gabay was placed into a variable annuity that was not suitable for the customer…

Cetera Advisor Networks LLC a brokerage firm headquartered in El Segundo California has been censured and fined $700,000.00 founded on allegations that the firm neglected to supervise a registered representative who made unsuitable trades and mutual fund switches in customer accounts. Letter of Acceptance Waiver and Consent No. 2014040951702 (Dec. 19, 2018). According to the…

Bruce Michael Sabourin of Norwich Connecticut a stockbroker formerly employed by Cetera Advisors LLC has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon allegations that Sabourin failed to provide FINRA with information after it was requested of him. Case No. 2014041373601 (May 4, 2015). FINRA Public…

David Lee of Flushing New York a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Investment Services LLC is referenced in a customer initiated investment related complaint on September 12, 2018 in which the customer requested $15,000.00 in damages based upon accusations that (1) unwarranted investment losses were incurred by the customer on real estate security investments and…

Ira Gary Chernick of Woodbury New York a stockbroker currently employed by Cetera Advisors Networks LLC a is the subject of a customer initiated investment related complaint that was settled on December 8, 2017 to resolve allegations that Chernick placed the customer in an inappropriate variable annuity product and made misrepresentations about the product. Financial…

Jerry P. Michna of Louisville Ohio a stockbroker formerly employed by Questar Capital Corporation is the subject of a customer initiated investment related written complaint on July 23, 2018 where the customer requested $250,000.00 in damages based upon accusations that energy-sector equity purchases were executed in the customer’s account that were not suitable for the…

Mark Angelo Senofonte of Edison New Jersey a stockbroker currently registered with Cetera Investment Services LLC is the subject of a customer initiated investment related written complaint on June 12, 2018 where the customer requested $12,500.00 in damages supported by allegations that (1) unsuitable real estate security transactions were executed int the customer’s account (2)…

Steven Franklin Brandt of Alexandria Virginia a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Advisors LLC is referenced in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim in which the customer requested $50,000.00 in damages supported by allegations of (1) breach of contract (2) the customer having been placed in direct participation program or limited partnership interests that…

John Edward Massa of Staten Island New York a stockbroker currently registered with Cetera Investment Services LLC is the subject of a customer initiated investment related civil action in which the customer sought $22,562.01 in damages based upon accusations that misrepresentations had been made to the customer in reference to the terms and conditions of…

Gordon Tong Quan of Pasadena California a stockbroker formerly employed by Cetera Advisor Networks LLC has been discharged by the firm on May 15, 2018 founded on allegations that Quan engaged in outside business activities and unapproved customer loan arrangements; conduct violative of the firm’s policies. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Public Disclosure reveals that…

Cetera Financial Specialists LLC a broker-dealer headquartered in Schaumburg Illinois has been censured and fined $200,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) based upon consenting to findings that it failed to supervise outside business activities pursued by its staff. Letter of Acceptance Waiver and Consent No. 2015045233601 (July 9, 2018). According to the AWC, from…

Omar K. Henry of New York New York a stockbroker formerly employed by Cetera Advisors LLC is referenced in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on April 9, 2018 in which the customer sought $451,844.09 in damages based upon accusations that direct participation program transactions were placed in the customer’s account that were not…

Jaret Clinton Mutter of Roanoke Virginia a stockbroker currently employed by Cetera Advisor Networks LLC is the subject of a Special Supervision Order imposed by the Virginia State Corporation Commission based upon accusations of Mutter having been subject of several customer disputes. Case No. SEC-2018-00009 (Apr. 4, 2018). Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Public Disclosure…

Truitt Scott Ficklin of Muncie Indiana a stockbroker formerly employed by Cetera Investment Services LLC has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that he failed to provide FINRA with a response to the regulator’s request for Ficklin’s information. Case No. 2017055548901…

Clark Smith Gardner of Orem Utah a stockbroker formerly employed by Cetera Advisors LLC has been barred by Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from associating with any brokerage firm or investment advisory according to an Order Instituting Administrative Proceedings in which Gardner consented to findings that he committed securities fraud. In the Matter of Clark…

Martin Earl Brooks of Belton Missouri is a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Advisors LLC who has been fined $5,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity by consenting to findings that he effected trades in customer accounts without their written authorization and mismarked order tickets as…

Arlo Jean Stoll of Salem Oregon is a stockbroker currently registered with Cetera Advisors LLC who is the subject of a customer initiated investment related written complaint on December 28, 2016 in which the customer requested $76,778.00 in damages founded on allegations of breach of fiduciary duty, negligence, and suitability relating to the customer’s direct…

Andrew John Costanzo Junior of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania is a stockbroker currently registered with Cetera Advisors LLC who is the subject of a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim where the customer requested $279,000.00 in damages based upon accusations that the customer’s investment accounts had been negligently established and administered. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Arbitration…

Choosri Lao of Tinley Park Illinois is a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Advisor Networks LLC who has been fined five thousand dollars and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that Choosri made investment recommendations and facilitated customers’ alternative investment transactions despite…

George Craig Merhoff Jr. of Klamath Falls Oregon is a stockbroker currently associated with Cetera Advisors LLC who has been ordered by the Division of Financial Regulation of the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services to pay a thirty-five thousand dollar civil penalty and cease and desist committing violations of Oregon Securities Law based…

Richard Philip Hohol of Roselle Illinois is a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Advisors Networks LLC who has been fined five thousand dollars and suspended for two months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity by consenting to findings that he enabled one of the firm’s former registered representatives…

Brent Van Lott of Orem Utah is a stockbroker formerly registered with LPL Financial LLC who has been charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) in a Complaint alleging that Lott falsified documents relating to customers’ securities transactions. Department of Enforcement v. Brent Lott Disciplinary Proceeding No. 2013038124102 (Jan. 25 2018). According to the Complaint,…

Lyle J. Boudreaux of Houston Texas is a stockbroker currently registered with Independent Financial Group LLC who is subject of a customer initiated investment related written complaint on October 27 2017 in which the customer sought two hundred ten thousand dollars in damages founded on accusations that unsuitable leveraged exchange traded fund transactions were effected…

Richard Charles Foster, of Tulsa Oklahoma, a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Investment Services, LLC, has been fined $10,000.00 and suspended for six months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity by consenting to findings that he made unsuitable investment recommendations to customers. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent,…

Daniel Benjamin Vazquez, Senior, of Irvine, California, a stockbroker formerly employed with Cetera Advisors LLC, and founder and chief executive officer of Hoplon Financial Group and New Economic Opportunities Fund I, LLC, has been charged by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in a Complaint alleging that he engaged in a fraudulent real estate offering….

Susan Lavon Welo of Mayville, North Dakota, a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, is subject of a Cease and Desist Order issued by the North Dakota Securities Department based upon findings that Welo sold insurance and securities to the public while not registered with a broker-dealer; advised the public while not registered…

Abraham Heimann, of Alpharetta, Georgia, a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Advisors LLC, has been identified in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim, where the customer sought $364,000.00 in damages based upon allegations of unauthorized trading, misrepresentation, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and fraud in regard to energy sector investments, including oil…

James A. Franklin, of Dallas, Texas, a stockbroker formerly registered with Investors Capital Corp., is the subject of a customer initiated investment related complaint on March 15, 2017, in which the customer requested $50,000.00 in damages founded upon accusations that in March of 2015, Franklin placed real estate security transactions in the customer’s account that…

Brant Andrew Ray, of Southhaven, Mississippi, a stockbroker formerly registered with Commonwealth Financial Network, has been fined $10,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that he effected an unapproved loan transaction and lied about it when questioned by his firm and…

Bernard Andre Breton, of Denver, Colorado, a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Advisors LLC, is the subject of a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim filed on January 19, 2016, for $876,195.00 in damages based on allegations that Breton failed to supervise the equity trades effected another Cetera stockbroker Abraham Heimann. Breton was terminated by…

Summit Brokerage Services, Girard Securities, Inc., First Allied Securities, Inc., and Cetera Financial Specialists, were censured by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) based upon consenting to findings that the firms deprived their respective customers with discounts on mutual funds transactions and failed to supervise procedures to ensure that waivers of sales charges were applied for…

Donald Newton McCoy, of Saint Louis, Missouri, a stockbroker registered with Raymond James & Associates, Inc., has been fired from the company on August 12, 2016, based upon allegations that he engaged in outside business activities. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Public Disclosure reveals that McCoy was also terminated from a prior employer, Merrill Lynch,…

Mark Charles Koehler, of Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, has been barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that he obstructed a FINRA investigation into allegations that he effected unsuitable investment transactions in customer accounts. Letter…

Abraham Heimann, of Alpharetta, Georgia, a stockbroker currently registered with Cetera Advisors LLC, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on April 20, 2017, in which the customer requested $30,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Heimann did not diversify the customer’s equity portfolio adequately, negligently managed the customer’s investments, and…

Christopher Robert Hickman, of Delray Beach, Florida, a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Advisors LLC, has been fined $5,000.00 and suspended from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that he effected unsuitable unit investment trust trades in customer accounts. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and…

Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, a brokerage firm headquartered in El Segundo, California, has been censured by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) based upon consenting to findings that the firm charged customers with excessive fees in reference to mutual fund transactions, and inadequately supervised its business operations to make sure customers were not overcharged. Letter of…

Brant Andrew Ray, of Southaven, Mississippi, a stockbroker formerly registered with Commonwealth Financial Network, has been charged by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Department of Enforcement in a Complaint alleging that Ray engaged in an unauthorized borrowing arrangement with a customer of the firm. Department of Enforcement v. Brant Andrew Ray, No. 2015047096601 (May 1,…

Daniel James Lauletta, of Valley View, Ohio, a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, has been named in a customer initiated investment related civil action on February 18, 2015, in which the customer requested $455,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Lauletta breached his contractual duties to the customer, and engaged in negligent…

Susan Lavon Welo, of Mayville, North Dakota, a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, has been named in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on February 24, 2017, in which the customer requested $45,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Welo failed to abide by the customer’s instructions to invest in short…

Matthew Park Best, of Shippenville, Pennsylvania, a stockbroker currently registered with Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., has been named in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on February 16, 2017, in which the customer requested $32,546.00 in damages based upon allegations that Best made faulty assurances to the customer concerning payments that the customer would…

Joseph Hsioh-Tsuei Lee, of Irvine, California, a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Investment Services LLC, has been named in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on February 8, 2017, in which the customer requested $40,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Lee made misrepresentations and omissions to the customer regarding the fees pertaining to…

Nina Sue Jessee, of Abingdon, Virginia, a stockbroker formerly registered with Investors Capital Corp., has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on February 3, 2017, based upon allegations that Jessee effected unsuitable transactions in the customer’s account regarding investments in real estate, insurance, and equipment leasing products. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority…

Daniel George McPherson, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, a stockbroker currently registered with Cetera Advisors LLC, has been named in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on March 7, 2016, in which the customer requested $40,151.00 in damages based upon allegations that McPherson effected unsuitable fixed annuity transactions in the customer’s account. Financial Industry Regulatory…

James Christopher Hayne, a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Advisors LLC, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on December 13, 2016, in which the customer requested $500,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Hayne Hayne breached his fiduciary duties, effected stock trades on an excessive basis, failed to diversify the…

George Craig Merhoff Jr., a stockbroker currently registered with Cetera Advisors LLC, has been named in a customer initiated investment related arbitration claim on July 14, 2016, which is based upon allegations that Merhoff committed violations of securities laws in the State of Oregon, breached his fiduciary and contractual duties to the customer, effected unsuitable…

Gerald Tagge, of Omaha, Nebraska, a stockbroker currently registered with Cetera Advisors LLC, has been named or tagged in a customer initiated investment related written complaint on September 30, 2015, in which the customer requested $125,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Tagge solicited and ultimately accepted promissory notes from the customer outside the auspices…

Kenneth Alan Balser, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, a stockbroker formerly registered with Cetera Advisors, has been permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity based upon consenting to findings that he failed to cooperate in a FINRA investigation into allegations of Balser’s participation in private securities transactions or…

First Allied Securities, Inc., a broker-dealer headquartered in San Diego, California, was censured and fined $950,000.00 by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) after the firm consented to findings of misconduct that included, inter alia, the firm’s failure to appropriately supervise the sales of structured products. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, No. 2015045234401 (Nov. 2,…

The Cetera Firms, which include Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, (headquartered in El Segundo, California), Cetera Financial Specialists LLC (headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois), First Allied Securities, Inc. (headquartered in San Diego, California), Summit Brokerage Services, Inc. (headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida), and VSR Financial Services, Inc. (headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas), were censured and fined by…

Further Lane Securities, L.P., stockbroker James Gabriel Collard, and Chief Executive Officer Joseph Michal Araiz, all of Boerne, Texas, were named in a Complaint containing allegations of excessive markups pertaining to corporate bond transactions and related supervisory failures. Department of Enforcement v. Collard et al., No. 20120342425-01-01- (Mar. 11, 2016). Further. according to the Complaint,…

Karen Hajek, of Saint Petersburg, Florida, a stockbroker with Cetera Financial Specialists, LLC, was recently fined $15,000.00 and suspended for six months from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after Hajek consented to findings that she engaged in multiple undisclosed outside business activities. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent,…

Michael William Hajeck III of St. Petersburg, Florida, a stockbroker with Genworth and Cetera Financial Services, LLC, was fined $35,000 and suspended for eighteen months by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) from associating with a FINRA member in any and all capacities after consenting to findings that he engaged in undisclosed outside business activities and…

Jason Daniel Sayles of St. Petersburg, Florida, a stockbroker with Genworth and Cetera Financial Services, LLC, was fined $15,000 and suspended for ten months by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) from associating with a FINRA member in any and all capacities after consenting to findings that he engaged in undisclosed outside business activities and private…

Ameritas Investment Corp., Cetera Advisors LLC, Comerica Securities, Inc., Fifth Third Securities, Inc., First Allied Securities, Inc., Park Avenue Securities, LLC, Securities America, Inc., Huntington Investment Company, Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, Commonwealth Financial Network, MetLife, and Infinex Investment, Inc., were all recently censured and fined by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for failing to apply…

John Thomas Oates, Jr., a Stockbroker with Cetera Financial Specialists LLC, was suspended from association with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any and all capacities for six months and fined $10,000 after consenting to findings that Oates engaged in outside business activities in violation of his firm’s policies. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver,…

Terri Lynn Anderson, a registered representative with Cetera Financial Specialists, LLC, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member in any capacity after consenting to findings that Anderson had failed to provide information and documentation in connection with an investigation into allegations that Anderson played a part in misusing customer…

Alex P. Anderson, a registered representative with Cetera Financial Services, was permanently barred from associating with any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm in any capacity after consenting to findings that he misused at least $75,000 from one of his firm customer’s retail bank accounts for his own benefit. Letter of Acceptance, Waiver, and…

Mark Douglas Weindling, a former JHS Capital Advisors, LLC registered representative, was permanently barred from associating with any FINRA member in any capacity after consenting to FINRA findings that he failed to provide information and documents pursuant to a FINRA investigation into allegations of unauthorized transactions. FINRA Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent No. 2014041259001 (Apr. 22,…

J.P. Turner & Co, recently acquired by Cetera, has over 360 registered representatives and over 150 branch offices nationwide. J.P. Turner’s history with securities regulators is substantial. For example, in December 2013, J.P. Turner consented to a sanction consisting of a censure and restitution in the amount of almost $1 million for the failure to…