Securities Lawyers Blog

Broker Michael Mandarino in G. A. Repple & Company Firm Has Customer Complaint

June 11, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Michael Mandarino (Mandarino), currently associated with G. A. Repple & Company, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Mandarino 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 $100,000.00 on December 21, 2023.

Client, through legal representation, claimed $100,000 in damages resulting from the purchase of several GWG L bonds which resulted in a total loss of principal.

Broker Mary Joanne Petretto in Innovation Partners LLC Firm Has Customer Complaint

June 11, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Mary Joanne Petretto (Petretto), currently associated with Innovation Partners LLC, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Petretto recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint on December 26, 2023.

Brokers are required to adhere to the SEC’s Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI) standard of care under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 which establishes a ‘best interest’ standard for broker-dealers and associated persons. This Reg BI standard of care applies to registered representatives making recommendations to customers in the purchase, sale, or exchange of securities or the implementation of investment strategies involving securities and non-securities. The rule also applies to the handling of opening accounts such as account transfers and types of accounts being recommended to be opened. Reg BI is drawn from fiduciary principles that include an obligation to act in the retail investor’s best interest and the broker is prohibited from placing their own interests ahead of the investor’s interest.

Broker Anthony Caruso in Cetera Advisor Networks LLC Firm Has Customer Complaint

June 11, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Anthony Caruso (Caruso), currently associated with Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Caruso recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint with a damage request of $5,000.00 on December 21, 2023.

The client is alleging that the advisor did not inform her of the surrender charges associated with the contract, and he did not tell her she could lock in the value with the performance lock feature.

Broker Kevin Dery in Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC Firm Has Customer Complaint

June 11, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Kevin Dery (Dery), currently associated with Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC, has at least 2 disclosable events. These events include 2 customer complaints, alleging that Dery recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint with a damage request of $50,000.00 on December 23, 2023.

Client alleges misrepresentations and unsuitable investments from 2019 through March 2020.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Phillip Jones in Firm Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

June 11, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Phillip Jones (Jones), currently associated with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Jones 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 December 22, 2023.

The claimants allege misrepresentation, omissions, and unsuitable investment recommendations in 2016 and 2017.

Broker Daniel Ellison in Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated Firm Has Customer Complaint

June 11, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Daniel Ellison (Ellison), currently associated with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Ellison recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a pending customer complaint on December 21, 2023.

The clients allege that registered representative failed to act in their best interest from 2019 through 2023.

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Timothy Vanlohuizen in Firm Osaic Wealth, INC.

June 11, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Timothy Vanlohuizen (Vanlohuizen), previously associated with Osaic Wealth, INC., has at least 3 disclosable events. These events include 3 customer complaints, alleging that Vanlohuizen recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint with a damage request of $100,001.00 on December 26, 2023.

Claimant alleges unsuitable investments and overconcentration within various managed accounts.

Broker Michael Boothe in International Assets Advisory, LLC Firm Has Customer Complaint

June 11, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to BrokerCheck records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) broker Michael Boothe (Boothe), previously associated with International Assets Advisory, LLC, has been subject to at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint. Several of those complaints against Boothe concern allegations of high frequency trading activity also referred to as churning or excessive trading among other securities laws violations.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint with a damage request of $960,000.00 on December 21, 2023.

Fraud, excessive trading/commissions, unauthorized trading, breach of fiduciary duty, unsuitability, breach of contract, negligence, unjust enrichment 2014-2018

There are Recent Customer Complaints with Broker Paul Witthauer in Firm G. A. Repple & Company

June 11, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Paul Witthauer (Witthauer), currently associated with G. A. Repple & Company, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Witthauer 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 $125,000.00 on December 28, 2023.

Client requested principal amount of three GWG L bonds totaling $125,000 to be returned to her for purchases made by her late husband in late 2020 & early 2021.

Broker Douglas Waisner in Western International Securities, INC. Firm Has Customer Complaint

June 11, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Douglas Waisner (Waisner), currently associated with Western International Securities, INC., has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Waisner recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a settled customer complaint with a damage request of $5,000.00 on December 22, 2023.

Misrepresentation