Articles Tagged with American Trust Investment Services

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Austin Dutton (Dutton), previously associated with American Trust Investment Services, INC., has at least 5 disclosable events. These events include 3 customer complaints, 2 regulatory events, alleging that Dutton 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 July 18, 2024.

Breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, failure to supervise and negligence and violation of reg bi.

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker David Geake (Geake), previously associated with American Trust Investment Services, INC., has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Geake 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 $50,000.00 on March 10, 2025.

Failure to conduct due diligence on alternative investments

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Kristopher Kessler (Kessler), currently associated with American Trust Investment Services, Inc., has at least one disclosable event. These events include one regulatory event, alleging that Kessler recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on July 31, 2024.

Without admitting or denying the findings, Kessler consented to the sanctions and to the entry of findings that he engaged in an OBA without providing prior written notice to his member firm. The findings stated that Kessler helped to create and operate a financial technology company with another firm representative. The company’s Operating Agreement identified Kessler as a member, and he also served as its Chief Marketing Officer. For his role, Kessler received a five percent interest in the company. In addition, Kessler completed annual compliance questionnaires in which he falsely denied engaging in any business activities outside of the firm.

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker David Geake (Geake), previously associated with American Trust Investment Services, Inc., has at least 27 disclosable events. These events include 25 customer complaints, 2 tax liens, alleging that Geake recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a pending customer complaint on March 05, 2025.

Unsuitable recommendations of alternative investments.

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Kyle Chapman (Chapman), previously associated with American Trust Investment Services, Inc., has at least one disclosable event. These events include one tax lien, alleging that Chapman recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on September 05, 2024.

Without admitting or denying the findings, Chapman consented to the sanctions and to the entry of findings that he willfully violated Rule 15l-1(a)(1) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Reg BI) by making a recommendation that was not in the customer’s best interest nor suitable with the customer’s investment profile. The findings stated that Chapman recommended his customer invest $50,000 in a speculative, unrated debt security after the customer reached out to Chapman about investing in the security. The customer’s investment objectives were income and preservation of capital and did not include speculation. Chapman failed to perform reasonable diligence on the security before recommending it to the customer and did not conduct a reasonable review of the offering documents. Chapman earned $1,471 in commissions from these recommendations. The findings also stated that Chapman made negligent misrepresentations and omissions of material fact when recommending the debt security to his customer. Chapman sent third-party risk reports to the customer that assigned a risk score to the debt security with the same risk score of cash. Chapman did not correct the customer’s belief that debt securities were a conservative investment.

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Scot Barringer (Barringer), currently associated with American Trust Investment Services, Inc., has at least 2 disclosable events. These events include 2 customer complaints, alleging that Barringer 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 $70,000.00 on September 07, 2024.

Suitability

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Steven Kahn (Kahn), currently associated with American Trust Investment Services, Inc., has at least 2 disclosable events. These events include 2 customer complaints, alleging that Kahn 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 $15,000.00 on October 22, 2024.

Breach of Fiduciary Duty; Fraud; Elder Abuse; Negligence; Negligent Misrepresentation

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Linda Wimsatt (Wimsatt), previously associated with American Trust Investment Services, Inc., has at least 8 disclosable events. These events include 7 customer complaints, one regulatory, alleging that Wimsatt recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on November 15, 2024.

Without admitting or denying the findings, Wimsatt consented to the sanctions and to the entry of findings that she recommended her retail customers, some of whom were seniors and retired, invest in speculative, unrated corporate bonds. The findings stated that the bonds were not suitable for the customers, based on their investment profile, including their moderate risk tolerance, in light of the high degree of risk associated with the bonds. Wimsatt earned $10,668.50 in commissions from the recommendations. The findings also stated that Wimsatt willfully violated Rule 15/-l(a)(l) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Reg BI) by making recommendations that were not in her customers’ best interests based on their investment profiles. The customers, who were seniors, had stated investment objectives of income and growth, and they did not include speculation. Wimsatt earned $10,306.25 in commissions from the recommendations.

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker David Geake (Geake), previously associated with American Trust Investment Services, Inc., has at least 25 disclosable events. These events include 23 customer complaints, 2 tax liens, alleging that Geake 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 $200,000.00 on January 21, 2025.

Breach of Fiduciary Duty; Suitability; Misrepresentation; FINRA Rules 2010, IM-2310-2 & 2020; Failure to Supervise; Breach of Contract

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