Merrill Lynch

Broker Fernando De la vega in Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated Firm Has Customer Complaint

March 25, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Fernando De la vega (De la vega), currently associated with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, has at least 3 disclosable events. These events include 3 customer complaints, alleging that De la vega 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 $400,000.00 on March 11, 2025.

The customers allege unsuitable investment recommendations and misrepresentations.

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

March 25, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker William King (King), previously associated with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, has at least 10 disclosable events. These events include 9 customer complaints, one tax lien, alleging that King recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on March 03, 2025.

Without admitting or denying the findings, King consented to the sanctions and to the entry of findings that he exercised discretion when he placed trades in six brokerage accounts held by four firm customers, three of whom were seniors, without prior written authorization from the customers and without his member firm having accepted the accounts as discretionary. The findings stated that King discussed investment strategy with the customers but had not received authorization to exercise discretion. In addition, King inaccurately attested in compliance questionnaires that he had not exercised discretionary trading authority in customer accounts.

Broker Nicholas Peterson in Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated Firm Has Customer Complaint

March 24, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Nicholas Peterson (Peterson), currently associated with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Peterson 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 $300,000.00 on September 04, 2024.

Client alleges unsuitable investment recommendations.

Broker Lino Gutierrez in Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated Firm Has Customer Complaint

March 24, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Lino Gutierrez (Gutierrez), currently associated with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Gutierrez 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 $1,000,000.00 on September 04, 2024.

Client alleges Representative did not act in her best interest in 2020.

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

March 24, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a pending customer complaint on September 04, 2024.

Client alleges unsuitable investment strategy from March 2020 through 2022, and unauthorized transactions.

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

March 24, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a pending customer complaint on September 04, 2024.

Client alleges failure to supervise from March 2020 through 2022.

Broker Robert Leverte in Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated Firm Has Customer Complaint

March 18, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a pending customer complaint on September 20, 2024.

Client alleges unsuitable investment advice and overall investment strategy from 2021 through 2024.

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

March 17, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Edgar Shanoyan (Shanoyan), previously associated with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, has at least 2 disclosable events. These events include one customer complaint, one tax lien, alleging that Shanoyan recommended unsuitable investments in different investment products including debt securities among other allegations and complaints.

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on September 24, 2024.

Respondent Shanoyan failed to respond to FINRA requests for information.

Broker Peter Johns in Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated Firm Has Customer Complaint

March 15, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) financial Broker Peter Johns (Johns), currently associated with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, has at least one disclosable event. These events include one customer complaint, alleging that Johns 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 $27,049.00 on October 03, 2024.

The client alleges failure to consider suitability

Broker Elan Sanker in Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated Firm Has Customer Complaint

March 14, 2025 | by Staff Attorney

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

FINRA BrokerCheck shows a final customer complaint on October 04, 2024.

Without admitting or denying the findings, Sanker consented to the sanction and to the entry of findings that he refused to appear for on-the-record testimony requested by FINRA during the course of an investigation that originated from FINRA’s review of a Form U5 submitted by his member firm. The findings stated that the Form U5 disclosed that Sanker had been discharged for conduct including entering into a financial arrangement with a client; failure to disclose an OBA and using a personal device for business purposes.