- June 7, 2020
- Crown Capital Securities
Dennis Haywood (CRD # 5850275) is a Financial Advisor at Crown Capital Securities in Land O’ Lakes, FL. Dennis Haywood has been in the securities industry since 2010 and previously worked at Newport Coast Securities.
According to publicly available records released by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), in April and May 2020, Dennis Haywood was the subject of three (3) customer complaints, alleging sales practice misconduct:
• May 2020—”The customer alleges a violation of fiduciary and suitability obligations as it relates to the purchase of non-traded REITs, non-traded BDCs and a Variable Annuity contract. They further allege that the representative made material misrepresentations about the risks, profitability and liquidity of the investments.” Allaged damages are $250,000 and the matter remains pending.
• April 2020—”The claimant alleges lack of suitability, breach of contract and lack of proper due diligence for four alternative investments purchased between April 2014 and April 2016.” Alleged damages are $400,000 and the matter remains pending.
• April 2020—”The claimant alleges lack of suitability, breach of contract and lack of proper due diligence for two alternative investments purchased April 2018.” Alleged damages are $100,000 and the matter remains pending.
For a copy of Dennis Haywood’s CRD, click https://brokercheck.finra.org/individual/summary/5850275#disclosuresSection
Financial advisors have a legal and regulatory obligation to recommend only suitable investments that are appropriate for their clients’ needs and objectives. Their employing brokerage firm has a legal and regulatory obligation to supervise the Financial Advisors’ sales practices and dealings with clients. To the extent any of these duties are breached, the customer may be entitled to a recovery of his or her investment losses.
Reasonable basis suitability requires that a recommended investment or investment strategy be suitable or appropriate for at least some investors. Reasonable basis suitability requires an advisor to conduct adequate due diligence so that he or she can determine the risks and rewards of the investment or investment strategy.
Quantitative suitability requires a brokerage firm or financial advisor with actual or de facto control over a customer’s account to have a reasonable basis for believing that a series of recommended transactions – even if suitable when viewed in isolation – is not excessive and unsuitable for the customer when taken together in light of the customer’s investment profile. No single test defines excessive activity, but factors such as the turnover rate, the cost-equity ratio, and the use of in-and-out trading in a customer’s account may provide a basis for a finding that a member or associated person has violated the quantitative suitability obligation.
Customer-specific suitability requires that a member or associated person have a reasonable basis to believe that the recommendation is suitable for a particular customer based on that customer’s investment profile. Among the criteria that a financial advisor must evaluate to satisfy his or her customer-specific suitability obligations include the investor’s:
• Age
• Other investments
• Financial situation and needs
• Tax status
• Investment objectives
• Time horizon
• Liquidity needs
• Risk tolerance
• Any other information disclosed by the customer
The Wolper Law Firm, P.A. represents investors nationwide in securities litigation and arbitration on a contingency fee basis. Matt Wolper, the Managing Principal of the Wolper Law Firm, P.A., is a trial lawyer who has handled hundreds of securities cases during his career involving a wide range of products, strategies and securities. Prior to representing investors, he was a partner with a national law firm, where he represented some of the largest banks and brokerage firms in the world in securities matters. We can be reached at 800.931.8452 or by email at mwolper@wolperlawfirm.com.